The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-06-07

WRITTEN FOR THE SUNDAY REPUBLIC.
Irish Lad, the horse who won the Brook
Ign Handicap. the great all-aSed event Of
the American turf is well bred.
His sire was Candlemas, his dam Arrow
grass. That is royal lineage. Candlemas is
an imported English horse. They can trace
his pedigree back to Sheik 1lderim's desert
steeds, back to the chariot race of Ben Hur,
which took place before the birth of Christ.
Frank O'Neill. of No. $3.50 Sullivan avenue
ST. Louis the Irish lad who rode Irish
Lad TO victory. has as clean pedigree. If
Irish Lad was bred TO race the Irish lad
who rode him was bred to ride.
Frank is the son of John O'Neill of st.
Louis and his mother was Miss Oviatt Of
Atchison, Kss. Her father. Josiah Oviatt,
has long been a leading figure in higher
Kansas politics. He was Postmaster of
Atchison for twenty years.
The Oviatts are first cousins OF the Wal
colts of Colorado. Mrs O'Neill's grand
mother was a Miss Wolcott. They all come
from the northeast part OF Ohio The men
have been leaders in the politics of their
States and of the nation Not politicians.
but statesmen. like the Senator from the
Rockies.
GOOD BREEDING IN EVIDENCE.
When 1 went to engage Frank O'NeilI as
an exercise boy" said Horseman T. P.
Hayes. who first employed the now famous
rider, 4 went 10 see his mother. ! found
her engaged in that eminently domestic
occupation, washing dishes. Yet, 1 saw at
once that she was a lady of the finest
breeding. When l saw the mother 1 wanted
the son for a jockey. l could that he
was bred right Blood will tell in men as in
horses
On the sire's side little Frank is bred to
ride. His grandfather. father and uncle
kept fast horses. His famous aunt Jennie
O'Neiil Potter, the eiocutionist who never
took a single lesson in her art, who never
was taught TO pronounce, make gestures or
the use OF the voice, was horsewoman of
the most enthusiastic kind. Not a park or
society horsewoman. she a girl who
loved to mount the bare-backed thorough
bred and let him run over the prairies as he
WISHED.
WILD RIDES ON THE PRAIRIEs.
Writing of her rides on her fathers
horses. Jennie O'Neill wrote:
Il would jump on one of the horses and
go tearing down the country road like a
madcap, singing, shouting from pure delight
of living. and my spirit would get into the
horse, and he would snort and strain every
muscle in a mad gallop. Ah those were
glorious days.,
Little Jennie's mother franks grand
mother feared that an accident would some
time come from these mad rides. but some
thing seemed to prevent her from using the
powe. OF command over the irrepreSSible
child of nature.
When Jennie o'Neill became famous elo-
cultioniSt her favorite recitation was Sal
vator.' description of the famous match
race between Salvador ana Tenny.
STRANGE CONDOLENCES.
Here is strange coincidence. Jennie
o'Neill Potter. young widow with two
children to support. arrived in New York
pen1iiess ana i'll from the hamlet of Patch
Grove, Wis, green country girl, who had
never been in big city. She had never
studied elecution. She had acclaimed the
fuilness of her heart to the walls of her
Wisconsin farmhouse.
When she reached New York the first en-
plcyuent and money she received was from
Mrs. William c. Whitney, mother of Harry
Payne Whitney, owner OF Irish Lad on
whom Jennie O'Neill Potter's nephew won
the Brooklyn Handicap the other day.
After Mrs. Whitney took Miss or, prop
erly: Mrs. Potter i, her success was assured.
krank a5sS Ssnnie 9Se Potsers
York. poor indeed, with only his skill as a |
rider to win him his way. He had been un-
experienced hard luck.
Then en- the horse of the MIN whose !
mother did so much for his aunt he wen the |
Brooklyn Handicap. and his success was
also assured
BREAD CAST UPON THE WATERS.
Truly It seems that the bread of Mrs |
Whitney's goodness was cast upon the |
waters and that the good people dies not !
with them: Mrs. Whitney is dead Miss |
Potter is dead. but the nephew pays the |
son back for the kindness the mother did |
the aunt and the son continues To assist |
by his valuable patronage the family of I
which his mother was such a good friend. |
Mrs. Whitney always loved Mrs Potter |
Miss Helen Gould was another of her de- |
voted admirers and personal friends.
SALVADOR AND IRISH LAD
Strangely enough the famous Salvador |
Tenny race was run at Sheepshead Bay |
race track on June Is 1859. Fourteen years !
later Frank ONeill won the Brooklyn Ham |
dicap at GrareSend with Irish Lad. Still |
another strange coincldent IS that the dis |
lance of the two races, one and one |
quarter miles. was the same. and that there /
was only two-ffths Of q second difference in |
the time and that tie distance between the