The Saint Paul globe., 1905-02-26
RACING IS
DUE TOENGLISHMAN
Tragic Death of Trainer Carter
Recalls Turf His.
tory
Special Cable to The Clobe

Special Cable to The Globe
LONDON. Feb. 25.-The recent death
OF I. r. Carter. the famous trainer of
French race horses. is of peculiar interest.
because IL was largely through the exer-
tions Of his predecessor Tom Carter. the
ooyen OF trainers. that the French turf
was built up into a concrete and sub
stantial institution. French racing has
greatly progressed since the days when
the Duke OF Orleans-in a most astonish-
ing get upr-Tode his horses over the
course at Chantilly I'm imitation of the
manners OF the court OF the first gentle
man OF Europe. But the sport as we
Know 1t today-sport OF high class con-
tested by horses capable OF entering the
lists with the best OF the English, sport
which fills US with recurring yearly an
prehensions that the Gladiator coup OF
1865 is to be repeated in our own Derby
owes its existence TO the efforts of an
English nobleman. whose centenary our
neighbors might very fifty and gratefully
observe.
One hundred years ago-in 1S05-was
born son TO a third Marquis of Hertford
He came into the world In Paris, and
grew up to be such an eccentric parsonage
that he never set foot in England, which
was to all inteuts and purposes his native
land An English Jockey club and Pigeon
Shooting club. founded by Thomas Byron,
existed I'm Paris In the year 1858; but Lord
Henry Seymour started with three or four
companies more regular institution.
from which the present French Jockey
ciuo has been evolved. Lord Henry was
the first president. with Louis PHILIPPE as
patron.
Was Practical Joker
He was a noble OF not wholly lovable
disposition. and his fondness for practical
Joking caused more uneasiness than even
the erratic tendencies OF Joseph Surface.
In addition to/the penchant for scattering
burning hot gold among Paris crowds
gold carefully warmed over a burning fire
one OF his pleasant jests was to give his
friends cigars with something explosive
inserted in the end of them. His salts
faction at observing the effect when the
havana was lighted Is reported to have
Deen Keen. but the victim took an entire
ly different view-always supposng that
the state OF his vision allowed him TO
take any view at all.
This eccentric nevertheless did one
practical thing in his peculiar career. He
set TO work TO improve the French breed
OF horses He imported Royal Oak. the
sire OF Slino. which last as a four-year-
old won for Col Peel that remarkable
Lord George Bentnick to the Goodwood
programme in 1887. at a cost to himself
OF LOCO pounds. and run for as the
last race on the card on Saturday after
noon Who now living can recall a
Goodwood Saturday? Royal Oak be-
came a yeritabie monarch OF the
stud in France. though he was
but a moderate performer I'm Eng
land. and founded a dynasty OF equine
celebrities. Igraham. winner OF the Two
Thousand Guineas in 1895, was another
successful Importation. but IL was not so
much by reason Of what he did for horse
racing and horse breeding that Lord
Henry Seymour received the title of ''rhe
Father of Fathers of the French Turf"
His quaint and curious acumen made him
a good judge of men. He imported"
Thomas Carter. the trainer, and with him
as assistants the brothers. Henry and
Thomas Jennings.
Settled In France
People who wonder how 81 events as
the Prix Seymour and the PriX Royal Oak
hgure in the programmes OF the meetings
around Paris may now understand their
genesis. But while Tom Jennings pre-
ierred his native heath, Tom Carter set
tied down in France. and lived to an hon
oraDle age. He died at Chantily a very
old man in September. 1879. leaving be-
hind him host of descendants to main
tam his wei won reputation. In his day
he trained nearly all the best horses of
France for Lord Henry Seymour. after
whose retirement he did a similar service
for Baron Nathaniel de RothSchild and
he won the French Derby for himself with
colt called Experience. The second
Thomas Carter-Thomas Richard Carter
the old man who has just died under
such tragic circumstanceS-obtai also
quiver full of honors. After the in
stitution OF the Grand Prize of Paris in
1905. the French were considerably upset
TO find the first race carried off by an
English horse and owner-The Ranger be-
longing to the late Henry Seville. Water
loo was avenged the very next season.
when the gentleman now lying dead train
ed both Vermont and BoiS- -Rousel for NJ.
Henry Delamarre. How the French went
wild when the first OF these VanquiShed
our own Blair Athol by couple of lengths
is a matter of history. This was not Mr..
Carter's only Grand Prix success. as he
trained Boiard in 1873. and that very use
full animal. well known on English courses
-XasisiaS-in 1889