Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-10
BOUGHT AS A JOKE,
Willie Shields Paid 81 900 for oaklawn
and Now Refuses $4,000,

The luck of the turf. the golden mystic
chance afforded poor man of becoming
rich and independent in the twist of a
trivial circumstance, was never better ex-
emplified than in connection with the great
two-year-old colt Oaklawn, whose name
now on the tip of the public tongue. is soon
to be engraved on the roll of fame with
the great thoroughbredS of the past ac-
Cording to good judges.
Willie Shields, his owner. became in
spired saw for the first time and bought
Oaklawn all within the space of five min
utes. Shields had never seen nor heard
of the son of Farandole. of whose purchase
at the present moment the goodly sum of
$2J,OOn would scarcely effect, until he
shambled into the sales ring at Sleeps
head Bay one afternoon last summer, at
tracted by the sonorous voice of Auctioneer
BILLY" Easton.
He stood at the entrance to the ring
made one bid. won the prize and to the &C
compartment of the cheers of derision from
fellow horsemen ranged about the ringside,
tugged Oaklawn out of the ring and away
TO the barn within the race course. Today
these selfsame soothing wiseacres of the
turf may well turn that scorning smile of
summer day into the Scowl of envy for
who is there but would not consider him
self the luckiest man in the world to own
such equine treasure as Oaklawn DrOm-
ises to be?
The story goes that on the day of the
sale of some Farandole youngsters at one
of the midsummer sales at Sheepshead Bay
Willie Shields lay reposing in a midday
nap on soft bed of hay, for he had been
astir at o'clock that morning seeing to
the management of the big stable over
which his father, Alex. Shields presided.
when his slumber was arrested by the call
Easton or bids on the FarandoIe year.
ling. Stretching himself and giving his
belt an extra jerk. Shields was soon up
and looking the world in the face. Big
rotund and jolly the trainer strobe across
the lane to the of the sale ba,,
made up his mind in a prankish spirit to
bid on the offering. even before he saw the
young horse.
He peered in a roguish way into the ring
OF breeders. owners. trainers and the pro-
fessional men of the sport. Well we are
going to get bid from Mr.. Shields. for |
see II in his eye" declared Auctioneer Eas-
ton from the block. he espied Shields at
the doorway. Canada Jack" Atkins had
bid 500, and Rome Respess had volun-
teered 500.
We'll, you can have $1,000 from me-
replied Shields
Take him away. Mr.. Yousouff" came
the reJoinder from Easton, and then while
Tom Welsh, John Mackay, Tom" Healy
ana other fellow trainers good ma turedly
guyed him. the young Canadian led away
the scrawny looking fellow who bids fair
today to become Hermis or a McChesney
from his hoofs
The son refused the father on Saturday,
Tor In the flush of victory after Oaklawn
had won In gallop the Washington Nurs-
cry, Alex Shields offered his son $4,000 in
cash Tor his colt The younger Shields de-
cided to keep his pet
may never get good horse again and
1 know l shall knock together many TEN
thousand before quit the race horse bust
ness. explained the son afterward In dis
cussiug the offer. 49,
Oaklawn won on Saturday so easily with
III pounds up that even the most conserva-
tive turfmen predict a brilliant future for
Oskiawn about New York this coming sea-
son. The stable states that the first on
portunity New Workers will have of seeing
Osklawn under silks will be at Aaueduct
Monday. April "a. when he runs in the Car
negie Stakes. his only engagement at the
Queens county track.