Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-09
"REMINISCENCES OF.
FUTUR|TY STAKES
How Jockey Turner Lost the
First Race-Griffin's Nap
on GaIiIee.
Written for The Star.

Written for The Star.
AS the second poor owner to win the
great Futurity, generally known as the
millionaire stake, William Lakeland, one of
the best jockeys of his day, and for years
since a greatly respected and esteemed
trainer and owner, met with many warm
congratulations on the triumph of his game
and speedy two-year-old, Electioneer. The
nineteen years history of this most valua-
BILE of racing events has shown wealthy
owners to have won it no less than seven
teen times, only in its inaugural year Qsss)
and in his latest reversal just run has it
fallen to men of moderate means.
This apparent leaning of dame fortune
toward the millionaires of racing has been
marked by some singular buffets of the
tickle goddess toward men of small means
that aspired to Futurity hopors, "hoo-
doc" on that class of turfmen that has con-
tinued for the long period noted. This
irony of fate in racing marked the expe-
rience of a well-known westerner in the
first Futurity, when the brain of a Law
renee gave to the turf world this greatest
of all American Produce stakes.
When entries closed for the first Futurity
on January 1, 1856, among the large number
of mares entered were two from Maryville,
Mo-, the property of James B. Gray, IA
miliarly- known throughout the length and
breadth of the western turf circuit as
Uncle Jim" Gray. One of these two mares,
Lightheart, gave to the turf world that
spring chestnut colt by Faustus, which
was promptly named Galen, alIer ]. Galen
Brown.
The youngster Galen grew and thrived at
his Missouri home and two years later de-
yeloped speed Of the hurricane order that
hi w
the west long before Futurity day came
round that fall. All Of which decided his
owner to start Galen for the big race, al
though it meant $3.50 starting fee and
certain great expenses running up to fully
s., 600 in the aggregate. So Galen AM a
stable companion were shipped east a
couple Of weeks before the big race, so as
to get used to the surroundings and the
climatic changes.
A Colt From Missouri.
So we'll did Galen take to his new sur
roundings that his work impressed all the
horsemen at the Bay, and when the Sara
toga division got in the Missouri colt was
showing trials that marked him as speed
marvel that would have to be reckoned
with in the great race.
It was no trouble for Galen to show
quarters in O.22z three furlongs in O.34
and half miles in O.47. speed greater than
any Futurity youngsters had shown. Ana
as the day of the race drew nigh the form
shown by the big chestnut colt from Mis-
souri, was the talk Of the track. Even the
owners and trainers OF the favorites Proc
tor Knott and Salvador acknowledged that
the Missouri colt had them all beaten as to
speed, and the race also, II he could keep
up his clip to the end.
On the day of the race Uncle Jim" Gray
was besieged by friends to put up some OF
the eastern jockeys on his colt. But he
had brought on his own Jockey, Enoch
Turner, and refused to substitute any one
else Turner was a lad of fair ability and
understood Galen well, having exercised
and ridden him from the time he took his
first gallop.
OF the fourteen starters for the memoir
able Futurity the white-faced, white-legged
Proctor Knott and the sturdy Salvador were
paraded to the post Jockey Pike"
Barnes was on Proctor Knott, while Isaac
Murphy, the colored archer, bestrode Sal
vator. Galen also attracted much atten-
ton, especially after a whilrwind preifmi-
nary.
Up the Futurity chute Starter Caldwell
had his troubles with the big field Of high.
strung colts and f1llies After one break
with him and In getting back to the line
called his employer over and asked him to
request the starter to give him few mo-
ments' time, as he was very weak Then
Gray realized that reducing had told on
Turner and he hurried around among his
fellow horsemen trying to find some one
who had flask of whisky with them.
Jockeys Weakness Lost Race
But while there was water, water every
where" there was not a drop of anything
stronger to be had and the jockey had to
make the best of the situation. And as the
field got away at the next break Owner
Gray hoped for the best. Sure enough
Galen had the foot of his field from the
start and in the first furlong opened up day
Of the other boys launching their mounts
to keep within hail of the flying leader.
At the elbow" where the old Futurity
course joined the main track, i was stand
reached US. Here Galen was leading two
lengths In the middle Of the track going
easily. gallopping along with his mouth
open, while over on the inside rails Proctor
Knott and Salvador were Tapped with both
Barnes and Murphy at work on them with
hands and heels.
with only a furiong and a half to go 1t
looked as II Galen had the race safe, put
to take Galen over toward the inner rails
the colt suddenly bolted with him to the
outside in spite Of his riders efforts to
control him.
This lost Galen fully three lengths and
both Proctor Knott and Salvador headed
him. After Turner got him straight 6aien
up Nth rusn nasr the 1d Sn n stand
with Proctor Knott and Salvador away over
on the inside rails. In q hard drive Proctor
Knott beat Salvador home by a neck: with
Galen as far only behind the pride OF
Rancho Del Paso.
Il was hard race for the Missourian to
lose. for one little drink Of whiskey or
brandy would have given his Jockey the
temporary strength necessary to restrain
his colt from running out and taking the
longest way home. After the Futurity Galen
was shipped to Chicago, where he won the
Quickstep stakes with 128 pounds In the
cA6in Thnn ne Was aold to George HaW-
kins for &1bs0o0. and won good RACES In