Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-11
GABRIEL THE BEST
OF GRAY RACERS
Great Victory Over Jacobite and
Roseben-FouI Commit
). ted by Former.

The recent sensational victory of the gray
horse oxford over Jacobite and Roseben at
Jamaica and the subsequent disqualification
of the two stable companions, Jacobite and
Halifax for the foul committed by the Tor
mer. recalls to memory the best of the very
few gray horses that have shown hrst-ciass
form on the turf and the record case in
disqualification of stable companions IN one
race at Memphis nearly a quarter of a CEN
tury ago. when three horses from one sta
BILE that ran one-two-three in a stake race
were ALL disoualified for a foul committed
by one of the trio.
7, a canvass had been made at Jamaica
among the members of the old guard OF the
turf as to which was the best gray horse
the American turf has seen for the past
twenty-five years, the consensus of opinion
would have favored Gabriel
FoaIed In 1877 Gabriel was not preco-
cious youngster failing to show his latent
excellence until he developed as a three
year-oid. But he did not show really nrst-
class form until the next season, wnen
four-year- old. in 1881. Then he swept the
racing boards west and east in such sensa-
tfonai fashion as to earn him the title OF
the gray whirlwind morse ina. souIa
go on any sort of a track and combined
stamina and weight-carrying ability Win
speed.
That year he was purchased by w. c: Ap-
piegate who raced under the name OF the
Rosebud stable and won his owner thou
sands in purses and an amount IN wagers
that only he could estimate. And the next
season QSsO Gabriefs success continues.
He was a most peculiar horse. A very light
gray with a shade of dun In his coat, Ga
briel had unusually projecting eyes. ike the
great trotting mare Goldsmith Maid 1t
was always declared that he had eyes In
the back of his head" from the manner In
which he could locate his followers. And
as a bad post actor he was the limit he
would not break unless he could stand WIN
back to the line and wheel. What he would
have done under present methods Is easy TO
imagine.
The Irony Of Fate.
1t was the closing day of the year 1852
Mt New Orleans. 1 was spending the final
hours of New Year eve strolling through
the main thoroughfares of the Crescent
city, watching the gay crowd on the pave
In hotel corridors and theater lobbies the
summary costumes of the gayly dressed
women reminding one of June rather imam
of December.
From the old St Charles and other no.
tells, the Pickwick, Varieties and various
clubs came notes of the latest toplcai
music telling of the passing of the old year
amid the Rayest surroundings, while deco
fations and flags amid vistas or palms
and orange trees aided to the brilliancy or
the entire scene
In upper Canal. South Rampant and upper
St Charles streets the delicate perfume OF
the sweet olive, honeysuckle, rose and
mignonette filed the night air, gratifying
the senses, while the entire influence OF
the semI-tropical night was soothing ana
alluring to visitors from the frozen north
and middle west alike.
1t was now we'll past midnight and with
the new year fifty inaugurated l started for
the nearest telegraph oifice to send a mes
sage of greeting to my northern home: As
l entered the office pile OF message blanks
lay before me, but If directed by the
hand of fate. / passed on to the far end or
the counter. Here another assortment of
The usual pads" lay scattered around. and
among them was with a small square
sheet of black carbon paper over It, The
manifold sheet exactly correspondent to the
size of the pad of blanks.
InstinctiVely / raised the carbon sheet.
wondering to myself what it doing
there anyway. But as l lifted the carbon
started back with an exclamation of sur
prise that nearly drew the attention of the
clerks behind the counter, but they were
busy with newspaper copy.
So I turned again to the blank under
the carbon where was traced copy of
q message evidently just sent and one of
decidingly interesting import. 1t read:
New Orleans, January 1. 1852
TO j Co, - s. Calvert street.
Baltimore:
Wire me today $500 from my personal
account GabrieTs Trumpet will blow at
the Fair Grounds this afternoon, and he
a "a
more in rooms. Sure thing. Will get away
from the post this time. j.
Message From the Unknown.
To say that 1 was surprised was putting
t. mildly Astonished that the sender of a
message like this had failed to notice the
underlying carbon with it's significant inn
preston and that such find should fall to
me was a strange freak of fate indeed II
the irony of fate a veritable treasure
trove few hours would tell Perhaps the
one. perhaps the other.
But | did not reach a conclusion just
then. for / wanted time to think. And
pocketng the message from the unknown
of my telegram home and went out
into the night once more. The cool air was
refreshing and before turning toward my
abode / dropped into a cafe on Royal street.
and while slipping pousse cafe turned to
theduplicate telegram once more
Like most racing devotees L was just a bit
superstitous In such matters. And hold
ing the fateful bit OF paper to the light
again l remembered that in Gabriers last
start he had been left at the post This
messages confident declaration that he
would not be left this time was impressive
TO say the least And 1 made up my mind
TO string along that day with my singular
When 1 retired shortly afterward
placed the duplicate telegram under my
pillow. but no further vision came to me
from dreamland So said to myself in the
morning. after reading the telegram again.
You for 1t, old chap. The horse owes you
little for his getting left In his last race.
more. l don't know who j, the sender.
Is. but the coincidence Is a clincher."
Out at the Fair Grounds that balmy New
Year day a big holiday crowd was on hand.
The race. a handicap at g. mile and a fur
long. was fourth on the card. with the gray
horse the top weight at 119 pounds. He
opened in the betting at 9 to 5. but as NO