Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-03

Thirty years ago this spring the yearlings
at Dixiana stock farm were being put
through their early PAGES. The late MAJ.
Barak G. Thomas. ex-soldier. citizen and
breeder OF the hlgh-mettied thoroughbred
was inspecting the royalty bred youngsters
with keen eye to the points of each colt
and fi1ly. Naturally Hira's colt interested
him the most, as the daughter of imp. AM
bassador had never thrown bad horse
yet And this colt was son of the speed
marvel, Alarm, considered the fastest miller
of the age.
Turning to John Clay, the negro jockey
tafterward trainer), the major pointed to
the youngsters as whole. asking: John
which one of these colts looks the best to
your" Without moments hesitation the
colored lad jerked his thumb over toward
Hira's big son and grunted out: Him yarr'
meaning in his negro dialect, THAT colt
there
Now, Mai Thomas knew all the while
that his boy would select Hira's son as the
peer of his fellows but he liked to have the
colt praised. He had not yet selected a
name for the youngster, and at once the
negros answer struck the major as an odd
combination, and Himyar was accordingly
christened with due formality.
The colt grew and thrfved. and in 1871
as two-year-old swept ~ western turf
gan by winning the Phoenix Hotel stakes,
and at once became an overwhelming favor
lite for the Kentucky Derby. His speed in
some of his races was simply startling
three-quarters In 1.13 being part of what
he showed in longer race. And the Ken
lucky Derby was considered at Himyar's
mercy, bar accident.
A Sensational Derby.
But, as so frequently happens in racing.
Derby was virtually left at theapost. But
it was more the fault of his owner than
the starter, John +. Robinson. The boy
Clay, on Himyar, hung back a bit partly
because the colt did not want to join his
horses and partly because the big bunch of
sixteen three-year-olds had no attractions
also for his Jockey.
Finally, when 1t looked like delay, Maj
Thomas who was over at the post, said 10
the starter: General, don't pay any more
attention to my colt as long his head is
turned the right way" So Gen. Robinson
at the next break sent the field off with
Himyar a dozen lengths behind the last
horse, and twenty lengths behind the lead
er. Day Star, as the bunch Strengthened out
for the race.
Then began a stern chase that would have
been successful one had the other jockeys
in the race given Himyar fair play. In a
furlong the colt reached the rear guard, and
passing the stand ending the first half Him
var was in the bunch, but in close quarters.
unable to get through. Meanwhile Day
Star, the leader, was sitting along in front.
At the first turn Clay pulled Himyar
round his horses and started to go through
an opening. But some of the others boys
called to each other: Here he comes Don't
LEI him through And they didn't The
same thing occurred on the back stretch,
and finally Clay had to pull out and go
clean round his horses. At the far turn
Day Star led Himyar six lengths But then
I he cir in q nd ia
Star only beat him head. In another
jump Himyar would have won.
A Great Match
Himyar as a three-year- swept the rae
ing boards in kentucky. Tennessee and
Missouri. But strange to say, Maj. Thomas
never brought him east. Perhaps it was
because he ''babied'' the horse a bit, as he
intended him for a progentor of great
horses at Dixiana when through racing.
AS four-year-old Himyar kept up his
successes, showing what few of the Alarms
had shown-staying powers over distance
of ground. That fall at Louisville he met
another four-year-old, Dave Moore, by
fterward called Long
taw and a successful sire a Charles Reeds
Fairview farm.
Dave Moore was a good horse. especially
over a route, and the Louisville Jockey
Club arranged a special race for four-year-
ODDS at two miles, which by the conditions
was framed for Himyar and Moore. The
Aristfdes-Ten Brock and Ten Brock
Molly Mccarthy races were still topics of
recent discussion, and almost as much in
terest was taken in the Himyar-Mo core race
as in either of the famous races noted.
A great crowd was a Churchill Downs
to see the race and poolseling was very
heavy. Himyar was the choice at 500
to $50 but as the selling progressed Dave
Moore stock improved, a well-known Chi
cagoan buying every pool sold on the lat
ter and soon he was taking Dave Moore
at $500 to Himyar at COO
Soon the horses were selling even up and
then Dave Moore was taken as first choice,
Auctioneer Robert Cathcart selling him to
the Chicago man aforesaid Then one of
Mai Thomas friends hurried over to the
stable to tell Himyars owner what was
going on.
A Kentucky Sheriff.
Mai Thomas was sitting in front of MS