The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-02-18
OLDEST TRAINER
IS JAMES MORROW
Washington Horseman Has
Been Handling Ribbons
Since Before "a ar.
STUNG SURE THING MEN
With William Penn He Cleaned Up
When He First Reached Town.
Still in Active Harness

James Morrow. the dean of the Wash
ington school Of trotting horse trainers
and drivers, who suffered a severe at
tack Of vertigo recently. is again out
and around among his friends
Mr.. Morrow is an interesting member
OF the local turf contingent He is.
perhaps. the oldest man at this time
actively engaged IN training and driving
horses IN the United States. He has
raced on nearly every track in the coun-
try. He is a native Of New York, but
has made this citv his home for more
than thirty years.
Beat Local Combination.
Mr.. Morrow's advent to the National
Capital is an event remembered by sew
eral old local horsemen with chagrin,
and by others with much amusement.
1t was in 1874 shortly after the Bright
wood track was opened, that he drove
into the yard and asked for stall for
his horse. He had never been seen
there before, and the manner in which
he cared for the animal attracted at
tentiOn and at once created the idea
that the horse was a valuable one
Questioned about him. Mr.. Morrow ad-
United that he was a fairly good trot-
ter. but made no claim OF great speed
for him Later Mr.. Morrow stated that
the name Of the horse was William
Penn.
At that time there was a bunch of
lively sports that loitered around
BrtghtwoOd. and 1t was not long before
they were satisfied that they had a line
on William Penn and framed a race by
which they hoped to relieve his owner
OF fat roll OF money that they dis
covered he carried. When the race was
proposed Mr.. Morrow did not appear to
take kindly 10 il. He seemed 70 be
suspicious. But, after a week or two
had rolled around and he had been care
fully handled by his new acquaintance.
ne became less dubious and finally
agreed 10 go into series of races, each
OF which called for handsome purse.
Strung EN- Along.
William Penn was eligible to the $40
class and ne was not rated by anyone
OF the owners Of opposing horses in
these races as better than his mark.
and when Mr.. Morrow lost the first race
in heats around 2;45 they were confident
they had a pipe" He brought world
Of woe 10 them. however. when he had
put up punches OF money on the results
OF the other heats. all five of which he
won, William Penn trotting heat after
heat better than the first race showed
him to be.
Among the horses William Penn de-
feated in these races was Jacob Iearv.
considered the fastest trotter in this
vicinity in those days.
Won Famous Match Race.
Mr.. Morrow was also interested in
the at that period famous horse Edwin
Forrest, that was handled by one of
his friends. and in a three-cornered
match race in which Forrest, Lady Pat
terson, and William Penn were the
starters, he scOOped in another big
bundle OF money. Forrest won two heats
and Lady Patterson won the next two
Then Penn. apparently a dead one in
tho first stages of the event went on
and won the next three heats and the
race.
Mr.. Morrow raced William Penn in
The West the following year and then
sold him for $1,000 The horse eventual
~ took trotting record Of 2:3O.
Joined the Army.
Mr.. Morrow was engaged in training
horses at Woodstock. Ill. when the civil
war came on, and ne went into Com
pany +. Ninety-fifth Illinois volunteers.
as first lieutenant. After the war he
returned TO that town and resumed
training and driving, and has been at
this occupation ever since.
Mr. Morrow has handled many good
horses He schooled and drove PAGERS
and trotters for the late General Beal.
+. NJ. Dranney. and A. T. Britton. and
In more recent years has had in hand
a number Of horses owned by Gen Nell
son A. Miles. One mare he broke
trained, and drove for Mr.. Dranney was
Lady Leah, that took a trotting mark
or 2:24A. a pacing mark of 2:26. and
then took half-mile running record
Of 40 seconds.
Mr- Marrow now has in hand .Javins
Brothers horses. and viii train and
drive them in their races this year.
iuo1,0,o oorr 0I,,