Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1908-02-21
DURNELL CALLED
MAN OF MYSTERY
STILL YOUNG MAN. BUT HAS HAD
cHEcKERED CAREER ON
RACING TRACKS.
RULED OFF TURF THREE TIMES
Final Suspension Due 20 Unknown In
fiuences-Won Classic Suburban
After Having Been Suspended
Was Good Friend Of John w. Oates
"A Successful Trainer.

Charles l.. (Boots) Durnell has
earned the title of the Man OF Mys
terry" In the turf world. A young man,
aot over 80 years OF age. he has been
ruled on the turf three times. the last
occasion but a short time after he
: bad won the classic Suburban. On the
first two occasions there were we'll
defined reasons. In the last case.
which happened recently. nothing has
been learned from the Jockey club.
only they ordered associations under
their jurisdiction to refuse Durnelrs
entries.
Many reasons have been assigned
One of them is that his connections
with John w. Gates. when the Wall
street magnate was doing his spectac.
ular plunging, was so distasteful to
the racing authorities that they
showed their dissatisfaction by tax.
ing drastic action. On the other hand.
It is said that several races run by
horses belonging 10 Durnell did not
please the Jockey club, and after q
quiet Investigation they felt that IL
woald be to the best interests OF the
turf to give him the gate.
Durnell first came under the ban
OF the turf authorities when the
French officials ruled him OF In 1901
for standing at the post with his
Londre at ST. Cloud in big stake.
DurneI claimed that his remaining at
the post was due to misunderstood.
ing. Nevertheless the French author
tiles suspended him.
On the ruling of the French Jockey
club the American turf folks barred
him from their tracks for two years,
when he managed to get Influential
friends to get him reinstated by the
French club. In February, 1906. Dur
nell became mixed up in a row with
John McCaferty over the horse HUI
guenot Both preferred charges and
counter-charges, and IL finally wound
up In both being ruled OF the turf
for life. In the early part OF this year
Durnell managed to get back into the
fold through the efforts OF John w.
Gates, IL is claimed. He got together
a good stable and startled all the east.
ern racegoers by capturing the Subur.
ban with Nealon at the liberal odds
OF 20 TO /.
With that great victory to his credit,
Boots" Durnell came to be known as
one of the most successful trainers on
the turf He Immediately blossomed
out in swell raiment, and wore his
stable colors in his hatband. Just
before the horses went to Saratoga
John w. Gates announced his retire
ment from the game.
This set tongues wagging, as 1t was
reported that Gates had received q
tip from the authorities that his
heavy betting was detrimental to the
welfare OF racing. With his sponsor
out OF the way, Durnell began to fall
During the Saratoga meeting he held
a public sale of his horses. This, also,
was due to a hint from higher up, II
is said.
To the surprise of many. when sew
eral OF his horses were disposed OF
at the sale faced the barrier they
ran under the name of the Burllngame
stable. They carried the Durnell col.
ors and IL was admitted that he bought
them in This was looked on as some
what of an act of defiance, and many
well informed turfmen did not hest
tate to say that the end OF DurneD
was rapidly approaching.
1t came along toward the middle Of