The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-08-15

Philadelphia. Aug H.-Probably Jew II
any performances OF the season have
given or VIII give a greater amount OF
pleasure and satisfaction 10 a greater
number % people who are entirely dis
interested than Sat Of Country Jay at
Detroit last week. when the lame. game.
and ancient gelding trotted 70 a race
record Of 2.07lz and at last. after carry
ing mark OF 2:10ik for eight years. won
a place in that select list whose members
are assured Of lasting reputation.
Country Jay Is now thirteen. and no
other trotter that has ever entered tho
2:l0 list has in doing 50 triumphed over
SO many tn1rmities. AS a two-year-old
ne displayed wonderful speed-in Nay
that season he could show a 2IO gait
But. he met with an accident that caused
him TO become unsound. and IT was not
until he was five years old that he finally
got 10 the races.
Country jay was logged over the roads
Of this city and vicinity during the
winter Of 1907 and 1905 BY John walker
His victory IN the 2.I1 class trot AZ De-
troit the past week. which he won in
2,0l1z. 2:os1z. and 2.O95s. losing the second
heat 70 Judge Lee in 2:0SlI. was q most
popular win. he having after a lapse OF
practically eight years come back and
entered the 2:l0 list
He was for sale while in this citv
but the local hOrsemen did not care
70 take the chance on him. He was
al that time the property OF Isaac Eek
ert Of Reading. who had purchased him
in Lexington for $1,000 The story OF
Country Jay furnished some interesting
history. and in many respects his turf
career has been a remarkable one.
Big Money Winner.
In 1901 he was one OF the largest
money-wiHning trotters. and took his.
former mark OF 2.l0A, after showing
such form as 70 warrant the prediction.
that he would be a sensation during
1902 But when his owner and trainer,
Gus Macy. started 10 work him in the.
spring Of 1902 he found the Jay afflicted
with a very bad spawn. Many cures
were tried with little success. and after
several vets" had finished their work
on him he presented a sad sight his
spawned leg having been eaten BY
strong drugs Macy then turned him
out and for several years he roaned
the blue grass pasture at will
Macy again took him up during the
summer OF 1865. and that fall surprised
ali by driving him a mile in 2.05zs over
the track az Lexington; he was also
ridden a mile In $40 The following
spring Isaac Eckert. OF Reading. pur-
chased him and in a few weeks he
again succumbed 10 lameness. and this
resulted in long litigation. The Jay
was returned 10 Macy AID Eckert
brought suit FOR the purchase price.
claiming he had been sold a lame horse
when guaranteed a sound one Macy
refused either 10 receive the horse OF
refund the money. and Country Jay
found himself thrown on the world
homeless cripple
EclSert Loses Suit.
Mr.. Eckert lost his suit and the Jav
was returned 10 Reading. For a cou-
pie OF years be ran out at pasture and
was later taken up and driven on the
roads in the vicinity Of Reading and
then sent 20 this city. While here he
worked quarters and halves in sensation
al time over the Point Breeze track. He
Ribbon sale of 19lS. where William smith
OF Toledo. a well-known Ohio horseman.
purchased him for $40. Smith succeeded
IN getting him 70 the Columbus races,
where he again trotted close TO 2.I0
Macy then purchased his old-tire "a
vorite for George II. Estabrook, OF Den
yer, for use as a road horse How
ever, upon reaching Denver Country jay
was tried out IN the matinees and
showed such good form that Mr Esta-
brook decided 10 try him again at the
races. At Lexington late last June
Macy worked him a mile IN Z-0S2t. and
once more the up and down career OF
the famous thirteen-yea--old gelding was
brought 20 public notice. Country Jay
Is reported 60 be quite lame ar the pres
ent time, and IL is hardly possible that
he can last through many more hard
fought races. and II not Mr.. Estabrook
is an admirable sportsman, and the great
gelding will not want in the future for a
comfortable home.
The stake which the son OF Jay Haw-
ker won at Lexington was a 5000 one.
and was sold In a SO field in pools worth
S492.