Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-05-21
KENTUCKY DERBY
WINNER BOUGHT
FOR SMALL SUM
OMAR kHAYYAM, SENSATIONAL
THREE YEAR OLD. COST IT'S
OWNERS ONLY $t,500-WoN BIG
PURSE WHEN CONSIDERED A
FRANK OUTSIDER"

New York, May 21.-Omar khay-
yam, the sensational three-year old
winner at the classic Kentucky Der
by, cost his owners only $500, That
the investment was ten strike goes
without the saying, for Omar khay
yam won a small sized fortune in
the Kentucky Derby alone, when he
pulled down net purse of SlG,600.
His victory, however, was a tribute
to the excellent Judgment Of Trainer
Charley Patterson. who purchased
him In England at the Newmarket
sale in September, 1915, and nursed
him along TO his entry in the three
yearold classics of this year.
That Omar Khayyam will .aeet
many youngsters worthy Of his metal
before the present season ends is GER
tain, but that he will make a grand
showing in the big Eastern events
in which he is entered seems a sure
bet
His owners, Frederick Johnson and
G. r. G. Billings. mapped out busy
campaign for the Kentuky Derby
winner and later decided to sell him
at auction However, he is to start in
the famous Withers, one of the big
gest events under the auspices OF the
Westchester Racing Assertion He
will also start In the Brooklyn Derby |
and the Huron Handicap, at Sara |
toga, and unless something unfore |
seen occurs to keep him out he will
run in the Brooklyn Handicap, the
Saratoga Cup. the Brookdale Handi-
cap and the Merchants and Citizens
Handicap, all big races in the East.
Those who follow the runners
closely need only be told that Omar
Khayyam must meet such horses as
Richard Wilson's Campfire and All
gust Belmont's Hourless to agree
that he will have his mettle tested to
the limit In addition to horses of
this calibre will be Ticket, Rickerty
Star Master and Skeptic, horses he
defeated in the Kentucky Derby. For
some reason Omar's owners did not
nominate him In the Belmont event,
but he will have a busy season with
out this race.
Omar Khayyam was bred by Sir
John Robinson, and since being
brought to this country has done
comparatively little racing. As a
twoyear-old he won one OF six races
in which he started. His splendid
workouts In training for the Ken.
lucky Derby won him many admirers
to whom his victory at Louisville
did not come as a big surprise.
A Vivid Contrast
What Omar khavyam may win for |
Johnson and Billings Is problematicaI T.
But that, in comparation To his cost |
he will prove a wonderful Investment
is assured
Some of the great runners of other
days cost their owners fortunes, and
contrast of this kind is found be
tween Omar Khayyam and Hermis.
when that horse ran under the coors
of Il. X. Thomas.
Thomas paid cold 100000 for Her.
mis-, and an enormous fee to Jockey
Arthur Redfern. who died recently. to
handle Hermis In number of his
most important races. Redlern rode
liermis to victory In the memorable
Suburban Handicap of 1904, and the
horse broezed home ahead Of a classic
field, holding the lead from start to
finish, winning from Irish Lad and
The Picket
The Suburban Handicap in those
DAYS was worth lot OF money and
IN addition to II Hermit was MANY.
time winner yet the price paid for
nm great horse that he was. seems
enormous when Hermis Is compared
10 Omar Khayyam as an investment,
The feat accomplished by Omar Khay.
yam suggests the value of a scout"
and trainer like Charley Patterson.
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