Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-12-13
RACING MANS,
"REMINISCENCES
Jockey Mclaughlin Tells OF
Greatest Races of His Day
and Mounts

James Mclaughlin, now pd14o4
fudge for the Jockey club, was the
greatest rider Of his day. He had
the mount on the best of the Dwyer
thoroughbreds during the years they
were making turf history and wnen
asked To give his impressions OF rae
ing conditions past and present had
some interesting comments TO MAKE
on the sport and the horses which
lave played their part in the develop
1lent OF the breed in the United
States.
Mclaughlin, a pupil Of Father Bill
Dalv's school, had the mount on the
best horses that raced between 1878
and 1892. In the former year he went
TO the Dwyers and the foundation OF
the fortune gained by the Brooklyn
turfman was laid with the Hartford
rider plotting such horses as Luke
Blackburn. Hindoo, George kinney
.Bramble and Miss Woodford, all OF
which were trained by James Rowe.
The late Philip Dwyer always main
tained that Luke Blackburn was the
best horse he had ever owned or seen.
and his brother Michael was equally
|hositive in his claims for Hindoo,
afterward destined TO give the tufI
Hanover, a good race horse put
whose fame will endure because or
kfhe family he founded--a tEibe whose
lustre cannot be dimmed-neglected
though it may be by the British turt
Authorities despite the fact that
daughter and a granddaughter each
threw winner of the English DERBY.
spots the Best Horses
When asked TO give his opinion as
10 the best horses he had seen during
his long connection with the turI'
Mclaughlin said:
Blackburn was the best race morse
/ ever saw. fremont was the best
two-vear- old. l won thirteen races
on him and never touched him Win
the whip. Hourless was as good
three-year- as we ever had.
.&iked him because OF his great speed
and the ease with which he could De
placed. He could stay. too.~ AS
campaiguer season after season
Roamer would get my vote as the
best of all time. Firenze would be
bv choice of all the mares, and l
ICde many good ones.
blackburn could run fast and far.
He wasn't q tall horse, not more than
15.2 hands, but he had big. strong
body and a thick neck like Ben
Rrush's. He was free runner ana
would jump OFF and make his com
pany dizzy. He had fine temper and
.ryas a prime favorlte both in the East
and iii Kentucky. When he won the
stallion Stakes at Louisville, Cover
nor Blackburn made him present
of suit of clothes. l always worked
Luke and he wore quarter boots. as
he would rap his heels If you pulled
him about. Hindoo was OF a diner
ent type He was a long strider and
a real stayer. In appearance he was
very much like Billy Kelly. Like
that good two-year-old, ne could De
placed very handily, and as rule he
had TO be ridden. l generally wait
ed with him.
T-non being asked which OF the
GREAT horses he preferred after Luke
blackburn and HiRdoo. Mclaughlin
,eDlled Kingston. He could beat
any Of the sprinters and could stay
nm 10 a mile and a quarter. He was
a perfect horse in temper action,
conformation and all that goes to
make a great horse. \ child could
ride him. I.know that IL will shock
some people TO have me declare
Kingston the superior Of Hanover.
hut | rode both OF them, and must
favor the brown over the chestnut.
Hanover was done If you dropped his
head. He had to go of with the
track and run his competitors into
tha ground His high, rapid action
was undoubtedly against him.
George Kinney l would place
after Blackburn. HindoO and Kings
ron. He was a big, lazy fellow that
.Syouldn't do anything unless you got
fter him. Kinney beat lroquois In
the Special which was arranged at
ire old Monmouth Park course when
AIR. Lorillard's horse returned from
wirning the English Derby. The
Itwyers started both Kinney and Miss
woodford and wanted me TO ride the
mare. l thought Kinney the better
NJ the nair and had the satisfaction
~ winning the race by four lengths.
Tronuois was second. Miss Woodford
was good mare of the sturdy mas
culine type. but Firenze. in ny oPin-
ion. was greater performer than
the daughter of Billet. Firenze could
zdn all day.
"We had very many great horses
in my time as a rider" continue Nc
Iaughlin. Il think that Mr.. Bel
smont's plea for longer races will BEN
eft the turf. Most of our good tests
were at a mile and a quarter and up
ward and we had lots of horses that
could stay. You can't develop the
staging qualities of horses unless
such races are made feature of
every racing program and enough "f
them are given to make 1t worth
while to train and prepare horses
for them.
.aThe riders of my time didn't have