The Connecticut labor news., 1921-02-25
COURAGE OF THOROUHBRED
 AS SHOWN BY LONGFELLOW
Tragic Story of Old John Harper and His Great Race
 Horse.

The American turf has no more bril- liant name on its roster than that or IOngfcllow, son of imported Leaning ton and Nantura, by Brawner's Eclipse which gained renOwn through his splen- did performances at Saratoga and Mon- mouth Park i'll 1871 and 1872, when he defeated Kinghsher and Harry Bassett i'll the Saratoga and Monmouth cups, respectively. His record in the stud matched his turf career, and much ot lis glory was shared by his part owner and trainer. Jchn Harper, whose per sonaltv was unique even i'll that day, when the turf had a more romantic quality than 1t possesses at present.
 Longfelow did not race as two year-old. He achieved fame i'll the west as a three-year-old, winning h1s best races in the autumn. When the horse was four years old the HarperS-Ben, Jacob and JOhn-all bachelors and living with their maiden sister, Betty, teterm;end TO invade the east. John was the trainer and manager of the stable, and 1t is recorded that he gave New Workers treat on his way to Mon mouth Park. Longfellow was led behind a light spring wagon which conta1ned' besides several young negro boys, supply of home grown feed and bar rel of water from spring on the liar per farm. At the sight of the tlrst DO liceman the aged turfman shouted, Ms ter. can you tell me where Mr. Price McGrath lives-Prlce McGrath ot Lex ington, kensucky, suh ?"
 Longfellow was superb individual, a rich brown in color, with broad strip down his honest face. He had trace of white on all four of his ankles also, It was not to be wondered at that the outfit attracted the attenon of he populace which was to know more of tie great horse within the next few weeks.
 It is matter of turf history how Iongfellow ran away from PreakneSS and Heimboid in the Monmouth Cup. He followed up this performance by de- feating kinghsher in the Saratoga Cup though the son of Lexington made hrm run the first mile of the race Tn the then 1nheard of time of 1 40 in order to beat him. Although he was beaten at four miles at the same meeting by Helmbold the race was in deep mud, III which long strider like LongtelIOw was at great disadvantage. The horse returned home with a great reputation. which was enhanced by a couple of fine per formances in the vets during the spring of his fve-year-old form. The best horse in the east that year was the four year-Old Harry Bassett, and III response to a demand for a meeting between them the Harpers started for Long Branch with their champion, the side ot the car containing the outfit bearing a banner announcing, "Longfellow on his way to Long Branch to meet his friend, Harry Basse;t in the Monmouth Cup.
 This same banner was nailed across the end of John Harper's bedroom till the day Cf his death, rivalling i'll interest the visitors book, in which were in scribed the names of the best known men and women of the period. | lh1s register was kept in a small room ot the log cabin i'll which LongfellOw was housed during his stud career. Some ot the names were laboriously traced, for men in all stations of life came to pay their tribute to the great horse.
 President Grants name was III the book. He was a great admirer of Long fellow and saw all of the horses races in the east Statesmen of the period were also enrolled in the register. Joe Blackburn, Proctor Knott, Senator George Vest and Congressman Phil Thompson were frequent visitors at Nantura, and all of them were warm personal friends of the Harper family
 The outcome of the race for the Mon mouth Cup showed the superiority ot Longfcllow. which, ridden by the col ored lad Sample, ran away from Bas-- sett. with James Rowe as pilot, and passed the finish line 60 yards III advance of the Mcdonald champion.
 The next meeting of the pair was i'll the Saratoga Cup. It was a most dis appointing contest, but 1t served to show Longfellow's gameness. At the start he grabbed his quarter, twisting the plate so that it was bent double, pressing into the sole of his foot at every stride. Despite this Longfellow struggled val iantlv for mile and a half, when the tendons gave way and the superb creature pulled up on three legs, his racing career at an end. John Harper was heartbroken.
 Longfelolw's stud success was anaz- ing. He gave the turf many ot its greatest performers, and III all ot them he transmitted his ability to stay. Freeland was a very great race horse. Longstreet, Leonatus, Riley, Poet Scout and Rainbow were horses of great size, and they had speed and stamina as well. Wadsworth. Linden, Long Knight, Phil osophv and a host of other good ones owned him as sire.
 Thora was his best daughter on the turf. She was the dam of three fine performers in successive years-4 ork- vile Belle, Sir Francis and Dobbins. Peg Wellington, Lavinia Belle, Hypo.. crite and Kaloolah were also good mares The former, mated with Han over, threw David Garrick, while the union of the same sire with another daughter, Mo1lie l.: was responsible for Ben Ho11aday. Still another daughter, Lizzie Baker, was the dam of The Friar, while Longshore produced Apple gate, Kitefoot and Winged Foot.
 The fact that the horses pedigree was short on the dams side did not pre- vent the breeders of his time patronlz- ing him. It is a fact, however, that the family has not endured. II is perhaps best known today through the descend- atns of Halma and Riley The former was quite successful in France, and his son Oversight, soon to be brought to this country, will no doubt be given a chance by those breeders in our ranks who have faith in the old strain. Rile:y's daughter Hurly Burly gave the turf first class performer in Burgocmaster:: Daisy F., by Riley, is the granddam of Doora+ and Thunderer