The New York herald., 1921-02-20
Tragic Story Of Old John
Harper and His Great
Race Horse.

The American turf has no moro brill
liant name on its roster than that of
Longfellow. son of imported bennington
and Nantura, by Brawner's Eclipse.
which gained renown through his splen-
did performances at Saratoga ana Mon
mouth Park in 1871 and 1872, when he
defeated Kingfisher and Harry B9ssett
in the Saratoga and Monmouth cups,
respectively. His record in the STUD
matched his turf career, and much OF
his glory was shared by his part owner
and trainer, John Harper, whose per-
sonality was unique even In that day.
when the turf had a more romantic
quality than 1t possesses at present.
Longfellow did not race as a two
year-old. He achieved fame in the West
as q three-year- winning his 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.
determined to invade the East John
was the trainer and manager of the
stable, and 1t is recorded that he gave
New Workers. a treat on his way to Mon
mouth Park. Longfellow was led behind
a light spring wagon which contained.
besides several young negro boys. a
supply of home grown feed and bar
rel of water from spring on the Har-
per farm. At the sight of the first po-
liceman the aged turfman shouted, Mis-
ter. can you tell me where Mr.. Price Nc
Grath lives-Price McGrath Of Lexing-
ton, Kensucky. suh2"
Longfellow was a superb individual.
a rich brown in color. with broad
strip down his honest face. He had a
trace of white on all four OF his aulSl IS
IL IN ha xrnndarnd
that the outfit attracted the attention
of the populace which was TO know
more OF the great horse within the next
few weeks.
1t Is a matter OF turf history how
Longfellow ran away from Preakness
and Helmbold in the Monmouth Cup.
He followed up this performance by de-
feating Kingfisher in the Saratoga Cup.
though the son of Lexington made him
run tho first mile of the race In the then
unheard of time of 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, in which a
long strider like Longfellow was at a
great disadvantage. The horse returned
home with a great reputation. which
was enhanced by couple of Inc per-
formances in the West during the spring
OF his five-year-old form. The best horse
in the East that year was the four-year-
old Harry Bassett, and In response TO a
demand for a meeting between them the
Harpers started for Long Branch with
their champion, tho side of the car con-
tanning the outfit bearing a banner an
nouncing, "Longfeflow on his way 10
Long Branch to meet his friend Harry
Bassett in the Monmouth Cup"
This same banner was nailed across
the end of John Harper's bedroom TIL
the day of his death. rivalling in Interest
the visitors book. in which were In
scribed the names OF the best known
men and women of the period. This
register was kept in a small room OF the
log cabin In which Longfellow was
housed during his stud career. Some OF
the names we're laboriously traced. TO
men in all stations Of life came to pay
their tribute 10 the great horse.
President Grants name was In the
book. lie was n great adnirer of Long
] fellow and saw all of the horses races
| in the East. Statesmen OF the period
were also enrolled in tho register. Joe
| Blackburn. Proctor Knott, Senator
George Vest and Congressman Phil
Thompson were frequent visitors a;
| 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 OF
| Lonefellow, which, ridden by the colorcd
| lad Sample, ran away from Bassett. with
James Rowe as pilot, and passed the
| finish limo sixty yards in advance OF the
Mcdaniel champion.
Tho next meeting Of tho pair was an
the Saratoga Cup. ~ was most dis
appointing contest but II served TO show
Longfellows gameness. At the start he
/ grabbed his quarter. twisting the plate
so that Il was bont double. pressing into
/ tho sole OF his foot at every stride
/ Despite this Longfellow struggled val.
iantly for a 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 heartbrokon. Before leaving for
his home he wrote n letter to Wiilkos's
/ Spirit Of the Times, OF which the follow
ing excerpt gives ample evidences of the
qualities OF heart and sportsmanshlr
possessed by the eighty-year-old turf
man:
II am about 10 return 10 my home In
Kentucky and may never come East
again. ] am an old man (your readers
may not be interested to know how old,
but l have been tho companion OF race
horses for three score years), and every
year that l have lived / have learned
something. have never. however,
learned that there was anything more
reliable than a game thoroughbred
horse. unless it was a game chicken,