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

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 B5ssett
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 II possesses at present.
Longfellow did not race as two
year-old. He achieved fame In the West
as a three-year-old. 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
light spring wagon which contained.
| besides several young negro boys, 4
supply OF home grown feed and u bar
rel OF water from a spring on the Har-
liceman the aged turfman shouted, Mis-
ter, can you tell me where Mr.. Price Nc
Grath lives-Price McGrath Of Lexing-
ton, Kensucly. subj"
Longfellow was superb individual.
a rich brown In color, with a broad
strip down his honest face. He had a
trace OF white on all four OF his anlSi =
also. II was not TO be wondered at
that the outfit attracted the attention
f~t. st-uG m lgfTnp
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 the first mile of the race in the then
unheard OF time of l 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
long strider like Longfellow was at
great disadvantage. The horse returned
home with a great reputation, which
was enhanced by a couple Of line per-
formances In the West during the spring
Of his iive-year-old form. The best horse
in the East that year was the four-year-
old Harry Bassett, and in response to
demand for a meeting between them the
Harpers started for Long Branch with
their champion. the side Of the car con-
tanning the outfit bearing a banner an
nouncins, "Longfellow 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 till
/ 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 Longfcllow was
| housed during his stud career. Some of
the names were laborously traced, To-
men in all stations Of life came to pay
their tribute to the great horse.
President Grants name was in the
book. He was a great adnirer 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 we're frequent visitors az
Nantura, and all Of them we're warm
personal friends OF the Harper family.
The outcome or the race for the Mon
mouth Cup showed the superiority of
Longfellow, which, ridden by the colored
| 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 the pair was Ia
the Saratoga Cup. Ii was a most dis
appointing contest. but Il served to show
Longfelow's gamencss AZ the start he
grabbed his quarter. twisting tho plate
80 that IL was bent double, pressing into
the sole OF his foot at every stride.
! Despite this Longrellow struggled val
iantly for mile and a half, when tho
tendons gave way and the superb
creature pulled up on three legs. his
racing career nj an end. John Harper
was heartbroken. Before leaving for
his home he wrote n letter TO Wiilkess
Spirit Of the Times, Of which the follow
ing excerpt gives ample evidences Of the
qualities Of heart and sportsmanship
possessed by the eighty-year-old turf
man:
II am about TO return 10 my home in
Kentucky and may never come East
again 7 am ain old man tyour readers
may not be interested to know how old.
but have been the companion Of race
horses for three score years), and every
year that ! have lived l have learned
something. have never. however.
learned that there was anything more
reliable than a game thoroughbred
horse. unless It was a gemo chicken.