The New York herald., 1922-12-10
Was 1t Retired Prize Fighter
or Messrs. Hunter and Trav-
ers Who Established Racing?
MORRISSEY'S RAPID RISE
Leader Of Crowd That Killed
Bill Poole Came to Command
Respect of All.
By GURNEY c. CUE.

Racing in America" recently writ
ten for the Jockey Club by w. S. vos-
burgh gives a new version of the ori-
gin of Saratoga's famous August run
ming meetings and omits altogether
the name of the man to whom horse.
men have for sixty years been accus.
toned to give the credit for establish.
ing turf sport at the Springs.
1T was early In 1853 that the late
Mr.. John Hunter and his partner. Mr..
w. r. Travers. conceived the plan OF
race meeting at Saratoga Springs
the author says. ana then goes on to
tell the story OF the meeting without
mentioning John Morrissey.
Doubtless Mr.. Vosburgh had what
was deemed to be good authority for
his course, but it would be interest
ing to know its source. When the
meeting of 1863 was first announced.
in Wilkes's Spirit of the Times on
May 80 OF that year, the name of the
sponsor that appeared in the adver-
tisement was "John Morrissey, pro-
prietor." Entries were to be sent to
him at 676 Broadway, New York, and
he personally reserved the right to
postpone any race on account of the
weather and then to change the day
for any races that followed on the
three days program. 1t was over his
name. too. that the frank and unusual
announcement was made: "This track
is short of a mile. but, for this meet
ing. once around is to be considered
one mile"
Credit to ''the Lessee"
When the meeting took place. few
weeks after the great battle of Gettys-
burg. which perhaps decided the fate
OF the Union. the Spirit. whose edhfor
and proprietor, George Wilkes. was not
on good terms with Morrissey. gave "the
lessee" as he was referred to, all the
credit of originating the project and
carrying 1t out. The races were evil
IDENTIFY reported for the Spirit by
Charles ]. Foster. whom the late
George B. Raymond. q capable critic.
always called the most accomplished
all around sporting journalist ever seen
In this country.
on the steamboat Francis Skiddy and
sat up all night talking horse with ''all
the great betting men of New York who
were on the boat" He pronounced the
old Horse Haven track too narrow and
Its turns too sharp, and otherwise criti-
Tized the course and its appointments
which then included q row OF stables
so situated as TO shut off the view of
part OF the track from the spectators
assembled on foot, on horseback or In
carriages on the infield of the crude old
race ground. DR.. Underwood. a Ken
lucky horse doctor who is usually cred
tied with having been the first man TO
sell auction pools. was busy night and
day." knocking down favorites and
fields at the United States Hotel in the
evenings and at the tracks in the morn
ing and during the races.
An Exciting Incident.
An exciting incident of the meeting
was the alleged "hobblng" OF the Can
adian horse, Thunder. entered by Dennis
Reedy on the last day of the races. He
sold favorite in some auction pools
$1,000 and more. but when 1t came time
to start Reedy announced that some mis-
creant has given him poisoned apple
and asked permission to draw him. Tit
was granted. not without some misgiv-
ings, according to Foster. who intimated
that the judges were imposed upon.
In spite of all handicaps the meeting
was such n success that the Spirit on
August % announced the establishment
of a large, permanent and influential
racing club and the construction OF a
new and spacious course with all the
necessary adjuncts. "On the day fol-
Lowing the conclusion of the recent
meeting" so ran the editorial, which
studiously omitted Morrissey's name,
"the lessee OF the present track opened
n subscription list for the purpose above
stated. Within two hours s10.600 was
subscribed. the greatest eagerness being
manifested by the wealthy gentlemen
present to second the views promulgat-
ed Among the subscribers to the fund
was Commodore Vanderbilt who put his
name down for $4,000. with the addenda
that he was ready to aid the projection
with all the means required, even to
shouldering the entire responsibility.
on the following Monday a meeting was
called. when the following gentlemen
were unanimously elected to fill the re-
spective onerous positions:
Morrissey I'm the background.
"wilIIam r. Travers. president Leon
ard Jerome, first vice-president: John
r. Purdy. second vice-president; execu-
tive committee. John Hunter. John b.
Mcbride Davidson. Erastus Corning,
Jr.; John n. White, James M. Marvin,
George A. Osgood.
at n subsequent meeting $1,000 ad-
ditional was subscribed. and the land
required. ninety-four and half acres
was purchased. the title to which was
delivered last Saturday august is
1891 The old track Is included In the
purchase. but II is only intended TO use
II as exercising ground.
Much credit Is due to the lessee for
the energy he displayed at the outset in
originating the plan Of operations. but
his only connection with the club. and
the only one he desires. will be in an
executive capacity. Mr.. Wheatly, so
we'll and favorably known in connection
with the Lexington Association, Is as
signed the position Of secreteary for
which he Is admirably suited, at sail
ary OF $1,000 per annum. and he will
permanently reside at Saratoga and de-
tote his entire attention TO the club
and its admirable projects"
Morrirsey ms Prize Fighter.
This Is the contemporaneous account
OF the beginning OF racing mt Saratoga,
written by men who should have known
all about II. and pretty strong proof
should be required AZ this late day 70
unset the evidence that John Morrissey.
not John Hunter and William r.
'rravers. originated and carried out the
o,ut Meeting and started the project