Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1937-07-24
Days NIhe0 M0ntana
Horses Fastest on tiny Track
Recalled By Races at Helena

Revival OF horse racing IN Helena re-
Gently after a lapse OF several years
recalls to many Of the oid-timers'
the palmy days nearly % years age
when the stables Of Marcus DAILY, Butte
copper king, and S. E. Larables Deer
! Lodge banker and capitalist, were
among the foremost in the country.
Not only did these two Montana men
ouyn some of the most famous horses
/ on the turf at that time but they were
among the top in earnings on the big
gest track in the east. Days stable was
probably the most famous by reason Of
his great Tammany, the leading runner
of his time and rated one OF the great
est of all time.
Both DAILY and Larabie were at their
height in the sport OF racing IN the
1905 and the sporting blood Of Mon.
tanans was fired by the phenomenal
performances of horses bred and raised
in the Treasure state. in competition
with the best in the world.
Larabie First
The start of Larabie's stable ante
dated that of DAILY. The mighty Ben
Holladay was the best horse he ever
owned. Tammany Days greatest thor
oughbred, became a byword for fast
time and big purses. Days money win
nings from his horses were much
greater than those of the Larabie string,
but when the Larabie stable was in its
prime no greater aggregation Of thor
oughbreds was known to American
tracks.
Running horses we're fad with both
of these pioneer Montanans. They bred
and raised them and trained them and
raced them because they enjoyed it.
Because both of them were business
men as well they tried, of course, TO
make the animals pay their own way.
Larabie bred his horses at the VIII
low Brook farm near Deer Lodge, and
was engaged in it as early as the
eighties. Larabie was banker. He came
to Montana in 1864 from New York,
where he was born in 1845. His en-
trance into the state was by way of
the North Platte river trail and the
Bridger cutoff to Virginia City.
Six years later he was IN Deer Lodge
as a member of the banking firm of
Donnell. Clark and Larabie. His part
ner, r. w. Donnell, had been whole
sale grocer in Helena and Virginia City
from 1868 to 1869. From then on ne
was the senior member of the banking
firm Of Donnell, Lawson and Simpson
of New York City. The Clark who was
a member of the firm was the late
United States Senator w. A. Clark,
who became one of its leading copper
magnates before his death.
Made Fortunes
But in the late sixties all three were
hustling, young and successful men
taking prominent part in the develop
ment Of a new country.
Besides the bank in Deer Lodge, the
firm of DonneIl, Clark and Larabie had
a bank in Butte, which was managed
by Clark, and which later became W. A.
Clark and Bros. Larabie managed the
Deer Lodge bank and Donnell'S con-
nections with the New York panfVng
firm gave the Montana concern US
tinct advantage in the matter Of cRs-
posing of gold dust and bullion, fne
buying of which was the principal BUS
mess of banks in Montana at that time.
illustrating the amount OF business
transacted by the firm OF Doltnell,
Clark and I,arabie, it may be said that
during the year 1871, 1t bought 81 ESQ.,
600 in dust and bullion. In 1872 the
firms dust and bullion business
amounted to 81 100, 900; IN 1873 to $780,
600; in 1874 to $3.50, 600; IN 1875 to $125,-
600; in 1876 to $3.50, 600; IN lSII 70 $5o0'-
600; in 1879 to $225, 600; in 1880 TO $780,
600, and in 1881 to $230,OOO :
It is noticeable how the business
tapered off as the gathering OF Iree
dust and nuggets became more diff
cult wear by year, as the rich workings
played out. The banks, however, turn
ing to other lines, proSpered regardless.
Nearly all OF the dust and bullion taken
in at the Deer Lodge bank came from
the pioneer and Bear districts which
had become pretty well worked out by
the early eighties. But in the ten years
from 1871 to 1881, Donneu, clark ana
Larabie's Deer Lodge bank handled
a total of $7,075 600 In gold dust ana
bullion.
All members Of the firm were rich
men by this time. Larabie remained in
Deer Lodge in the banking business
after his two partners had transferred
their activities entirely to other fields.
He established the Willow Brook farm
and began to breed thoroughbred
horses for pastime.
Among the famous horses which ne
owned besides Ben Holiday, were Bon
ME Australian, Vice Regent, Beth
Rroeck. Poet Scout, High Tariff, Julia
7, Paiil Pry, Julia Kinney, Halnla,
Tonpese. Staffa, Decapod, Celtic, Bard,
Trolley, Czarowitz, Mary Black, Kin
lev. Mack and Macleod OF Dare.
In 1898 the Spirit Of the Times,
publication QeVOCe0 10 IStCS MUSES. Sss41
of I.arabie that mo other owner had
bred so many high-claSs race horses
from so few mares"
Iarabie often said that it was his
desire and intention to have a stud
second to none in America. He took for
his breeding gospel the theory that he
wanted animals whose pedigree showed
them TO come from forebears who had
proved themselves capable OF high
rate of speed, and possessed Of the
Stamina and courage which enabled
them to carry that rate OF speed over
long distances. He also sought to breed
animals of fair size and symmetrical
proportions- looking horses.
OF all those he bred, none achieved
greater distinction than Ben Holiday
the game son of Mollie l. and Hannibal
In 1885 Ben Holiday was entered II
IL races, won four, was second in three
third three times and placed twice
His winnings that year were $l,765.
Tremendous Feat
In 1896, Ben Holiday ran 10 races
He won three of them, was second II
eight. ran third in six and placed u