Cary T. Grayson to WT Waggoner
Title
Cary T. Grayson to WT Waggoner
Creator
Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938
Identifier
WWP16645
Date
1930 January 16
Source
Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, Staunton, Virginia
Language
English
Text
Mr. WT Waggoner
Fort Worth, Texas
Dear Mr. Waggoner, -
I was delighted to receive your letter of January 7th.
I am rather glad that you did not purchase PAICINES from Judge Hay, and I note with interest what you say about making no offer for REIGHTCOUNT. I noticed comment in one of the English papers about this “world record price” offered for REIGH COUNT and I would say that his owner has gotten some rich publicity and advertisement at your expense. The price of $750,000, I think was absurd for FELSTED.
Concerning the breeding of a few mares to ROYAL FORD, if he has shown anything commendable as a race horse I would certainly breed a few mares to him, but if he hasn’t shown good results, I would hesitate to breed to him, for, as you remember, he is by SWINFORD out of ROY HERODE mare. This line on the sire side for a number of years in England has been deteriorating, but recently it has picked up considerably, namely, TRIGO, the winner of the English Derby and St. Ledger and other big races is a grand son of SWINFORD. He is the best race horse that England had this year. But on the female side it has been superior for brood mares. I would prefer to see you get ROYAL FORD back to the races and let him show something worthwhile before you breed to him. I saw him run one race in Chicago this year and he did not make a good showing, but it was rumored that he was trained very pororly. As I stated, I would rather see you win some good races with him and breed him next year. However, in case he did not train, he is worth breeding to a few mares. As you know, this breeding game always possesses a big element of chance and this horse may be much better than I rate him.
You have never sent me a list of your mares so I am unable to give you any suggestions about breeding them. If you feel like sending the list to me I shall be delighted to give you any help that I can.
I hope you entered BROADWAY LIMITED and KILKERRY in the Derby for it only costs $25 and there are no further penalties if you dont start. I note what you say about BROADWAY LIMITED being a bad actor before he gets to running, - standing on his hind legs etc. He evidently gets that through MAN’O’ WAR’S grandsire, HASTINGS. They say he was the meanest horse ever on a race track. Mr. Salmon’sDISPLAY by FAIR PLAY is the worst acting horse I ever saw in my life. He always delays the start of a race, kicks other horses, and is just a crazy horse, generally. All this he is supposed to have inherited from his grandsire, HASTINGS. But notwithstanding all this he is the second biggest money-winner now in America, and they are sending him out to Agua Calienta to try to beat ZEV’S record of over $300,000. The other colts out of STARFLIGHT, the dam of BROADWAY LIMITED have had good dispositions, and I think with patience and proper handling BROADWAY LIMITED’s actions can be improved, but probably he will be somewhat of a bad actor before he actually gets to running. However, I certainly think he ought to make a good showing as a race horse.
In regard to your asking me what I hear about Mr. Dick Vestal as a trainer, I have made several inquiries, just in an off-hand way without letting anyeonee know the object of my inquiry, and I havent been able to get any information that is worth anything. In time, however, I can probably answer your question. Of course, it is important to know the value of the source from which you get the information. I am very anxious to see you get the best of trainers. You have spent a lot of money and got the best blood, and now I want to see you have a very high-class trainer. Mr. Vestal may be the man. I hear McElroy wiell spoken of, but it is said he is rather lacking in experience. He should improve, of course. He certainly seems to have done well with the HIGH TIMES in New Orleans.
If your two Derby candidates are good enough to start in the Derby and you go up there, I am going to try to join you and stand by you while they are running, and I hope I shall be able to tell you that they are in front - particularly in the home stretch! There are certainly no better bred horses running in the Derby than BROADWAY LIMITED, and I think I would rejoice as much in seeing him win it as you would.
Relative to my writing to the papers about the Racing Bill, of course I shall be only too glad to help you in any way that I can, but before writing to the Star-Telegram and the Dallas News I want to study the best way of approach. I would prefer an interview rather than a letter, if it could be so arranged. I think it would be more effective, and while I’d like to go down there, it is rather hard for me to get away just now. However, perhaps I can arrange for a newspaper reporter to interview me here and send the story on, converying the message covered by the points you mentioned in your letter. (The advantage to the State and to the Farmers in having breeding farms, selling feed etc.) I would like to make this article newsy and direct to the point - but not as though it were forced. I am having Senator Tom Connelly to dinner with me Saturday night and he may be able to give me suggestions, from the Texas stand-point, on the best method of procedure. There is also a question in my mind as to when is the best time to give this news out - whether now or a month or two before the State Legislature meets. Perhaps if the interview were given out too far in advance it might become stale or give the agitators too long a time to pick on it. Perhaps Judge Barwise can give us some suggestions along this line. Feel assured that I am only too glad to do what I can to help you in this matter, and the reason I am writing you in this manner is because I want to be very sure that my method will be the strongest and get the most favorable results.
Fort Worth, Texas
Dear Mr. Waggoner, -
I was delighted to receive your letter of January 7th.
I am rather glad that you did not purchase PAICINES from Judge Hay, and I note with interest what you say about making no offer for REIGHTCOUNT. I noticed comment in one of the English papers about this “world record price” offered for REIGH COUNT and I would say that his owner has gotten some rich publicity and advertisement at your expense. The price of $750,000, I think was absurd for FELSTED.
Concerning the breeding of a few mares to ROYAL FORD, if he has shown anything commendable as a race horse I would certainly breed a few mares to him, but if he hasn’t shown good results, I would hesitate to breed to him, for, as you remember, he is by SWINFORD out of ROY HERODE mare. This line on the sire side for a number of years in England has been deteriorating, but recently it has picked up considerably, namely, TRIGO, the winner of the English Derby and St. Ledger and other big races is a grand son of SWINFORD. He is the best race horse that England had this year. But on the female side it has been superior for brood mares. I would prefer to see you get ROYAL FORD back to the races and let him show something worthwhile before you breed to him. I saw him run one race in Chicago this year and he did not make a good showing, but it was rumored that he was trained very pororly. As I stated, I would rather see you win some good races with him and breed him next year. However, in case he did not train, he is worth breeding to a few mares. As you know, this breeding game always possesses a big element of chance and this horse may be much better than I rate him.
You have never sent me a list of your mares so I am unable to give you any suggestions about breeding them. If you feel like sending the list to me I shall be delighted to give you any help that I can.
I hope you entered BROADWAY LIMITED and KILKERRY in the Derby for it only costs $25 and there are no further penalties if you dont start. I note what you say about BROADWAY LIMITED being a bad actor before he gets to running, - standing on his hind legs etc. He evidently gets that through MAN’O’ WAR’S grandsire, HASTINGS. They say he was the meanest horse ever on a race track. Mr. Salmon’sDISPLAY by FAIR PLAY is the worst acting horse I ever saw in my life. He always delays the start of a race, kicks other horses, and is just a crazy horse, generally. All this he is supposed to have inherited from his grandsire, HASTINGS. But notwithstanding all this he is the second biggest money-winner now in America, and they are sending him out to Agua Calienta to try to beat ZEV’S record of over $300,000. The other colts out of STARFLIGHT, the dam of BROADWAY LIMITED have had good dispositions, and I think with patience and proper handling BROADWAY LIMITED’s actions can be improved, but probably he will be somewhat of a bad actor before he actually gets to running. However, I certainly think he ought to make a good showing as a race horse.
In regard to your asking me what I hear about Mr. Dick Vestal as a trainer, I have made several inquiries, just in an off-hand way without letting anyeonee know the object of my inquiry, and I havent been able to get any information that is worth anything. In time, however, I can probably answer your question. Of course, it is important to know the value of the source from which you get the information. I am very anxious to see you get the best of trainers. You have spent a lot of money and got the best blood, and now I want to see you have a very high-class trainer. Mr. Vestal may be the man. I hear McElroy wiell spoken of, but it is said he is rather lacking in experience. He should improve, of course. He certainly seems to have done well with the HIGH TIMES in New Orleans.
If your two Derby candidates are good enough to start in the Derby and you go up there, I am going to try to join you and stand by you while they are running, and I hope I shall be able to tell you that they are in front - particularly in the home stretch! There are certainly no better bred horses running in the Derby than BROADWAY LIMITED, and I think I would rejoice as much in seeing him win it as you would.
Relative to my writing to the papers about the Racing Bill, of course I shall be only too glad to help you in any way that I can, but before writing to the Star-Telegram and the Dallas News I want to study the best way of approach. I would prefer an interview rather than a letter, if it could be so arranged. I think it would be more effective, and while I’d like to go down there, it is rather hard for me to get away just now. However, perhaps I can arrange for a newspaper reporter to interview me here and send the story on, converying the message covered by the points you mentioned in your letter. (The advantage to the State and to the Farmers in having breeding farms, selling feed etc.) I would like to make this article newsy and direct to the point - but not as though it were forced. I am having Senator Tom Connelly to dinner with me Saturday night and he may be able to give me suggestions, from the Texas stand-point, on the best method of procedure. There is also a question in my mind as to when is the best time to give this news out - whether now or a month or two before the State Legislature meets. Perhaps if the interview were given out too far in advance it might become stale or give the agitators too long a time to pick on it. Perhaps Judge Barwise can give us some suggestions along this line. Feel assured that I am only too glad to do what I can to help you in this matter, and the reason I am writing you in this manner is because I want to be very sure that my method will be the strongest and get the most favorable results.
Original Format
Letter
To
Waggoner, William Thomas (1852–1934)
Files
Collection
Citation
Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938, “Cary T. Grayson to WT Waggoner,” 1930 January 16, WWP16645, Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.