Sysonby James Keene`s homely colt amazed the racing world in 1904-05.
Sysonby won the Flash stakes at Saratoga in 1904 against his stablemate Augur, Glorifer and Trapper. Sysonby jogged to a very fast 1:06 4/5 and a 10 length win. Afer Sysonby`s win a large crowd gathered around him as he cooled off under the paddock trees. Among the interested spectators were John Madden and James Keene. Madden was the prominent breed of the times who owned and bred 5 Kentucky Derby winners and taught the Whitneys how to build a racing stable. WC Whitney and his son Harry Payne Whitney went to Madden to learn horse racing.
Mr Madden said to Mr. Keene “When I saw Sysonby work at Brighton Beach Mr. Keene
I sold out all of my horses. He is a great colt, and I made up my mind that my colts had no chance to best him.
“Yes replied” Mr. Keene. “He is the greatest colt I ever had or saw.” He is better than Commando and could beat the head off Hamburg.”
(Hamburg is the only horse other than MOW to win a race by 100 lengths.)
An $100,000 offer to buy Sysonby was made but Keene refused with thanks.
Sysonby has the rich $20,000 Saratoga Special at his mercy Saturday coming and is already a hot favorite for the rich Futurity. The greatest breeders of the day can not beat Sysonby.
From a Saratoga newspaper in August 1904.
