The History of the South Side Sportsmen's Club

Historical figures of Connetquot Park and the South Side Sportsmen's Club.
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George L. Lorillard

GEORGE LORILLARD TO RETIRE
HIS COUNTRY SEAT AND HIS HORSES TO BE SOLD, OWING TO ILL-HEALTH
March 10, 1884
Copyright The New York Times

The statements is made that George L. Lorillard will retire from the turf and sell his country seat, Westbrook, with his training stables, track, and thorough-breds at Islip, Long Island. He is now at St. Augustine, Fla., whither he went in the Fall to spend the Winter. His reason for selling is his health, which has been poor for many years. He has suffered from hip disease, which compelled him to use a heavy cane or crutch. His Long Island place consists of 1,000 acres, and adjoins that of W. K. Vanderbilt. About one-half of the place is cleared and is in excellent condition. The place and the horses are offered for $200,000, which Pierre Lorillard says is less than they cost. Sensation and Spina way are not included. They are wintering in Maryland, which has been found to be a better climate for them. Long Island is said not to agree with Mr. Lorillard, and it was on the advice of his brother, Pierre that he concluded to sell.

Mr. Lorillard's colors, blue and orange, have been borne by many prominent winners. Among them, besides Sensation and Spinaway, were Torn Ochiltree, Duke of Magenta, Grenada, Loulanier, Danger, Harold, Ferida, Monitor, Louisette, Reveller, and Thackeray. Shelly hoofs compelled Sensations retirement after his first year. He was never beaten on the turf. He is a son of Leamington. Mr. Lorillard decided in 1882 to reduce his stable, which had been the largest in the country, except that of his brother Pierre, and last year Wyndham Walden, his buyer, went to Maryland to establish a breeding and racing stable of his own. Mr. Lorillard never purchased for breeding. His sires and dams were all his own retired racers. Mr. Lorillard is now President of the Monmouth Racing Association.

The death of Mr. George L. Lorillard at Nice, France, on Wednesday is announced. Mr. Lorillard was widely known In this country as a yachtsman, a turfman, and a patron of all outdoor sports. He was born in this city in 1843, and received his education at Yale College, being graduated from the scientific department in 1862, qualified for the practice of medicine. He pursued his studies a year at Bellevue Hospital, but subsequently found his inclinations not in accord with the profession, and gave it up. He decided to go into business with his brother Pierre, who had been ten years in the tobacco trade, having succeeded his father. In 1864 the firm of P. & G. L. Lorillard retired.

As a young man at college Mr. Lorillard had been a devoted athlete and was a fine oarsman. He was physically well fitted for such work, standing 6 feet 3 inches and weighing 200 pounds. On retiring from business he entered with zest into yachting. He began by leasing the schooner Mystic, and in 1865 built the sloop Eva. He joined the New-York Yacht Club in 1866, and in the same year sold the Eva. In 1866 also he sailed on the Vesta in the great ocean yacht race as the representative of his brother Pierre. In the following Spring he bought the Magic, and in 1868 he won with her the regatta of the New-York Yacht Club. He sold the Magic subsequently to Franklin Osgood and built the Challenge, which was lost in a gale off the Bahamas. He next built the schooner Meteor, launched in April 1869 and cruised her in the Mediterranean. She was wrecked in December 75 miles east of Tunis, and Mr. Lorillard and his party had to pay $15,000 ransom to get out of the hands of Arabs. He afterward built the Enchantress, but sold her and gave up yachting in 1872 for the turf.

In 1874 he became associated on the turf with J. G. K. Lawrence, the firm owning Shylock,Hyder Ali, Resolute, and other good horses. Among the well known animals which carried his colors were Tom Ochiltree, Duke of Magenta, Sensation. Spinaway, Monitor, Grenada, and Ferida. For five years his stable was among greatest winners, and, his horses being always in good condition and backed to win, had the confidence of all patrons of the turf. His stock farm at Oakdale, Long Island, has been well known. The establishment and surroundings cover 1,000 acres of level, wooded, and well gated land, and contain an abundance of fish and game. Mr. Lorillards earnings on the turf amounted to from $50,000 to $70,000 annually. Tom Ochiltree alone won him nearly $50,000, and the Duke of Magenta did as well. His 2-year-olds won a great reputation, and were winners year after year.

Although a man of powerful physique, Mr. Lorillard suffered from boyhood with inflammatory rheumatism, and was for some time obliged to use crutches. Three times his family were summoned in expectation of his death, and in 1882 a dispatch from St. Augustine announced that he had died. He found relief by going South in the Fall, and in recent years spent his Winters at his handsome residence at St. Augustine. He went to Nice In the hope of obtaining benefit from the mild climate. He was a very generous man, and spent from $30,000 to $40,000 a year in assisting embarrassed friends. He belonged to the American Maryland, and Louisville Jockey Clubs, the New-York Yacht Club, and the Union and South Side Clubs.

The funeral of Mr. George Lyndes Lorillard, who died at Nice on Feb. 3, was held in Grace Church yesterday morning at 10 oclock. The funeral party was met at the door by the Rector, the Rev. Dr. William R. Huntington, and his assistant, the Rev. George F. Nelson. It had been requested that no flowers be sent, but the casket was almost filled in a bank of white roses and immortelles. Relatives and friends followed until the nave of the dimly lighted church was entirely filled, the rear seats being occupied by old servants and Costello and two other young jockeys, who had faithfully carried the orange and purple for many years.

The simple Episcopal burial service was read, and a quartet sang "Nearer, my God, to Thee." Then the undertakers assistants carried out the heavy metallic casket to the hearse. Mrs. George L. Lorillard followed on the arm of Mr. John Lafarge. Pierre Lorillard came next with his sister, Mrs. Lawrence Kip. Mrs. Lorillard, having been an invalid for a long time, was unable to be present. Then came Pierre Lorillard, Jr., Mr. and Mrs. James G. K. Lawrence, and Mr. and Mrs. James P. Kernochan. Among others present were John G. Heckscher, C. Griswold, Col. Frederick A. Conkling, Capt. William M. Connor, H. S. Gordon, Gen. William Cutting, Fordham Morris, Carroll Livingston, Capt. Coster, Dr. Fields, Joseph L. Spofford, and John Hunter. The casket Was taken to Greenwood, and deposited In the family vault.