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Note: GEORGE C. GRAY DEAD AUGUST 13, 1916 Trainer of Con-Lucy and other noted horses passed away The death of G.C. Gray, the noted horse owner and trainer, who passed away removed from the ranks of American horsemen one of the most noted trainers in American turf history and a man whose work will be recalled by hundreds of Philidelphians who used "to have a bet" down on Con-Lucy or other Gloucester and Guttenberg favorites. Gray who was 76 years of age, was born in County Rockford, Ontario, Canada. He went to Rice Co. Kansas in 1871 where he had a cattle ranch. Subsequently he closed his ranch and became associated with the turf. During the days of Guttenberg and Gloucester he owned and trained one of the strongest stables. Among the famous horses therein may be Con-Lucy who won more races than any other horse on the American turf, being 113 in number. Mable, the great race mare, whom William Singerly aquired was another of the stable. At Washington Park, Chicago, Ill. July 8, 1889, Mable set the worlds record for a 3/4 mile race, 1 minute and 13 1/2 seconds. Samaritan, Pelham, Drissel, Silence, Emma G. and many others were among those he owned and trained. At the close of the Glouceste track he withdrew from the track for a little while and then reentered the sport as a trainer of the Connell stable. Under his hands Laura A. made the track record for two year-olds over the Pimlico race track; also Ballota set the track record at Buffalo, 51/2 furlongs in 1.06, she being half sister to the famous Ballot, owned by the late James R. Keen, Kempton that sucessful racer by Kingston, was another of his carefully prepared racers. Nattie, Bumpo and other were winners many times under his hands. As a trainer he had made a wonderful record. As a man he has been honored for his character by all who knew him. From Jim Gray: In the fall of 1879 George and his brother Michael moved to Ellsworth Co. Kansas October 29, 1883, George purchased the north-west quarter of section 20, Galt Twp., Rice Co. Kansas He paid $950.00 for 160 acres and moved to Lyons, Ks. George homesteaded the quarter just to the south in 1888. It became the headquarters for the Gray Ranch. His land swelled to 2300 acres. A race track was built in the middle of section 19. He became director of The Lyons Bank. In the mid 1890's a general panic spread through out the business community, and the bank failed as did his cattle ranch. In 1900 he deeded what was left of his property to his wife Euphemia Cody Gray. In 1901 he left for Glouchester, New Jersey alone. He came back once to see his family. Euphemia petetioned for divorce March 19, 1908. Mary Gray, widow of George Fredrick Gray, took her two sons, Percy and Guy, to see their grandfather. Guy remembers him with a long black beard and black hair. It is said that he met a woman in the east, and had at least one son by her, although no records have been found.
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