Harry K. Knapp
Encyclopedia
Harry Kearsarge Knapp was a United States financier and a prominent executive in the Thoroughbred
horse racing
industry.
A graduate of Columbia University
, he was a partner with George Hyatt and John S. Van Siclen in the New York City
stock brokerage
firm, Hyatt & Co. and later a partner in Benedict Drysdale & Co. Harry Knapp was also a director of the Corn Exchange Bank
of New York and was the head of the Racquet and Tennis Club
.
Harry Knapp married Caroline Burr with whom he had three children. They made their home in New York City
and in 1903 built Brookwood Hall, a summer home on more than 100 acre (0.404686 km²) at East Islip
, on Long Island
, New York
now being used as the Islip Art Museum. http://www.freewebs.com/limansionsguide/brookwoodhall.htm http://www.eastislip.org/Pages/Estates/BrookWood%20Hall%20History/brookwood_hall_history.htm
racing, operating with his brother, Dr. Gideon Lee Knapp, under the nom de course, Oneck Stable. They owned a number of successful horses, among the best known of which were Sir Walter
, winner of the 1896 Brooklyn Handicap
and Fashion Plate, winner of the 1910 Metropolitan Handicap
.
Walter Rollins
was a long-time trainer for the Oneck Stable and was succeeded by William Karrick.
Knapp was a member of the Board of Directors
and a Vice-Chairman of The Jockey Club
and a director of the Saratoga Racing Association
. In 1906, New York Governor Frank W. Higgins
appointed him Chairman of the New York State Racing Commission
.
Poor health forced Harry Knapp to step down from his various racing positions in 1925 and he died on February 1, 1926. In May, his racing stable was sold at auction at Belmont Park
. His son Theodore served as president of the Queens County Jockey Club from 1941 until his death in 1947.http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F10B12FD3D5E167B93C7AB178AD85F458485F9 The Queens County Jockey Club owned and operated the Aqueduct Racetrack
.
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
horse racing
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
industry.
A graduate of Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, he was a partner with George Hyatt and John S. Van Siclen in the New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
stock brokerage
Stock broker
A stock broker or stockbroker is a regulated professional broker who buys and sells shares and other securities through market makers or Agency Only Firms on behalf of investors...
firm, Hyatt & Co. and later a partner in Benedict Drysdale & Co. Harry Knapp was also a director of the Corn Exchange Bank
Corn Exchange Bank
The Corn Exchange Bank was founded in 1853 in New York, but had branches in other states, including Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Nebraska. It was a retail bank that acquired many community banks. In 1929 it was renamed the Corn Exchange Bank and Trust Company. In 1954 it merged with Chemical Bank...
of New York and was the head of the Racquet and Tennis Club
Racquet and Tennis Club
The Racquet and Tennis Club is a private social club and athletic club located at 370 Park Avenue, between East 52nd and 53rd Streets, New York, New York.-Building:...
.
Harry Knapp married Caroline Burr with whom he had three children. They made their home in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and in 1903 built Brookwood Hall, a summer home on more than 100 acre (0.404686 km²) at East Islip
East Islip, New York
East Islip is a hamlet and CDP in the Town of Islip, Suffolk County, New York, . At the time of the 2000 census, the CDP had 4,578 households and a population of 14,078.-History and overview:...
, on Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
now being used as the Islip Art Museum. http://www.freewebs.com/limansionsguide/brookwoodhall.htm http://www.eastislip.org/Pages/Estates/BrookWood%20Hall%20History/brookwood_hall_history.htm
Oneck Stable
Harry Knapp became involved in the sport of ThoroughbredThoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racing, operating with his brother, Dr. Gideon Lee Knapp, under the nom de course, Oneck Stable. They owned a number of successful horses, among the best known of which were Sir Walter
Sir Walter
Sir Walter was an outstanding American Thoroughbred racehorse known for his gritty determination which saw him win a number of races by a matter of inches. He was bred by James Ben Ali Haggin at his Rancho Del Paso near Sacramento, California who had imported his sire, Midlothian, from Great Britain...
, winner of the 1896 Brooklyn Handicap
Brooklyn Handicap
The Brooklyn Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in early June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, on Long Island. It currently is a Grade II event open to three-year-olds and up willing to race one and one-half miles on dirt....
and Fashion Plate, winner of the 1910 Metropolitan Handicap
Metropolitan Handicap
The Metropolitan Handicap, frequently called the "Met Mile," is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race held annually during the last week of May at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Open to horses age three and older, it is contested on dirt over a distance of one mile .The Met Mile was first...
.
Walter Rollins
Walter C. Rollins
Walter Childs Rollins was an American Thoroughbred racehorse trainer about whom the New York Times said "was for thirty years one of the most successful trainers of thoroughbred racers in America."...
was a long-time trainer for the Oneck Stable and was succeeded by William Karrick.
Knapp was a member of the Board of Directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
and a Vice-Chairman of The Jockey Club
The Jockey Club
The Jockey Club, formed on February 9, 1894, is the keeper of The American Stud Book. It came into existence after James R. Keene spearheaded a drive in support of racehorse trainers who had complained about the Board of Control that governed racing in New York State.-History:On its formation, The...
and a director of the Saratoga Racing Association
Saratoga Race Course
Saratoga Race Course is a Thoroughbred horse racing track in Saratoga Springs, New York, United States. It opened on August 3, 1863, and is the oldest organized sporting venue of any kind in the United States. It is typically open for racing from late July through early September.-History:John...
. In 1906, New York Governor Frank W. Higgins
Frank W. Higgins
Frank Wayland Higgins was an American politician. He was a delegate to the 1888 Republican National Convention, and a member of the New York State Senate from 1894 to 1902. He was Lieutenant Governor of New York from 1903 to 1904, elected in 1902; and Governor of New York from 1905 to 1906,...
appointed him Chairman of the New York State Racing Commission
New York State Racing and Wagering Board
The New York State Racing and Wagering Board is the official governing body that oversees horse racing, charitable gaming, and Indian casino gaming in New York State...
.
Poor health forced Harry Knapp to step down from his various racing positions in 1925 and he died on February 1, 1926. In May, his racing stable was sold at auction at Belmont Park
Belmont Park
Belmont Park is a major thoroughbred horse-racing facility located in Elmont in the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, on Long Island adjoining New York City. It first opened on May 4, 1905...
. His son Theodore served as president of the Queens County Jockey Club from 1941 until his death in 1947.http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F10B12FD3D5E167B93C7AB178AD85F458485F9 The Queens County Jockey Club owned and operated the Aqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack is a thoroughbred horse-racing facility and racino in Ozone Park, Queens, New York. Its racing meets usually are from late October/early November through April.-History:...
.