GOOD LUCK LINIMENT

Since 1899

GOOD LUCK, on the outside, with Charlie Adams at the reins, rounds a corner in one of his many purse-winning races. (Photo courtesy Newkirk Historical Society)

The GOOD LUCK Story** Continued

Newkirk's Famous Pharmacist

Just who was Charlie Adams? He was born near Albany, KS, on Aug. 31, 1875 and named Charles Francis Adams. He received a degree in pharmacy from the University of Kansas and opened a drug store in Newkirk, OK in 1899 at the ripe age of 24. At about the same time, Adams patented GOOD LUCK LINIMENT which consisted mainly of linseed oil. He always told his family that in addition to the ingredients listed on the label it also had a "secret" ingredient.

At a very early age, Adams fell in love with horses, particularly harness race horses. He kept his horses in the barn behind his home and maintained a practice track in the neighboring block. Adams named his favorite trotter after the patent medicine and in 1941 Good Luck won more firsts than any trotter in the United States. He won every start he made over half mile tracks, winning 32 firsts, five seconds and two thirds. Good Luck was raised in the Kaw Country, eleven miles east and one and a half north of Newkirk in north central Oklahoma. Adams bought him there in 1937 when he was four years old. Good Luck had always paced in the pasture, but Adams shod him to trot and had him ready to start in 1940 but was rained out in almost every race meet that year.

After his retirement, Adams entered most of the harness racing circuits in Missouri, Iowa and Nebraska. During the war years, Adams and Good Luck were basically idle as far as races were concerned, however, Adams put this time to good use in keeping Good Luck in shape by racing him daily on his practice track. In 1947 with the war over, Good Luck won every race, losing only one heat in the whole season, and in honor of the pair's amazing success, Newkirk held a parade for the duo in September of that year. By 1948, Good Luck had won over $13,000 in purses. In 1949 when Good Luck was 16 and Adams was 74, they won 22 out of 23 races. The horse, knowing Adams was hard of hearing, let him know when another horse was coming up fast by laying both ears back.

In addition to Good Luck, Adams also had a pacer named Miss Good Luck and one named Mentholatum which he sold for $800. Adams' delightful sense of humor showed when he remarked that he bet no other druggist sold that much Mentholatum in one day. Adams operated a pharmacy in Newkirk for 40 years, originally being located in the Brown Building.

Good Luck Liniment is still made in Newkirk under the same name and by the same process and can be ordered from the GOOD LUCK LINIMENT Company.

Order GOOD LUCK LINIMENT today!

Go back to beginning of the GOOD LUCK LINIMENT story

**Originally published on the Newkirk Herald Journal Front Page
Newkirk Herald Journal - September, 2003 - Newkirk Herald Journal - September, 2002

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GOOD LUCK LINIMENT CO.
2101 W Peckham Rd
Newkirk, OK 74647-8510