The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-06-23
BREEDING FOR THE TURF

bhl1EDlNG EOh
The brilliant feats of the two
American horses-one in England,
the other in France-both winning
the highest distinction attaching to
racing in each country, leads every
body, just now, to inquire more lpar=
ticulary into the conditions that pro-
duce the best thoroughbreds. The
racing world is becoming greater
with each succeeding year, and it
promises 10 become greater still.
Recent sales of thoroughbred colts
show higher figures than ever be-
fore, and the noble turf breeds are
being scattered throughout the civ
ilized world. Kentucky has been
the home of the racer. Here all the
kingly families, from which have
sprung animals as noted rs any
of the crowned heads of Europe,
have held dominion in the
ACoi 70 VI hiShs NOI HOTc 1lldu
a generation ago the racing
studs ofthe country could be counted
on ones fingers. Now they extend
from Maine to Texas and from Flor
ida to Oregon, and, as in the begin
ming imported English stock
was used to create them, now the
eyes of all racemen turn to Ken
lucky for "blood." The royal
lineage is race necessity, and in
the blue grass region below
the Ohio river it has flourished
for generations in such perfection
that breeders guard it as zealously
as they would the most sacred rela.
tions of the family circle. Here the
most noted trains of racing blood
are represented by a numerous
progeny, showing no taint and no
imperfection, with a parentage rum
ming away back to the noblest ami
mails that ever trod the sands of
Arabia. At the late annual sale ofthe
great Kentucky breeder, Alexander,
thirty-six untried yearlings, being
disposed of alone upon their blood,
brought the snug sum of $36, ,265, or
an, average of over $1,000 to each
colt. One yearliUg colt brought
$3.50, two others S325O and $3O5O
respectively, and another S275O, the
aggregate price of the four being
S14,700. AT the Preakness sale
thirty-eight head were disposed OF
for $25,065, the leading prices being
$4100, $S400 and $3.50. Surely the
breeding of racers must be profita-
bic when yearling animals can be
sold at such figures, and the readi-
ness to pay such enormous prices
suggests that the racing world is ex-
ceedingly limited in its sources of
supply. But, may it not begin to
occur at This day, that these are un-
necessary prices to pay, especially
for Kentucky colts, since this
pure race blood has been dis
tributed throughout the Union,
and that there is just as royal blood
elsewhere as in Kentucky. The blue
grass of Kentucky can make no
more muscular horses than the mes
quite grasses of these hills and val
leys about Austin. The fashion of
buying stock in Kentucky was
proper enough until. blood became
disseminated throughout the coun-
try. Now it is not correct, at least
if the same blood may be produced,
as we'll developed, in regions suited
to rearing the racer. Our undulating
country, yerging on the broken, is
perfectly suited to the development
of the race horse, and our climate
and water are all that he requires,
while his nourishment is as
good here as anywhere. These
reflections should be considered
by those who invest inrace stock,
and they should also afford matter
for the consideration of our stock
men and agriculturists. 1t costs but
little more to rear {. fine horse than
a scrub, and, when il is seen that
fine animal sells for from fifty to five
hundred times as much as a scrub,
the folly of these men who raise
horses worth but little more than
their hides and tallow will bring is
apparent. Those who think that
Kentucky is alone the home of the
race horse; should look into the bril-
liant record of Texans on the turf,
and they should especially visit
Austin, next October, during the
state fair, aud examine the stables
that will assemble here on that ec-
casion. -e,-.,..--