New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-10-17
RTDDING FOR TUOkOV,y HBPEDy

BIDDING FOR HOkOUGHBREDS
When Pierre Lorilards superb collection Of stall
lions and broodmares was sold at auction at the
great Rancocas farm on Friday the total was
S1I2.s9j This was far less than the eighty three
thoroughbred should have brought. for the
seventy eight mares ana five stations represented
some of the finest racing strains in the world and
among them were many of the star performers OF
the last twenty years. lot of equal merit and
reputation in England would have brought at least
twice and probably three times much Iroquois
was sacrificed at $4,000 If an English winner of
the Derby and St Logger. only eight years old, in
the very ilush and bloom of lustv youth, an animal
OF magnificent proportions, of exceptional develop
ment ana power were led to the auction block at
Tattersalrs he wOnl excite the eager competition
of representatives of the great sud farms not only
of England but of France Germany, Austria ana
even Australia and woud not be considered high
priced at 5000 or even 10000 gulneas But
Iroquois an American colt and many turf
writer's abroad delighted to pick flaws in him that
never existed betrayng their spite and envy be-
cause the colt came from the wrong side of the
Atlantic. Iroquos was not an OrmOnde, but that
he was far above the average OF Derby winners was
proved by his brilliant achievements IN the Prince
Of Wales Stakes and tho st. Lcger No resoute
effort however.
land or the Continent. probably because racing in
this country owing to the excessive influence OF
hookmakers and the prevalence of pIagne-spots, is
looked on with soma contempt in Europe. ana the
best American horses are vnot rated at their true
value.
Yet Ironuos would have gone to England for
$1,000 save for tho patriotic spirit shown by
General Jackson of Belle Meade, who offered
500 900 and secured the noble horse for Ton
nessee General Jackson does not really need lro-
quois as he already has full force of stations on
his farm. but he wonld not permit the Derby WIN
ner to cross the Atlantic. All honor to him for
that. To allow che American champion to be capt
ured for British use would have been disgrace to
the turf of this codntry.
Too many owners and breeders in the United
States are prone to exalt the merits of imported
horses and to despise the native stock in com2ari-
SON. Who were the sires of the most noted horses
on the American turf this year-rremont, Dew
Drop, The Bard and many others' They were
American to the backbone. Why is it that w.
/. Scott. whose unsuccessful French stallion
Rayon d'Or cost him more than $4,000 and never
vet sired racer uf merit did not seize the oppor-
tnpIty TO secure horss far superior to Rayon dor
for much less money! August Belmont paid more
than $40 OOC for st. Blaise, Derby winner, 1t is
true but one of poor cls, and probably ten pounds
inferior to lroquois. but he did not care for the
great son If Lcamiur IN. j. b. llaggn went TO
the other side OF the world and brought Darebln
from Australia at heavy expense though II Darebln
could have been ia tho English Derby against lro-
ouos it is not likely that he would have got u
place Mr. Withers has shown passionate fond
ness for imported blood. put his English stations
rarely succeed in getting colt or lilly that does
not waut to lie down and rest after running hall
flo rad To
old cripple Mortvmer, for 81 500 rather than bny
lroouois at his roal value Mortemer is now moss
backed Every year his offspring has grown
poorer The best he ever got were Exile and
Wanda and they We've among his first Nearly all
OF his SOUS and daughters that ran this year except
Exile " ore melancholy failures. If Mortemer pro-
duccs a genuine racehorse for Mr.. Withers. 1t Will
be little short of "A breeding miracle. Moreover, if
Mr. Withers keeps on buying stations he Will soon
have two stations TO every mare at Brookdale
Some of the brood-mares brought fair prices for
America though in England. where 5000 guineas
have often been paid for famous brood-mares, the
bids would seem meagre for the selected mothers OF
the turf. Mr.. Lorilard never spared expense in
adding 70 his stock and his mares were the best
that money could bry. But if the prices for the
mares were too low what shall be said of the pitfu!
+ 200 paid for the Duke of Magenta the cham
MON of his day. and of che best horses that
ever trod an American trackl THIS is deplorable.
The imported stallion Pzarro went for $500.
more than six times as much, though he was a
pigrny as a racer in comparison with the mighty
Duke But Pizarro is full of the fashionable"
English blood.
Altogether the Rancoc AZ sale furnished some strk
ing illustrations of the freaks and fancies, the
whims and canrces of breeders and owners. 1t
will long be remembered with regret as ending the
elories of tie greatest of American racing stables
and stud farms Pierre Lorillard has gone from
the turf on which he gained SO many laurels and
for which he did so much. Tho loss is indeed a
heavy one