Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-07-13

choice the Americans make OF their stud
horses, to incline some persons to the opinion
that In the course of half another century
we shall have to go to the United States to
replenish our own blood, which must de
generate II that of the most sound and most
enduring quality is transported to that
country
When Parole and subsequent to his time
the great Iroquois and the peerless Foxhall
achieved their triumphs in England our
British cousins were amazed, and some of the
shrewdest observers of signs Of the times be-
gan to see the handwriting on the wall in
their successes But unfortunately for the
glory of the American race horse abroad, the
enterprising Mr.. Pierre Lorillard and Mr..
James X. keene did not go ON with their
work of invasion for the reason that in the
meanwhile the opportunities Of making rae
ing profitable at home mad grown so much in
number and value that owners no longer
saw the necessity of foreign expedition to
gain adequate glory or financial returns
How rapidly the American turf has grown
may best be judged by a comparison of the
returns in the turf guides in 1877 and in 1851
Ten years ago the total number Of races re
ported for the season vas 907, of which s27
were on the fat, As over hurdles and IS
steeplechases The total value of all races
including stakes, matches, added money to
stakes, purses etc, was s44l ,652 Now in
1887 the amount of none, alone giveniby the
clubs in the shape of purses and added money
to stakes amounted to 81 ,3S4, So sum
that does not include a single piece of plate
or other object of value outside of actual
money, nor the stakes, entrance to purses,
excuses over entered price in selling races
included in the returns Of 1877 With this
amount added, the figures for 1887 reach the
grand total Of 81, $50 276. Is $l6S, $50 so more
than was won in England in 1887 and within
a fraction of $4,000 of the entire amount
won in England, Ireland and Scotland In
other words, the figures show an increase of
more than million and a half in ten years.
But this increase is nothing to what the
returns of 1888 will show The Monmouth
Park association, which last year furnished a
total of $l69 500 to be raced for already
offers over S200,0OO for the ensuing season,
and by means of special races, etc, which
will be gotten up as occasion demands, it is
fair to presume that by the end of the season
at least s225 900 will have been given by this
association alone The Coney Island Jockey
club in 1887 hung up Sl2o, 200 Thus far its
offers for iASS already exceed $50, 1000 and it
is almost a certainty that its actual donations
by the end OF the season will surpass Sl75,-
900 The Brooklyn Jockey club in 1887 hung
up Sl0S,600 Its offers this year will exceed
$3.50, 600 The veteran American Jockey
club, the most conservative of the racing asso-
Citations, and which for years back has made
it rather point not to increase the value of
purses or added money to stakes, in 1887 fur
nished total of SIS, $50 for eighteen days of
racing. This year it will be under entirely
new management, which will be actuated by
the modern progressive spirit, and as it will
have to enter upon strong competition with
younger associations it is fair to presume
that by the end of the coming racing season
it will have contributed fully IS per cent
more to the prizes of the American associa-
ton. The western associations are keeping
right on increasing the value of purses and
added money TO stakes, as well as lengthen-
ing their meetings So much SO is this ex-
tension Of meetings contemplated that there
will be several serious clashes in the way of
dates this year the most notable being that
between st. Louis and Latonia.
1t is impossible in the space Of brief arti-
Gle like this to more than allude to the pro
portionate increase of the value OF the breed
ing interest. Where ten years ago hundreds
of yearlings were annually bred, thousands
are now produced, and in Kentucky and
Tennessee, which still hold their own as the
premier horse producing states in the Union,
many Of the leading raisers of cattle, sheep,
etc. are now beginning to devote themselves
entirely to raising thoroughbreds, and after
all this industry is far and above the most
profitable of all in the stock raising line. In
spite Of the increased supply of race horses,
the demand keeps on growing even more rap