The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-25
California Horses.
By HENRY j. CRoCKER.

have hardly the time st my disposal to COM
ply with THE CALLS request for an essay of
such character as ought to be written apropos
OF the recent horse show and of the blooded
horses OF California. Nevertheless am inter
ested sufficiently in both subjects and believe
them to be of so much interest and importance
to the people OF this City and State that I am
tempted to accept the task, reserving only the
privilege of being neither prolix nor profound.
have seen it stated in print recently, by
some appreciative editorial writer, that the
San Francisco horse show was the means OF
putting 100000 in circulation i'll this City. L
DO not believe these figures are exaggerated,
and this single result ought to stand as sui
fcient excuse if any were needed, for the
horse show. The horse show takes the place,
in 8 large measure, of the agricultural fair,
which is, to a certain extent, local affair.
The former enterprise, being centrally located,
is therefore accessible to g greater number of
people, and attracts thousands instead of hun
dreds There are greater number OF exhibits
and consequently the competition for the
prizes is more severe and better test of real
worth There is also less prejudice from the
judgments passed upon merit, and the awards
are much larger both the cash prizes and the
special marks of exceptional merit.
From an educational standpoint the horse
show is most valuable, however. In New York
In this City the institution is yet too young TO
have accomplished much in this direction, but
it has already done something, and will do
much more in this line if continued. One
NAV learn much at horse show. One may
learn how horses are best kept, how best
selected and best QUILTED in the various
classes, and much else that will be Of lasting
benefit to the lover of horses and to the horses
themselves. AS general rule ii is breeding
that shows strongest among the winners, but
there are many instances where horses have
been picked up at small prices AMI SO groomed
and put through their PAGES that they have
carried OF first prizes on conformation, speed
and action. Such horses go into the arena
worth $500 and come out with the blue ribbon
worth $1,000.
I believe that the horse show should be per-
petual here. 1t should become permanent
institution of the State, not merely the fad of
the hour. We have the greatest climate in the
world for breeding, and our stock farms and
stock industry are among the greatest and
most valuable industries of the State. One has
only to glance cursorily at the more important
OF the stock farms of California TO realize what
magnitude the enterprise has already assumed.
The breeding farms of this State are famous
ell over the country-the Palo Alto farm; the
Rancho del Paso, of James B. Haggin, on the
American River; the Kern County Land Com
pGny's farm, which makes a speciality of fine
carriage horses and ponies; the farm OF Theo-
dore Winters and J. Parker Whitney, at Rock
land, where the heavier class OF horses are
bred-aI OF these are famous breeding-farms.
Thousands of dollars are invested in them, and
their products add not a little to the fame OF
the State. Then there are number of special
lists in fine horses that ought TO be mentioned
in an article like this, I suppose. Walter
Hobart's place at San Mateo, where one can
find the best examples of well handled,
thoroughly broken and properly equipped
horses, is certainly credit to the State. There
are the thoroughbred farms of w. OBJ. Mac
donough, Adolph Spreckels and J. Naglee
Burke, all OF which have added luster to the
fame of California horses and may be depended
upon to sustain their present high standing
even to exceed 1t. William Corbett's and Mon
roe Salisbury's FARMS where standard bred
trotters are made a speciality OF; Mrs. Lang
try's farm at LakepcTt; John PARROTS and c..
H. Hastings farms, which go in for hackneys-
all these make splendid showing for Califor-
MA when one considers what this State lacks
in years. And this is only beginning. AS
have said we have the climate here for breed
ing the finest horses, and do not think it is
rash TO hazard the prediction that one day
California viii be the most famous spot in all
the world for blooded horses.
One thing that is helping US greatly at pres
ent is the fact of our winter racing. This
serves to keep alive the interest in blooded
stock that might otherwise be lax for half the
year. Visitors 10 California, especially these
who come here to spend the winter months
away from the Eastern frosts and SHOWS, are
always struck with our climatic conditions
mean, of course, when considered wholly from
the horse-breeders' standpoint. They find
yearlings in California advanced as far as the
in ha Ep Stofa 80
in itself has set many OF the horse fanciers to
thinking, and the result of their cogitations
has been that they come out here seeking-and
fnding-suitable locations for their stool,
farms Some have come in the past; many
more Will come in the future.
And permanent horse show, such as hope
will be established here, will serve to keep up
the interest in breeding and help along the
good work in many ways. The horse show, in
connection with the winter racing tends to
make San Francisco a Mecca for people inter
ested in horses from all parts of the country.
These people bring money to the coast and put
money in circulation, benefting our trades
people not little.
Let us consider now something of the fnan.
ciaI end of the horse show. All sorts of opin.
IONS, favorable and unfavorable, have been ex.
pressed regarding this enterprise, and some
criticisms have been made upon its manage
ment. think no one connected with the horse
show will seek to claim perfection for it, That
it was an unqualified success from every point
OF view is generally recognized fact, be-
Heve, and a sufficient fact l take it, to more
than answer all attempts at adverse criticism.
But started TO speak of the financial end OF
the horse show. In this connection 1 have
some figures which may be interesting:
EXPENSES.
Fitting pavilion for show ..................S 5000
Rent OF pavilion 1.00C