The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-20
RACING WORLD STARS
GET OF DESPISED DAMS
Highball and Proctor Knott
Notable Figures of Chapter of
Turf History.
BELLE KNIGHTS PRICE
Sold for $62.5 so and Her Sons and
Daughters Won Over $780,
600 in Races.
BELLE KNIGHTS PRIC

LEXINGTON, KY, Dec. 19.-Had the
Breeders Protective Association been in ex-
istence six or seven years ago the racing
world might have lost its most brilliant
star i'm 1893. Reference is made to the SEN
sationa two-year-old Highball. as Major
T. j. Carson, of Dixiana Farm. the breeder
OF the great colt. paid the insignificant sum
of SO for Strychinia, the dam of Highball.
He bought her at a public sale and had
she been sold in the last five years at the
amount she realized an agent of the Breed
ers' Protective Association would have led
her from the ring. AS a result she would
to-day be toiling In the cotton fields of the
South alongside of SILK Gown, the dam or
Garry Herman, instead of being, as she
is regarded, one of the most distin-
guished brood mares In the land.
And then, too, Highball would have been
unknown to the turf Strychinia, High
balls dam, first produced a FLY by imp.
Ben Strome which died without racing.
Poison. a good two-year-od in 1901, was her
second foal, and then, after being bar
rem year. she threw Highball. Her sire.
imp. Strachino, was a great race horse In
his day. winning for Hunter & Travers,
his owners, the Saratoga Handicap in 1873
and running second that year to imp. The
III-Used in the famous Kenner stakes.
He was black in color and Highballs
dams coat is the same hue. He was sent
to Kentucky and stood for years in the
Walnut Hill stud of James A. Grinstead.
but his stud record shows as sire of SEN
sational stake horses he was not a success
Several of the mares. however. have proved
good stud matrons and Highbalps brilliant
performances has made him fashionable
cross in present day pedigrees.
Now that the Breeders Protective Asso-
citation has shown such strong activity
there are expressions in various quarters
questioning the methods of the organiza-
tion in retiring so many mares from the
breeding ranks and In putting up prices,
forcing the would-be owners OF few
cheap mares to go out of the breeding
business
Mares once despised and rejected by
authorities In breeding cut a wide swath
in turf history. When one of j. b. Hag-
gins fashiona ble-bred filieS was recently
offered for sale Mr.. Easton, the auctioneer,
begged and pleaded with the crowd OF bid
ders not to let her fall into the clutches
Of the Breeders Association.
You'll be sorry some day." cried he,
that such bred animals are permitted to
leave the breeding ranks"
In later interview Mr.. Easton cited
many cases of mares. like the filly he was
L
off and friendless, lived to become won
derS in their time.
Wicklife Preston for long time drove
Mercedes around the streets of this city,
and finally firing of her as a buggy horse,
sold her for a song to Clay & Woodford.
She first threw Runnymede, then Barnes,
and finally Butterflies, the futurity winner
of 1894. The same firm gave barrel Of
whisky for Fancy Jane, which daughter
of Mel Robinson produced Miss Woodford,
the largest money winning mare in Amer
history q
only horse that ever walked over for a
big Derby, yet r. c. Baker bought his
dam, Sophia Hardy, for So
Belle knight cost r. b. Harper $3.50. She
not only produced Freeland, but her sons
and daughters won over 100000 on the turf.
Narka. one of the greatest stars of T. c.
McDowells stud, the dam of Spirituelle
and his flying queen Monarka, was bought
by Mr.. Mcdowell at a hack-horse price
dam of Rainland, one of the leading two
year-old race winners of the year.
Every one of these mares under the pres
ent reign of the protective association
would have been taken by this organization
and sent southward-to die unknown instead
of becoming, as they have, shining lights
in the stud.
The list covering the uncertainties of
breeding could be extended almost indefi-
nitely both in England and this country.
The late Gen. W. H. Jackson offered to
give Tallapoosa to nsighbor, who refused
the gift because at the time he had not
suitable place for a thoroughbred mare.
Inc great breeder cOncluueO then 10 give
her at least a stud trial and bred her to
Luke Blackburn. The produce was Proc
tor Knott, the winner of the first and most
sensational Futurity ever run off.
During his long career as breeder
General Jackson took a number Of mares
from Tennessee friends for trifing debts,
and in nearly every instance they out
bred stud patrons for which, in some cases,
he had paid fabulous sums.
Just what damage the Breeders PrOtec-
tive Association has done the racing records
of the future will never be determined
but 1t is an acknowledged fact that many
FLIES they have branded with outlaw
stripes are as well bred as any of the great
mares herewith named. and with equal
stud chances would, doubt, ultimately
become famous. This organization is not
working for turf history. 1t Is now charged
| that 1t Is trust to hold up prices for the
| benefit of few big thoroughbred breeders
| who do not desire to see a man pick up
| mare for SIS and send out a Highball to
beat the stars produced at their establish
ments.
| Just what effect the retiring of so many
| thoroughbred mares will have the breed
| ing business of the future will take several
years to determine, but indications are the
| association holds the upper hand of the
| argument, and the star of the small
| breeder with his McChesney and Hermis
contributions. to the turf, is the
| wane.