The Washington times., 1907-12-29

LONDON, Dec. Bone Of the most
liberal buyers at the recent December
sales at Newmarket was William X
Vanderbilt.
His agent, II. HalbrOun. followed the
sale with close attention and rare good
judgment, and picked up several real
bargains, which viii greatly strengthen
the Vanderbilt breeding establishment IN
France Among the Vanderbilt pur-
chases were several youngsters which
the Franco American .turfman hopes
will help him 10 regain his position
among the winning owners Of the
French turf.
AS usual, the foreigners were liberal
buyers. investing more than a quarter
of million dollars IN the aggregate
The highest prices Of the sale were
paid by buyers from. France, Germany
and South America
LaIly, entered at a reserve of $4,000
did not reach that figure. His owner
declined 10000 for him four months be-
fore the Derby Of 1906, In which he was
beaten. He won in 1907 more than S75.-
900.
The highest price paid for a brood
mare was $1,000 for the American mare
Grave and Gay. by Henry of Navarro
out Of Di Vernon, bred by August Bel
mont, and raced with success in Eng
land by the late Mr.. Whitney. A colt
foal by Zlnfandel helped 20 make Grave
end Gay so desirable. She was bought
by Herr Weinberg, the German turf
man.
Within few days after the Gimcrack
dinner at York. England. at which Colo
mel Hall-Walker deplored the fact that
other countries were each year purchas-
ing in England the best mares offered,
twenty-seven high-priced brood mares
were knocked down to foreign pur-
chasers at prices ranging from $500
TO $500. Commentators on this state
Of affairs declare that the inevitable re-
suit Of such a drain on the best bloed
in England must be injurious to that
country's pre-eminence.
The British race-horse owners have
formed an association which will prob
ably be a most important factor in
British turf matters IN the future.
While there Is no intention at present
at least of taking any action antaEo-
nistic to the Jockey Club, many Of the
owners are of the opinion that the
powers conferred on the turf rulers are
too autocratic in some respects, and
1t is not at ell improbable that there
viii be important notifications in turf
usages. 1t may be said that some
notifications could be made to the de-
cided Improvement Of the SPORT.
Sam" Darling. the noted English
trainer, has achieved great success as a
sheep breeder, five Hampshire Down
wether lambs from his farm having
taken many prizes at the Chicago ex-
hibition of live stock a few weeks ago.
Mr.. Darling is training the Meddler colt.
bred by Mr.. Clarence H. Mackey. and
now being prepared fo= valuable en-
gagements in England.
The starting question is again agi-
tating the minds OF British turfmen.
One of the most influential turf Jour
nails in Great Britain recently published
table compiled from the official
Jockey Club calendar showing the num-
Der of horses admittedly left at the
post; those that were virtually left;
were intsrfered with, or in some way
suffered from the existing method Of
starting Undoubtedly the system was
given the benefit Of the doubt in many
instances; yet the table shows that dur
ing the course OF the fat racing season
the horses were either left at the post
or were sent away so badly that they
had no chance TO win. In the race Of
these figures, which the English Jockey
Club stewards admit to be correct, the
cry is: Can a system be right when