The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-06-13
Virginia. live stock possibilities.

To the Editor of The Times Dispatch:
/ am often amazed al the lethargy,
or, would / better say ignorance, OF
most of the Virginia people. II there
ever was an industry which needs
building up in the old state. that, in
dustry is live stock. l mean thorough
bred race horses harness horses. sad
die horses and farm horses. ] have
put the Thoroughbred race horse at
the head of the column. because 1t is
through him that the other breeds are
improved, and ii Is through the race
track that the thoroughbred horse Is
improved. Many people of good intent
spurn the race track, and so do OF
the present-day race track People Of
the present never know that General
Washington. the father of his country.
not only kept stud of thoroug h br ed
horses, but he sent their progeny to
Charleston, S. c., and raced them
against the Hamptons. the Alstons. the
Singletons, the Fergusons and Others,
and General Washington was not
averse to making a match when he
thought he had good show to win,
Then. there were Col. Jno. Tayloe, Col.
Hoomes. the Merritts. Col. Billy Townes
and many other old Virginia gentle
men who considered racing the finest
and cleanest sport, but there were no
days. l should have mentioned John
Randolph of Roanoke and Henry Clay.
VINO was Nirginian ny birth and. Ma
1or Thomas boswell. of Hanover coun-
ty, Va have in my library Edgar,s
stud Book. which was presented to me
by Major Joseph Bryan. and which
once belonged to Mr.. Randolph; also a
History of the Turf in South Caro-
INA in which General Washinstons
name often occurs. 1t will be remem.
pered that about the time of the Rev
olutionary War Virginia had the finest
and best horses in America OF every
description. Now Instead of automo-
pies running over the speed limit and
frequently killing a lot of Innocent
people, and Halley's come, nyinr
through the universe without a. tail,
why not come back to old times and
better times? Let the Virginia Leeis-
lature follow the example OF France.
Let them pass law making 1t a pen
ltentlary ofense OF ten years for any
man to make book or keep a. pool :
room in the confines OF, the State. Then
let the people see that the law is car
RED out with no respite or commute.
tlon from the Governor and, my word
ior 1t, racing will soon become a gem
tlemans sport and pastime, and NOT n
place where thieves and low gamblers
DO congregate to fleece the paople,
flneh let the farmers go to work to
raise all the fine stock they can
horses, cattle. sheep, hogs and poultry.
NO morse should be bred from unless
ne is thoroughbred or standard bred
and the same rule should be applied to
the other breeds. | am not writing
from any sinister motives. / have bred
thoroughbred and half-bred horses
tllrty-eisht years; about half OF that
time was the racing partner of Ma
1or Thos. w. boswell. OF Bullfield, Han.
over county, Va, and during all that
tlne ! never bet cent nor bought
pool. l am now past mans allotted
time on earth. but before / take nv
departure I would like to see the viz.
ginians come back to good, hard. com
mon sense. Men Will bet and men viii
drink II they have to steal 1t, but bet.
ting and drinking should be controlled
BY reasonable laws. or before the peo.
PIE know It the country will be alIad
With lot Of sneaks with no manhoaa
IN 1t. should have mentioned that
man may try to raise all the good
hard bottomed race horses, such an
Tlmoleon. Boston. Sarah and FANNY
washington, Nina, Revenue, Red Eve
Eolus, Eole. etc. Ho will then have
more sprlnters than he wants. soma
OF the best farm horses have ever
seen We're half-bred sons OF Eolus vst
there IS the Percheron, the Clydesdnla
CROSSES II. r IJAMS,r, cs sr.etf
charlottesville, Va sg