The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-02-27
MILITARY RACES HELP MOVEMENT
TO IMPROVE MOUNTS FOR
OFFICERS.
FEATURE OF MEETINGS
sTEEPLECHAsEs AND FLAT EVENTS
WILL OCCUPY PROMINENT PART
ACCORDING TO UNITED HIN MS
ASSOCIATION STATEMENT.

spices of the United Hunts Racing
Associa ton are expected to create
increased interest in army circles.
August Belmont has donated the
stations Henry of Navarro and DC
tagon, also two Rock Sand colts, TO
be used for army breeding purposes,
and other members of the Jockey
Club have promised to follow his ex-
ample. IL. A. Buck. secretary of the
United Hunts Racing Association. has
given out the following statement for
publication:
That officers Of the United States
army are in earnest in their efforts
to encourage the breeding of horses
for army purposes was shown last
Tuesday at meeting of the board of
directors of the United Hunts Racing
Association, held in the Windsor Ar
cade. New York city. when Perry Bel
mont president of the association,
informed the members that nc had
received letters from army officers
stating that they would participate
in the military steeplechase. the fea-
ture race OF the spring meeting. to be
held at Belmont Terminal June to
10.
For a long time Mr. Belmont and
members of the association. of which
he is the head, have been endeaVor-
ing to establish military races in this
country. 1t IL conceded that Amer
lean cayalrymen are not Well mount
ed. With the purpose of improving
the army mounts Mr.. Belmont. az
president OF the association, inaugu-
rated the military steepIechase, and
annually this race is competed for 10y
horses ridden by army officers. IL
has always been the feature race of
these meetings.
Military Races started.
When in Paris several years ago
Mr.. Belmont. through the military
attache of the American embassy,
succeeded in obtaining transla-
ton in the rules which govern the
races in which officers of the French
army compete. These rules Mr.. Bel
mont transmitted to General Frank
lin Bell, chief OF stan of the army,
to he used as a basis for establishing
the regulations under which United
States officers might take part in
military races held under the auspices
of any racing association that nigh,
meet with the approval of the War
! Department.
The fact that regular army Off
GERS are badly mounted was perhaps
best demonstrated at the recent horse
show held in Madison Square Garden,
New York city, when American horses
in competition with horses ridden by
foreign officers did not carry OF a
ribbon in the military events.
General Franklin Bell. General F.
II. Grant, General Wood. Quartermas-
ter General James Il. Aleshire. Colo
nel George NJ. Dunn, Lieutenan;
Rockwell, Charles G.. Treat and 9TH
ers have been active in their efforts
To encourage officers of the regular
army To enter their mounts In the
military steeplechase. They have sue
ceeded in not only interesting per-
sons high in the government in the
movement, but even privates in the
/ regular army.
During Spanish War.
1t was during the war with Spaiu
| that Mr.. Belmont first conceived the
idea % further the ,hraeding Of horses
used by the regular army. Mr.. Bel
mont received commission from
President Mckinley making him an
inspector general with the rank OF
major and he was assigned to the
First Division, Second Army Corps,
under Major General NJ. c. Butler
who was stationed at Camp Alger
when Mr.. Belmont arrived at Camp
Aiger he observed that the officers
of the regular army We're poorly
mounted, as rule, while the vol.
unteer cavalry were comparatively
well mounted. Mr.. Belmont talked
the matter over with General Butler
with the result that several other
army officers became deeply inter
ested.
In 1905, when Mr. Taft was Sec.
rotary of War, he was informed b,
General Bell of the military steeple-
chase proposed by the United Hunts
Racing Association and gave his con-
sent that army officers might partici-
pate. The first military steeplechase
was run in 1906 at Morris Park un.
der the auspices OF the United Hunts
Racing Association. with but one en-
try from the regular army. Six horses
| however, faced the starter, the five
others being from militia regiments
! from Manhattan and Brooklyn. The
| race was won by one OF the militia
horses. and General Grant, command
ing the Department of the East, who
witnessed the event. said he was de
lighted with the good beginning then
made. though the inferiority of the
regular army mount was evident.
Since that time General Grant has
done all in his power to encourage
officers to enter these events.
Came Far to Race.
The second race was run at Ben
nings, Washington, d. c.. being won
by Lieutenant Martin. The fact that
Lieutenant Martin came all the way
from Cuba to participate in the event
goes far to show the enthusiasm of
officers and the leaning of the War
Department as a whole to the mover
ment. Since 1895 the military races
haze been. run at Belmont Park Ter
minai. with the exception of 1909.
when 1t was nun at Saratoga.
Mr.. Beln11nt, the originator OF
the military steepiechase. has been
identified with racing for many years.
He has not only raced and bred nota-
BILE horses. but has ridden them, and
has in his possession the members
cup of the New York Jockey Club,
which he won while riding one of his
horses many years ago. Mr.. Belmont
is the owner of the mighty Ethel
bert, who still holds the worlds re-
cord for two and quarter miles.
having won the Brighton cup in
3:49 LIS. Ethelbert has gained a
name in the hall OF fame of racing
which will be hard to replace. The
horse Is now In the stud in France.
"Fitz Herbert. the race king OF the
past two seasons. and Dalmatian were
both bred by Mr.. Belmont. and II Il
questionable II amy one houBenian