The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-03-12
GOVERNMENT WILL
BREED ITS HORSES
August Belmont Gives Two
Famous Racers to the
American Army.
az JONATHAN WINFIELD

Washington, March 1.-THE United
States government now owns two of
the most famous race horses in the
world-Henry Of Navarro. and Octa-
gon. The two kings of the turf are
now in France, but will be shortly
brought to the United States and turn
ed over to the army establishment.
August Belmont gave the two IA
nous racers, with four other thor
oughbreds and free service by his
great stations in Kentucky, as a nu-
cleus for government breeding bu-
reau for the production Of the horses
suitable for cavalry mounts.
When this offer was first made
there was the question raised as to
whether the United States govern
ment could accept any present of val
ne, without Congressional sanction
The legal officers of the war depart
ment delved into the presidents, and
decided that the horses could be ac-
cepted. Immediately Mr.. Belmont
was notified to that effect and the
treasury department is now paving
the way TO have the two horses
brought in from France without the
payment of duty.
General II. T. Allen, who is at the
head OF the cavalry bureau of the
army, is enthusiastic over the gift of
Mr.. Belmont, and the immediate pros
poets for the establishment of breed
ing, declaring that in this way only
will the government be able to solve
the remount problem.
Custom in Europe.
European countries" he said to-
day. mot long ago found it necessary
to supervise the breeding of horses in
order to supply the demand of their
armies, and every European country
OF importance. with the exception of
England. has for years been encourag.
ing the breeding of the proper type of
cavalry remount. England, one of the
most important horse countries of the
world, has for many reasons only re.
Gently been forced to this step. 1t is
interesting to note that practically
the same conditions confront England
that confront this country at the pres
ent time, and that almost Identical
steps are contemplated in the two An
gloSaxon countries to accomplish the
same result-suitable army horses in
sufficient number"
Henry of Navarro and Octagon, the
two principal horses presented by Mr..
Belmont, were among the very best
race horses of their years. Henry OF
Navarro was the of the same age as
Domino and Dobbins, the former one
of the most sensational race horses of
the American turf, yet Henry of Ma.
varre defeated both Domino and Dob
bins in one of the most exciting races
ever seen in this country. He captur-
ed great many stakes during the
three years on the turf, and won close
to 100000. Among the most impor-
tant events taken by Henry of Navar.
re were the Suburban Of 1895, in
which he defeated the Commoner and
Clifford: the First Special at Grave
send and the Dash Stakes, the Dol
phin, the Merchants Stakes at La
tonia, the Municipal Handicap at Bel
mont Park, and the Spendthrift
Stakes at Sheepshead Bay. When he
was retired. Henry of Navarro sired a
great number of high class horses,
and some of his sons and daughters
have won victories on Europe courses.
Octagon was "a high class racer and
as three-year-old took the historic
Withers Stakes at Belmont park, and
the Brooklyn Derby. He was an i'm
mediate success as a sire, and was
retired from racing. Among his get
was the sensational filly Beldame, cas-
lily the best three-year- of her sex
in 1904, a year that saw such splendid
horses as Ort Wells and Stalwart. In
1905 Beldame won the Suburban
Handicap from a high-class field.
Rock Sand. two of whose sons Mr..
Belmont has also presented to the
war department, was purchased by
him after the horse had won the En-.
glish Derby.
Alshire on Record
Brig Gen. James b. Alshire, quar-.
termaster-general of the army, is on
record in favor of breeding horses un.
der the supervision of the govern.
ment, suitable for cavalry purposes.
In hearing before the committee
on military affairs of the house of
representatives recently Gen. Al.
shires said: The government should
send to those sections OF the country
in which are found well-bred mares of
quality such as is desired for cavalry
horses. stations suitable for breed
ing superior cavalry horses, the far
mers to be given free service of these
stations, and the government to re-
serve the option of purchasing the
colts when from three to four years
old"
The Quartermaster-genera said that
the government required approximate.
ly 1880 horses for cavalry purposes.
and that there are annually required
for remounts ten per cent of that
number. namely, 1850. He added
that the department experiences the
greatest difficulty in securing that
small number each year.
Geo. NJ. Rommel. chief of animal
husbandry of the bureau of animal in.
dustry of the department of agricul.
ture. said that there are in the neigh
borhood of 100000 horses in the I'm.
tied States. but that it is next to i'm.