New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-02-20
COMMENT ON SPORTS
Practical Steps Taken in the
Interests of BIooded Horse.
MAY HANDICAP POLO PONIES
News and Views on Live Topics
of the Day, Both Amateur
and Professional.

VI Viz bdJS ~OeH
and Professional.
In Offering six stations TO the United
States government August Belmont. chair
man Of the Jockey Club. has taken the hrSt
step toward the establishment OF a ma
tional breeding bureau, the necessity for
which has been pointed ont in this column
on several occasions and the value OF
which would be farreaching. Aside from
the economic importance of improving the
general run Of cold-blooded horses by the
infusion Of thoroughbred blood, aside from
the easy and reasonable solution or the
problem which confronts the army to-day
on the question Of suitable cavalry re-
mounts, the gift. or, better yet, the spirit
which prompted II. will make for good IN
spreading the gospel OF the horse and the
part he plays on turf and field. Mr. Bel
mont does not lack for cooperation. Cap
tain z B. Cassatt has followed the lead
by donating three horses, while Thomas W
Lawson and Barney Schneider have offered
70 DO their part by gifts Of the same KIND.
Further than that. feel privileged 70 say
that r T Wilson. Harry Payne whitney
r F Carman. Mrs l.. B. Livingston ana
others will follow. once the bureau IS larry
established Not one Of those mentioned
has heeitated IN giving help TO the Ca
madam breeding bureau. which IN three
short years has taken place In the 'front.'
rank with France. Germany and England.
Not one Of them has considered the cost
when cooperating with the breeding on-
r.su OF the Jockey Club established In this
state several years ago. Mr.. belmont IN
. his practical way. saw the necessity 1or
action and has sown the first seed. Inc
hsrvest will he rich II the importance OF
The gift is fully appreciated and II steps
are taken TO get the best and quickest
results.
II was nv pleasure TO he the guest 81
Harry W. Smith al the sportsmens dinner
an Wednesday evening at the Waldorf
Astoria, and. As II happened. for once IN
dime NOT as working newspaper man
must confess that Il was something or
relief 70 SIT back and enjoy without BENG
,a1Ied on 10 pull out my watch and fnally
,rsh o@f in the midst of il all TO eaten the
arst edition" Like time and tide, the hrst
edition waits for nobody. AS II happened
and as no doubt. il often happens, mucn
IT interest and Importance was spoken 700
late 10 gain the publicity it deserved. 10
<r,nhssize this. n may be said that the
,nonortance Of establishing a national breed
,rg bursau was brought to the attention
~ the sportsrnen present in the most slrlh-
INC uav Apart from his prepared speech
Nv Relnoont quoted some statistics from
washington which showed a frghuul de-
o,etfon IF thoroughbreds I'm this country
during the last four wears. In 1907 there
,yare - 200 thorouzhbreds in this country
=, 1910 This number had dwlndled to BID
This is due in a large measure TO the tact
thar racing mas been the subject, indirect
Il, Of much adverse legislation. The breed
crs have found it necessary 10 seek other
markets. and something must be done ana
hat right soon to conserve an industry
which under proper announcement would
no = source Of enormous wealth TO the
courtrv Mr.. Belmont and those VINO are
"a willing 10 cooperate with HIM nave
ro,, taken what, in my opinion, Is most
important step 10 improve, II not 10 SAVE
the situation.
Major William Hendrie. OF Toronto,
canada. who is following in the footsteps
Of his father as a supporter OF the lurl III
Canada, called attention TO the fact thal
over four hundred thousand horses were
used by England in the Boer war ana thdt
the demand 70. horses was such that IL
moe necessary TO call on every market IN
the world for a supply. He added that one
firm in this country at that time purchaseu
and exported more horses to Africa than
all OF Canada and then left 1t for MS u.s.
,arers "a Judge for themselves what posi-
ton the United States would he in now II
a demand Of the same kind arose
or
ooint was brought out at the dinner Iate
IN the evening that proved intensely inter-
est,ng TO the polo enthusiasts. H. l.. Her
bert who presides over the oeSuil'ies u
tho Polo Association and who has done so
much for the sport in this country eA-
messed the opinion that the time Is APP
proaching, even if it is not here Wheh II
would be necessary 10 handicap the ponies
as we'll as the men in the general run Oh
matches This was a radical SUGGESTION u
ssv the least. but that its importance was
annre.ciated was clearly indicated pN the
sharp bursts of applause. Mr.. herpert uiu
not go into details as TO Just no" hano'-
can for the ponies could be arranged OUT
a. ;s safe TO say that he VIII be equal 10
the task when the proper time comes d.
he ~ was who devised the present system"
Of handicapping-a system, by the way
ybich only recently has been adopted oy
rrgland because Of its unquestoned merit
soroehody remarked during the evening
Tho misfortune OF polo to-day IS It's cost
,,ress. This. unfortunately, Is almost an
avioro Only the wealthy can atoro 20
ru-chase and maintain the best ponies anu
- raceseitv those who must content theh-
,.1,,es with the poorer mounts arc under
s,r,,nc+ handicap. II would be novel, IN
dnad IN have each polo match preceded by
q. little nonv show. so that the JUDGES couid
decide on what handicap was necessary
hut no doubt Mr.. Herbert is right III sus-
costing the need for something OF mat SORT
o,a r,,,st he said for tho dinner it
eolf AsI said week ago. II was well con-
ceived. and Harry ". Smith deserves al
credit and can be justly proud OF the part
he played in bringing together sportsfnen
from all parts Of this country ana Canada'
ubo are interested in turf and field IN
torse and dog The exchange OF ideas, tho
meeting Of old friends the making OF ne"
ones had value that cannot be overesu-
mated The gathering was so much OF a
success that Mr. Smith did not hesitate 70
.av that IL would be repeated, and mat no
doubt II would become an annual hHture
and erov with years. Mr.. Smith spoke
,,,,ly when he said: mo matter how sue
-essf,l = country. a race OF men or breed
~ animals IS, there is always the necessity
~ infusjne new blood. and for that reason
feel sure that .he minglng Of gentlemen
from all parts Of the United States VIII