Omaha daily bee., 1911-03-26
TO RAISE CAVALRY MOUNTS
Interest in Breeding Army Horses is
Aroused.
MILITARY RACES ARE PLANNED
Officers Interested I'm Movement
Backed by August BeImont- "
History on Soldier
Contests.

on broader lines and the military steeple-
chases and fiat races to be run under the
auspices OF the United Hunts Racing as
ISOLATION are expected to create increased
interest in army circles August Belmont
has donated the stations Henry OF Ma
varre and Octagon, also two Rock Sand
colts, TO be used for army breeding pur-
poses and other mombers of the jockey
club have promised to follow his example.
A. Buck, secretary Of the United
Hunts Racing association, made the fol-
lowing statement.
That officers of the United States
army are in earnest in their efforts to en-
courage the breeding OF horses for army
purposes was shown at a recent meeting
of the board Of directors Of the United
Hunts Racing association when Perry
Belmont, president of the association, in
formed the members that he had received
letters from army officers stating that they
would participate i'm the military steeple-
chase the feature race of the spring meet
ing to be held at Belmont terminal June
8 to 10.
For a long time Mr.. Belmont and mem
bers Of the association of which he is the
head have been endeavoring to establish
military races in this country. 1t is con-
I ceded that American cavalrymen are not
we'll mounted. with the purpose of inn
proving the army mounts Mr.. Belmont as
president Of the association, inaugurated
the military steeplechase, and annually
this race is competed for by horses ridden
by army officers. 1t has always been the
feature race of these meetings.
Adopt French Rules.
] When in Paris several years ago Mr..
Belmont. through the military attache of
the American embassy, succeeded in OBJ
| tanning a translation of the rules which
govern the races in which offers of the
French army compete. These rules Mr..
Belmont transmitted to General Franklin
| Bell, chief of staff of the army, to be
used as a basis for establishing the regula-
lions under which United States officers
might take part in military races held
under the auspices Of any racing associa-
tion that might meet with the approval of
the War department
| The fact that regular army officers are
badly mounted was perhaps best demon
strated 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 off ribbon in the military events
! General Franklin Bell. General F. d.
Grant General Wood Quartermaster
General James B. Aleshire, Colonel George
M. Dunn Lieutenant Rockwell, Charles
@. Treat and others have been active in
their efforts to encourage officers of the
regular army to enter their mounts in '.he
military steeplechases. They have sue
| ceeded in not only interesting persons high
In the government in the movement, but
even privates in the regular army.
| ION January 1S, when the army appro-
| I'm
members OF congress took a decided inter-
est In the question of establishing remount
stations for the breeding of horses for
army purposes. Whether the government
is to establish breeding stations or whether
| individuals should furnish animals for
army use under the specifications and
regulations of the War department is a
matter under discussion In the meantime,
however several stations have been offered
to the army by members of the Jockey club
and at Fort Riley. Kan, where there is
mounted school which turns out some
of the best cavalrymen of the army, Mes
senger, bred by Henry T. OxnRrd is serv-
ing mares in the nelghborhood for the
benefit of the farmers and also for army
purposes.
Cavalry Horse Wins.
| At the November meeting Of the United
Hunts Racing association a 0government
horse entered by the mounted school at
Fort Riley and ridden by Lieutenant
John Spring jr., Seventh cavalry, won the
Hunt cup for the army officers steeple-
chase. This cup, It was finally decided,
belonged to the Seventh cavalry and is
now retained as a regimental trophy. The
regiment has furnished the school with
reproduction for its library.
1T was during the war with Spain that
Mr. Belmont first conceived the idea to
further the breeding Of horses used by
the regular army. Mr.. Belmont received
a 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 Alger he observed
that the officers of the regular army were
poorly mounted as a rule, while the volun-
teer cavalry were comparatively well
mounted Mr.. Belmont talked the matter
over with General Butler, with the result
that several other army officers became
deeply interested.
In 1906 when Mr.. Taft was secretary
Of war he was informed by General Bell Of
the military steeplechase proposed by the
United Hunts Racing association and gave
his consent that army officers might par
ticipate. The first military steeplechase
was run I'm 1906 at Morris Park under the
auspices of the United Hunts Racing
ISOLATION, with but one entry 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
commanding 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 Gen
eral Grant has done all in his power
TO encourage officers to enter these events
The second race was run at Bennings,
Washington, ID. c., being won by Lieuten-
ant 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
movement. Since 1906 the military races
have been run AZ Belmont Park terminal