New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-01
August Belmont Explains Why
He Parted with His Great
Thoroughbred Sire.
HORSE TRAVELS IN STYLE
Chairman of the Jockey Club
Says He Does Not Care for
Racing as an Exotic for
Exclusive Few.

by August Belmont at cost OF $4,000,
and recently sold TO a syndicate made up
OF French and American horsemen, will
arrive in Jersey City this morning for
tomorrow. He left Lexington yesterday,
in charge OF Charley Hill, one time train
er of Clarence Ii. Mackay's horses. and
travelled in style. He was shipped in
company with two of Mr.. Belmonts mares
-Topiary. the dam Of Tracery, winner of
the St. Leger this year. and Golden
View, the dam of Rock View, which is
ranked as the best twO-year-old raced
here year-in private steel car, deco
rated with American and French fiags.
The horses will stay on the car to-day,
and tomorrow morning at o'clock Will
be noated 10 the Minnewaska for the trip
across the Atlantic.
Rock sand has been insured for $4,000,
the price which the syndicate had to pay
for the horse which includes commissions
and the expense Of shipment from Nj.
Belmonts Nursery Stud to France. II IS
estimated that he will have an earning
power in stud fees OF close to $4,000
year, as because Of the success Of his get
and the uniform quality of his foals no
trouble has been experienced in filing MS
book.
Mr.. Belmont was seen in his Office yes
terday, and asked to give his reason for
selling Rock Sand, which has proved such
a success in the stud. He prefaced his
remarks by saying that he had no interest
in the syndicate which bought the horse
and did not join it when the opportunity
offered, hoping that it would not be com"
pleted and that the option which he had
given several months ago TO French
dealer would not be exercised, The con-
dition Of racing in this country led him
10 give the option originally, and, discuss
ing this phase of the question, he said:
Il regret the departure of Rock Sand
keenIy. Nothing would have induced me
TO part with him had racing here permit
ted a career for him and his get.
The United States no longer affords
TO the thoroughbred an opportunity for
exhibiting conspicuous merit on par
with the thoroughbreds Of England or
France, or, for that matter. Of any Eu-
ropean country, even the smallest.
with the exception Of a few really
important stakes in Kentucky no racing
associations in this country are financially
able TO offer stakes that would furnish
conclusive guides for breeding great
horses.
Hence, they are all leaving us-stall-
ions. mares and the best OF our active
race horses; youngsters and older ones
With them 60 most of our best trainers,
Jockeys and many OF our biggest owners
who covet serious honors Of the turf.
Few stations of merit are left in the
country, outside Of those that are too OLD
10 be- sold, and whose usefulness will soon
end Likewise, those mares which are In
their prime, have gone or are still going
TO foreign lands.
III racing is not conducted so as to TO
effect the improvement Of the breed 1t
ceases TO be genuine racing, and this can
only be accomplished through breeders
stakes and future events for the differ
ent ages OF horses whose entries are open
long in advance of the events. and which,
by their Importance. from the point OF
view OF the interest OF the pubic, ana
as guides for the horseman as well as
their value, tend to bring the best horses
of this or any other country together TOT
competition.
'It is encouraging to observe the growth
of our amateur meetings, and the hVely
interest of such a substantial number OF
keen sportsmen in racing but 1t Is heart
rendipg TO feel that 10 them is bequeatheo
the necessity of being satisfied with medi-
ocrity in thoroughbred horsefesh.
Mere contests for any kind Of horses
for purses. degenerate TO the level of the
game of petit cheveaux. and no intelligent
lover of the thoroughbred for moment
wishes racing TO remain only this.
Racing, as such, in this country, can
onIy be successful If IL be popular sport.
as Il is In England and on the Continent
I for one do not care for 1t as an exotic
for the exclusive few.
ut il quite a different matter, may /
say to the critics of the Jockey CLUB and
of the racing associations OF this city, Tor
them 70 give a race meeting, than giving
a few days Of racing at club courses pro-
sepsSd by local support and protected oy
subscriptions,
Our friendly, unthinking neighoor does
not seem TO realize "ndt IL means "
have races within reach Of the New York
public. To be accessible 10 the heart OF
New York means a course within twenty
or twenty-five miles from it's centre on
lines of transportation. This means a
spot scarcely beyond the limits of this
vast city's territory. Consequently race
course for New York involves very ex-
pensive property, and its population de-
nands good and comfortable accommoda-
lions"
Horsemen are not so downcast since
the recent decision Of Justice Scudder,
which seems to open the way TO an in
terpretation by the courts as TO the diff
ference between betting and bookmaking
and the liability of directors in the Yari-
Gus racing associations, but OF this Mr.
Belmont had nothing TO say yesterday, as
Rock Sand and his departure for France |
were the things uppermost in his mind
so far as racing questions were con-
cerned.
Cheri Halbroun was the French dealer
who secured and exercised the option
after organizing a syndicate made up in
part as follows: Clarence II. Mackay, F. |
r. Hitchcock, Frank J. Gould, j. z. |
Widener, Charles Carroll, Harry Payne |
Whitney and Charles Kohler, Lord Lons- |
dale, Walter Raphael and Achille Fould !
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TWO LEAGUES FROM ONE.