The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-09
WAR DOESN'T STOP
RACING; BOOSTS IT
Impetus Given to Movement TO
Improve Breed Of Horses
for Army Use.
NATION FAR BEHIND RIVAL
Shipping Of Many Fine Mares
and Stations Abroad
Hurts Supply.
NATION FAR BEHIND RIVAL

SARATOGA. Aug s-rherA was rumor
current In the middle of the week that
the race meet Of the Saratoga Association
for the Improvement Of the Breed OF
Horses might no curtailed because OF the
outbreak of the European war and the
general disturbance Of industrial condi-
tons in this country. The rumor no
no sooner was started than II was denied
officially. and the fact Is that 30 far as
outward appearances 60 there Is no rea-
son whatever TO abandon the sport
In tire first excitement over the hos
tiAties in Europe II did seem as though
the attendance was affected. but the
crowds came back and there was "A banner
mdweek throng To see the running OF the
United States Hotel Stakes on Wednes-
day and another large outpouring OF visit
tors for the Delaware Handicap on
Thursday
What the war has accomplished il Il
draw renewed attention TO the need OF
the United States for some system OF oh.
tanning reinounts and to point out tn,
value OF racing for that purpose. The
breeders here are particularly interested
| in this subject and have hope that proper
| representation TO the United States Gov
| .rument win meet with more recognition
| than have previous suggestions along
| these lines.
The matter has been discussed freely
! and the Canadians are able to point witt
| pride to the conditions across the border
| and to make invidious comparisons win
those obtaining In the United states. II
seven years the National Bureau %
breeding IN Canada has accompli shes
/ wonders and II is believed that CanadS
Will be Of great assistance To Engan,
/ in providing suitable remounts for th'
la LII.
uation say that Canada can supply LOOT
officers charges from registered thorough
/ bred sires within thirty days and 10000
troop horses. The officers charges ar,
OF tho highest quality and ready 70
! immediate use In the field. The trooI
horses are all Mt for duty. and many
contain thoroughbred blood After tn
! first consignment II II said that Canals
still would be able to supply $500 horse,
n month for a long period These woul,
not be by thoroughbrsds. hut sound
horses and 1T for campaigning.
The difficulty Of the British army II
| obtaining remounts for the war in Soutl
Africa led 20 the establishment OF the Ma
tional Bureau OF breeding seven year
ago stations were placed Throughout
the country and the colts are now Jus
at the right age. II Is estimated tina
there are at least 1000 breeders OF half
bred chargers In Canada, in addition {
the large stud farm leased by tho Gov
eminent to the National Live Stock Eek
change and called the Red River Ranch
There are 65,l20 acres in this farm an
the work II conducted on n large scale.
The deductions from these facts ar,
that without the thoroughbred you canno
get the half bred. and without racin,
you cannot maintain the standard OF tn
thoroughbred. II is claimed by turfmei
here that the United States has dom
practically nothing toward establshin,
breeding farms, but on the other hand
by State and Federal interference, hal
harassed racing and done It's best to driv
the thoroughbred from this country. Gen
Leonard Wood has been the one IA
seeing individual to advocate the en-
couragement of racing and the estab
lishment OF adequate breeding farms. II
hls met with consistent opposition an,
appropriate s for the purpose have heel
denied.
At a sportsmen's dinner held In New
York two years ago a National Remoun
Association was formed and as Il result
about a dozen stations have been donate,
TO the Government and races for arm,
horses put on at the different hunt meets
The Government has one small breedinl
farm at Front Royal. Va, but this woul,
not go very far provided the United State
should be involved In war on the othe
hand the legislation against racing ha
caused many big breeders to abandon
the thoroughbred industry and turn thei
attention to other ventures. James +
Haggn, for instance, the largest breede
, in the country, shipped | 900 horses t
South America and the Continent and tool
to breeding cows and swine. The stoc
has been depleted further by many O
the mares being bought by the breeder
of mules, very useful animal, but o
little use in war
AS summed up by breeders. this coun
try Is tho best in the world for the breed
/, ing of remounts and Is the worst equippe
In ths respect. The vast expanse O
country md the fine grazing ground fror
here to California make II comparativel
s easy to raise thoroughbreds of the high
est class, but that thoroughbreds hav
become n scarce commodity was eviden
from the difficulty in getting horses
race when the sport was reestablished /
: New York State. The present situatio
is one, therefore. that racing men an
, breeders depend upon for the permaner
= recognition Of the sport under the foster
ing auspices Of the naercnal Government