Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-10-08

ularity of the horse. temporarily eclips-
ed by the motor ear, has suddenly
been revived with renewed enthusiasm.
More big horse shows ana race meets
have been held this year than ever
before. the purses have been higher
and the horses entered Of unprccedcnt-
cd quality. Private race tracks arc
now feature Of many large country
estates. and are becoming necessary TO
the success Of every fashionable coun-
try club.
This renaissance Of the horse may
he traced to several causes. In the
first place, like all incIplicubin things.
II Is supposed 10 have been brought
about by the European war. During
the past two years many famous rae
ing stables of Europe have been sold
I" help the caus" y large number
of thorouGhhrcds that had figured con-
spicuously on the historic race courses
OF the continent, were placed in cavalry
service, and still more were sold 10
Americans. After "a few millionaires
had set tho fashion ny Importing noted
race horses from Europe. the demand
tor them became tremendous. IL IL
estimated that over 200 famous stccds
were imported from the British Isles
alone this year. ana thc state OF Nir-
GINA. which has great reputation
for breeding exceptional horses. has
been stripped Of almost every thor
oughbrcd over Ave years old
The rivalry among these millionaire
horscncn III acquiring horses Is in
tense Worse experts are employed az
scouts to scour the whole country for
good colts. Occasionally In IL small
Virginia village stranger from the
North will appear. ostcnsibly interest
ed III farm investments. and incident
ally in horses. Maybe the horse he
chooses to buy Will he a carriage horse
that has never attracted much attcn-
ton III the village, or perhaps il will
be harnessed to plow. Anyway, IL
is bought at what all the villagers con-
slider - fair price. and II Is not until
some months later that the farmer rec
ogniZeS his horse as tho pct thorough
bred OF some millionaire sportsman
and the winner of "a blue ribbon in an
amateur horse meet.
OF course, a horse is not taken di-
rcct!y from a plow and entered in
contest II requires weeks. some
times months. Of hard drilling and
training before he is In tit condition
for it. but the fact remains that
Virginia plow horse sold TO horse
scout for sl00, has sometimes taken "A
blue ribbon at $500. Last year saw
so many of these horse deals. however.
that now the average Virginia farmer
is apt to ovcrvaluc his worst horse 100
per cent at the first approach of a
stranger.
Virginia is the greatest horse state
in the Union; although IL were wise
not 10 venture such I'm opinion in Ken
lucky. The two States go in for wide
~ different typcs-kcntucky specialize
ing in racing horses. and Virginia In
huntcrS-but in recent years Il great
stimulus has been given the Virginia
horse breeding industry by It's horse
show circuit. Beginning with Lees
burg at the opening of the season.
horse shows are held at Upperville,
Manassas. Warrcnton. Culpeper, Char
10. f,,np NJ
ryVillc. Va, and Charleston. w. Va.
The Virginia horse show is a unique
institution, very different from the
amateur race track Of the North. II
is the great social event of the season.
ana ut the same time il has it's bust
ness aspects. Usually few local citi-
Zcns Incorporate themselves into Il
company 10 guarantee the purses. and
send out circulars and posters announce
ing the opening date of the horse show.
on the day before it starts. the horses
are led into town by their owners and
put in the stalls established along the
horse ring. Most of them come from
tho surrounding farms and villages, but
there are also exhibitors ut these shows
from as far North New England
and far West Kansas City.
On the appointed day, as soon as
the sun Is up, the country folk begin
TO arrive in large numbers from every
direction. In huge farm wagons and
neat black buggieS they come bringing
their fried chicken dinners with them,
and quite a few drive their own motor
cars. As Il rule. everybody knows
everybody else. and II they don't they
proceed TO get acQua intcd In the most
direct method possible, which is by in
Producing themselves and their family
connections. There is great deal Of
handshakinE and hearty imbibing
among the spectators. especially the
state and local politicians, distinguish
cd by their flowing cravats and frock
coats who take advantage of the oc-
caSion to do a little canvaSsing.
The horses are usually ridden by
their owners. but sometimes "A we'll
trained negro servant acts as jockey.
An interesting feature in this connec-
ton is the great number of young girls.
still in their teens. who ride their
horses. for riding is an important fac
tor in tho education of the Virginia
girl. Prizes are offered for certain
classes, and the winning horse must
possess the best points OF all the horses
entered i'm that type or class. For
example. a hunting horse is Judged by
the standard of IA hunter only, and not
by that of a harness horse The horse
shows have had a great deal to do with
developing and classifying various
types of horses, which has tecn espe-
cally valuable to the United States
Army. The War Department has rep
rescntatives at every horse show and
race meet In the country for the pur-
pose of observing the army types pre-
scntcd, and. II desirable, to buy horses
for the cavalry. Besides tho army men.
there Is always.a large contingent OF