The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1916-02-02
PROSPERITY Of HER FARMERS
To a Great Extent Is Depend
emf On Maintenance Of
Industry.
STATE LEADS UNITED STATES
by Robert Z. Dundon.)

nance of the vast breeding establish
ments of the Blue Grass, is hardly
appreciated by the person who takes
only a casual view OF Affairs. In or
der to get a proper angle one must
bc familiar with the Industry in all
its ramifications and familiarity
only can come from a thorough
knowledge acquired by visiting the
farms, the race track and the cities
of the State where the sport -four
ishes in its extremely limited season.
If it We're only Ecutucky that is
involved, it would BE- less in extent,
though in itself a 81 at contributor
to the good times now prevailing in
this Commonwealth. However, in
these days when preparedness is the
national watchword. and is about to
become a campaign issue with Presi-
dent Wilson dcfeEdiHg the policy OF
prudence, Kentucky assumes a much
greater role in the scheme of things.
For this State is the one which
would be called upon to provide
more than its quota of horses for
cavalry remounts in the event of
hostilities.
Kentucky CAME to the fore in the
Mexican War and in the civil COM
bat supplied both sides with the
best of their equine aids. Kentucky
horses were in service in the Indian
troubles and in the Spanish-Ameri
can War, and Kentucky has never
failed in the time of national peril
to come forward to do her share to
keep Old Glory ahoat
| Attacks are made in legislative
channels upon racing in various
States. They are prompted by va
rious reasons. but some of them
have succeeded because they were
aimed at evils which have been cor
rcted in Kentucky, through wise
enactment of the Legislature, and
sensible appointment by the eXecu-
tive, as in the passage of the State
Racing Commission bill, and the
choices made by the various Cover
nors FOR membership on that body.
Under this law. Kentucky has
come to the fore in racing. The
State has become model for other
Commemorative. The Commission
very wisely limited the meetings TO
much less time than they We're given
under old bookmaking conditions.
The attendance at the tracks has
grown enormously. The prestige OF
Kentucky in the East is now so
great that its foremost citizens send
their horses here to compete, and
they invest in our Kentucky farms
for their breeding interests.
1t is a conservative estimate to
say that the value of the thorough
bred to Kentucky farmers has in
creased by 100 per cent. in the last
ten years. And the future holds
only the rosiest of promise. from
the fact that everyone is working
together for the good of the whole
State, the Racing Commission by
purchase or donation and distribu-
ton over the State having put at
the service of the farmers a number
of high-class registered stations to
improve the breed of horses, not
only for thoroughbred purposes, but
also for all utilitarian and farm
work.
Hostile enactments by the Legis-
latures of States have driven the
thoroughbred interests out, to the
lasting loss of the farmer and indi-
rectly every citizen, for whenever
you attack the value of farm proper
ty you are striking a blow at the
basic taxable unit of the whole State
and National Government. Other
States, like Missouri. Maryland. New
York, Louisiana. where racing Is
either now actually in operation or
is contemplated, would benefit by
adverse legislation in Kentucky. II
is not considered likely that any bill
against racing will get by a legisla-
tive committee, but If ii should the
chances are that very few Represen-
tatives of farming communities
would east their votes for ii.
How much money is spent in Ken
lucky for farm products, feed for
horses. pay for stable hands, etc,
has never been figured, but that il is
a large sum in the aggregate and is
reflected on the receipts of all mer-
chants in the centers of racing and
in cities and towns adjacent 70 the
+ thoroughbred studs. will be admit