Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-11-04
FOREIGN HORSES BETTER?
DEFEATS AT AQUEDUCT
REVIVE OLD QUESTION
Cisss shown ny Hourlcss. Omar Khny-
yam and Sunbonnet Incline
Many to This Belief.

The fact that imported thorough
breds won over their American COM
p~etitors in a ratio that was unusual,
particularly at the recent -Aqueduct
meeting, has attracted the attention of
the racing public to a marked degree
and revived the nooted question OF
superiority as between foreign and ma
tivc-bred stock. The undisputed SUI
periority. OF HourleSs. Omar Khayyam
and S%unbonnct in the thrcc-ycar-oid
colt and ally division. respectively. and
the proves of Sunbriar in The ranks
of the two-ycar-olds has caused many
TO incline to the belief that horses OF
foreign lineage excel ours in speed
and quality.
An authority whose opinion is worth
while, but who declined TO be quoted.
had the following to say on this sub
ject a few days ago:
i would regard Hourless as a pho
nomcnal horse, perhaps as good as any
many years, while for w~ear-and-tcar
qualities Omar khayyam has seldom
been cqualed. They are a wonderful
pair of colts, bu, hccuso they are for
forget the home-breds tina, have shown
class during the past season. nor those
which have achieved distinction for
abroad.
ut is largely a matter OF acciGent:"
have several performers which surpass
their fellows. while in other seasons no
great superiority is evident. The Roy
sents what is unquestionably the acme
OF English racing. There isn't a sell
Ing race on The program, and not an
yearlings. Any british thurman that
wins a single one OF the events at that
meeting considers himself r~ecompcnsed
for the EXPENSE ana worry of q season.
Yet what do the records show? During
the Whi,ney-Loriiiard-k eene invasion
closing day OF The period they cap
tured 10 fewer than four events. II
created a sensation.
Enough to Arouse Ire.
During the Saratoga, meeting" con.
tinued the authority think It was
full quite lost patience Win a mar.
who was dcp!oring ia" dccadcnce of
tho American t~horouShh:cds aud say
ing what a splendid thing il was that
we were able. because .: the war. 10
replenish our supply OF blood, Now,
while ! am willing TO admit that we
hreds of nGiish and French lineage,
l am also of the opinion tina; We nave
had quite a lot Of Inferior animals mar,
years. The importation Of the joel
and slcdmere Yearlings by Messrs,
a ten-strike, and the benen, to the
American thoroughbred Of the future
cannot be overestimated. EngliShmen
are sim lhlncnlllE lutii ~ NJ
from their shores, hut ! have heard no
amentations over the taking OF somo
OF the other stock which must ulti-
mateiy be assimilated in this country;
y am strong for foreign blood OF
the proper sort. and We must have IL
If we arc TO keep up with the other
nations In the development OF the
horse of blood. but am not saying
that il is the only thing in the world
with our stout American strains |,
produces results that are satisfying.
The best Of foreign blood. however, is
what we want and the wisdom OF Sc
curing 1t has been demonstrates ~
striking fashion in the experience OF
Marcus Daily and James r.. Neene III
the past and in our own day Of Au-
gust Belmont. Let us take Mr.. Bel
mont as a concrete example because
OF what Hourless and other horses OF
his breeding have done. Hautcssc: by
Archiduc. the grand dam Of hourless,
cost MIR. Belmont $4,000. and | don
think he regrets her purchase any
more than That OF Fairy Gold. for
which he gave $50, 600, and which pro
duced for him such great horses, as
I'riar Rock and Fa,r Play. besides
mares which are breeding on and VIII
he a powerful factor III the develop
ment Of tho Nursery stud