New-York tribune., 1918-05-15
Army Men Urge
Improvement OF
Cavalry Horses
Shortage of Supply for Mill
tary Purposes Is Felt
Here
By J. S. Mitchell

One of the most prominent Of the
local turf patrons, an officer in tho
United States array. is now keenly in
terested in the development of the
thoroughbred, and the Importance Of
popnlarizing racing. In an informal
chat yesterday with few sporting
writer's this enthusiast pointed out the
very grave need Of first class light
horses for cavalry and the perpetual
ton Of heavier stock for artillery
needs.
Racing and it's popularity and the
plentiful supply of the blood-stock are
the only things to help the army re-
mounts, for without breeding the
cavalry or artillery horse is Of little
or no good In fact, racing is the
testing ground for all that is good in
| blood stock
Despite the introduction of the aero
plane, the long range cannon and the
poison gas. there is still lot for the
cavalry horse to do, as was forcibly
demonstrated at the recent battle Of
Cambria. After the fearful charges of
Haig's cavalry and the wonderfully
effective slashing they gave the Ger
mans. the wiseacres of the Allies saw
that the cavalry animal is not yet
obsolete.
At the present time there is short
age of horses in the United States for
army remounts, although the horse
census has it that there are 22,00O,O0O
such animals here, but the census does
not state if they are all suitable for
the purposes of war. No doubt an
analysis will show that big percent
age are draft horses and absolutely
unsuited for either artillery or the
cavalry.
France Encourages Breeding
In both England and France the i'm
portance of encouraging the breeding
of blood-stock is highly appreciated,
and both governments are doing all
in their power to foster the idea.
FrSnce goes at the problem in an even
more scientific way, and no govern
ment in the world has spent more
money in the improvement of blood
stock. Years before the advent of the
war the best stations in England and
the Argentine Republic were imported
at fabulous prices, and all the while
the practice was pursued with an eye
to the better breed of army horses.
In France it is impossible to ship
brood mare out of the country, but
it is possible to borrow a mare on the
deposit Of 1000 francs and a guar
of one year. Then, as to the stations,
they are carefully inspected from time
to time, and if they are found to be
defective the breeder is prohibited
from any further use of the horses
for breeding purposes.
During the approaching meet at
Belmont Park there W. be an aero
plane mail service between Washing
ton and Belmont Park. The service
will begin to-day In a letter to the
Westchester Racing Association Major
General George ,. Squier, chief signal
officer of the army. thanked the organ
ization for its patriotic action in the
matter. and Colonel John S. Fair, in
he spoke for all the other branches of
the service in expressing thanks for
the use of the landing for the aero
plane postal service.
The International Military Steeple-
chase, to be given in connection with
the United Hunts meet at Belmont
Park on May 25, gives promise of one
of the most exciting Gross country
events ever held in the East. Army
officers from France, England, Canada,
Italy and the United States will be
seen in the pigskin. and as all of the
aspirants have won their spurs in tests.
the contest over the sticks should be
a rattler.
The plate for the officers who hap
pen to finish in the first three has been
presented by Capts.n Perry Belmont,
president of the United Hunts; Morton
L. Schwartz and Captain Archibald
Berkie. Entries for the event will be
kept open till next Saturday. Entries
for the other events will close to-day.
+ Racegoers and those who love the
horse will have chance Of rare out
ing tomorrow at Jamaica. 1t will be
the Introductory meet of the metropo-
itan season, and no doubt the follow
ers of King Horse will avail them
selves of the opportunity to welcome
their favorite. The big item of the card
is the Paumonok Handicap, as it has
attracted an entry of the best sprin-
ters in training
1t is six-furlong gallop, and will
take place on the popular mile course,
which is now in superb condition.
Roamer, one of the best handicap
horses in America, will shoulder the
top weight, of 1873 pounds, if he goes
to the barrier, and there is a graded
burden, down to 80 pounds, the bottom
of the string, Shanballymore being
asked to carry 80 pounds