New-York tribune., 1918-08-25
Desirable Sires
Scarce in i. s..
SaysF. A. Clark

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N. Y. Aug.
24.-F. Ambrose Clark, the we'll known
racing, polo, and horse show enthusi-
ast, who has been active in helping
the Federal government secure sup
ply of thoroughbred sres for It's
remount stations in Virginia, Okla
homa and Montana, has returned
from visit to Kentucky in company
with Lieutenant G. A. Roy, of the
French Remount. who is in this coun-
try attached to the French High Com
mission.
Their experience would indicate the
wisdom Of the policy recently inau
gurated limiting the racing activities
of geldings, thereby increasing the
I'VE visited Virginia and Ken
tucky" said Mr.. Clark to-day, "in
search of good. well-made sires. not
necessarily of extreme ze. but pos
sesslng plenty Of girth and bone, the
type that would make a desirable top
cross for the mares at the Federal
studs. We found some Of the type,
but not enough to fill our require
ments, aud the search has been
transferred to the Jockey Club tracks,
where last spring We were fortunate
enough to get some stations of bone
and quality as we'll as of good racing
records.
eve have seen many geldings pos
sessing the qualifications we seek. and
both Lieutenant Roy and myself think
that the best thing that has been done
for the American horse of the future
has been the elimination Of geldings
from the turf classics. 1t is going to
compel the breeders to leave their
youngsters entire, and these we
wouldn't want, anyway.
Think of what it would mean to the
country if horses Of the type Of Weld
ship and Top @ tn Morning had been
left entire! The performances of
Roamer and Billy Kelly are dimmed
by the fact that the qualities that
made both of them great cannot be
passed on to posterity And so with
Borrow, Boots and other great geld
ings. This country needs the blood Of
every of them.
"What type of mare would be con-
sidered best to mate with the thor
oughbred % said Mr.. Clark, In response
to q query. Half bred mares such as
we find in the Genesee Valley arc the
ones that give the best results Any
tnlng that ls Weedy or possesses bad
hooks should be barred, and | would
much rather use draught mares than
take chances with any of the lighter
breeds if they haven't the right sort
of legs
"The ordinary farmer of New York
State doesn't under tand the impor-
tance of good, straight hooks in the
production of the riding horse. He
should select his mares with care
and take only those with good broad
hooks. | am familiar with what Mrs
Herbert Wadsworth and her Breeders
Association are doing in the Genesee
Valley in conjunction with the breed
ing bureau of the Jockey Club, and if
the breeders and farmers Of the coun-
try want an example Of systematic
horse production they should visit the
Livingston County fair at Avon on
September 25. Stations and mares,
together with their produce, will be
shown, and as an illustration of type
it is an educational event second to
none.
During the absence of Quincy A
Shaw, Of Boston, who is at the front.
| have charge Of his polo stud at Green
wood, Va, whore the thoroughbred sire
Kemano, by Hark Forward. and some
splendid mares, many Of which were
played In the great intern ational
matches, are installed am therefore
able to speak Of the polo type at first
hand. That breed is thoroughly estab-
lished"