The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-10-12
''NERvED' HORSES MAY
Be BARRED BY CLUB
Law to Prevent Participation of
Unsound Animals in Races
Urged BY Jockey Club.


The appointment of expert veteri-
narians by various associations rae
ing under the Jurisdiction OF the
Jockey club has met with the I'M
qualified approval of all those who
believe that racing tests should be
held only under conditions when
the horses engaged are thoroughly
trained and when their bodily con
dition Is such that the danger OF
accident Is reducedNto a minimum.
1t is essential for the best interests
OF the eport that unsound animals,
particularly those that have been
nerved, should be under the strictest
scrutiny, and If a law torhidding the
participation of any nerved horse IN
trials of speed should be formulated
it would be favored by vast ma
1ority of those who are interested
in breeding and racing.
The operation known as ''nerving
destroys all feeling in the afflicted
member, and II has been frequently
resorted to in the past on some or
our very best horses, Hanover. ono
of the greatest thoroughbreds of his
day. was SO treated when his use
fulness on the track became impair
ed through chronic lameness which
baffled veterinary skill. He won
many races Afterwards for the
Dwyer brothers. but his career in the
stud was cut short as a result of
the treAtme the dead foot be-
coming so diseased that Colonel
Milton Young of the McGrathiana
farm, for whom the horse earned a
fortune, was compelled to have him
shot.
Case of Hanover Lesson.
Mum erous other cases of a similar
nature might be cited but that of
Hanover horse which did more
for the thoroughbred in America
than any horse since the time Of
Diomed, will be sufficient His
blood in the veins of our best present
day lthoroughbreds and his daugh-
ter Rhoda B. taken TO Ireland by
Richard Croaker, when mated with
orn1e through the Derby winner
Orby. founded family of great
racehorses abroad Without a doubt
Hanover usefulness as a stock
horse was cut short from Ave to ten
years, and the loss To the blood
stock Interests of the United States
is almost incaicuahle
With the reputa BILE and competent
veterinarian in the paddock--one
whose sole interest in keeping the
stewards thoroughly posted on con-
ditions and who has no outside
practice TO influence OF prejudice his
vfsion--the character of the racing
Oh &C.
eripples whose usefulness is rae
ing has passed and whose presence
on the course is a menace to life
and limb would be refused permits
sion to start
The Jockey club is cor - antly on
the alert 10 promote the quality of
the sport in the Empire state and
this newest move is along the same
lines which prompted Francis
/ Hitchcock To- give. notice of motion
for an amendment 10 the rules Of
racing. al the annual meeting in
January, which would do away with
the use of toes and heels on racing
plates
Should the amendment be writ
ten into the rules it is TO be hoped
that the Jockey club will follow
the example of the French authori-
ties and place in the paddock at all
courses a case containing samples
Of fair" and unfair" plates. With
! this precaution taken. those guilty
of violating the regulations should
have no excuse when caught red :
handed in a practice which has been
/ responsible for much of the incon-
/ sistent racing. especially over muddy
courses, and which has been re-
/ sponsible for the Gripping and de-
struction Of many of our best horses
! in the past.