HORSE RACING.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LX, Issue 143772, 22 April 1912, Page 5

HORSE RACING.

THE VALUE OF THE THOROUGHBRED. . Interference with racing in the United States, and tne consequent dispersal ot many studs, has led to a serious condition ot affairs whicii is causing tne War Department keen anxiety (says the London limes). Une ol tec auuiortties, Major-General Wood, has reported to Congress his belief tnal -’the depletion ot tne thorouglihred establishments ot the country is non- assuming the magnitude ol a national calamity, ’ lor, as lie goes on to remark, "that me thoroughbred or galloping blood is the best foundation tor a remount system there can be no doubt.” Two patriotic Americans have done something to repair the mischief. Mr. August Belmont has presented to the \\ ar Department several stallions, including two sons ol the Derby winner Rock Sand, and Mr. H. R. Whitney has contributed Sandringham, an own brother to King Edward's Derby winners Persimmon and Diamond Jubilee. It is because these horses are connected with "classic.” winners that their value is so great; for connietition on the racecourse, and, the consequent proof of soundness and other merits thus afforded, is the only acceptable evidence of worth. Without this test breeding and appearance go for comparatively little. The employment of Sandringham as a sire was, indeed, speculative at the outset, he having done nothing as a racehorse; but in this case his distinguished relationship was an irresistible inducement to try him, and he soon became an established success. It is, of course, mainly with a view to the improvement ot light horses for military purpose® that Continental Governments pay such largo prices for animals who have won notable races in England.

THE HORSE-BREEDING INDUSTRY. Attempts are.sometimes made to estimate the value of thoroughbred stock in the United Kingdom. Nothing like accuracy can be obtained, but nevertheless some available figures at least convey an idea. Few short of 4000 horses ran under Jockey Club rules last year, 3860 to be exact. One of them, Mr. C. E. Howard’s Willonyx, could have been sold for well over 30,000 guineas, a sum which would not have purchased Lord Derby’s Swynford, and a number of others would at least have mad© many thousands had their owners cared to sell them: Lord Derby’s Stedfast, Mr. Pilkington’s Prince Palatine, Mr. J. B. Joel’s S'unstar and . his younger brother White Star, Mr. Fairie’s Lemberg, Mr. Hulton’s Lomond, Sir George Murray’s Bachelor’s Double, Mr. Brodrick Cloete’s Cherimoya, Lord Falmouth’s Belleislo, Lord Rosebery’s Charmian, Mr, Duryea’s Sweeper ll.—the list might be hugely extended. A number of bad animals run as a matter of course; hut £SOO each cannot be an extravagant estimate for horses in training, and here wo have at once close on £2,000,000. There are now at the stud some 240 sires at fees descending from the 300 guineas charged for Mr. Fairies Bayardo and Mr. Leopold do Rothschild’s St. Fnisqnin. Several of these (.ires, though less than the amount quoted is demanded for their services, may almost be described as priceless, that is to say, it is unlikely their owners would put a price on them Major Eustace Coder's Spearmint, who stands at 250 guineas, Lord Rosebery’s Cicero (200 guineas) and Neil Gow, Sir John Thursby’s John o’ Gaunt, Mr. Leopold de Rothschild’s Radium, otc. For a horse to have any chance at the stud ho must in all but quite exceptional cases have displayed capacity when in training, and, though an average is difficult to reach, it is probable that £4OOO is a fair one all round for these stallions, which gives us something like another million. Thoroughbred, marcs are numerous. To calculate the number and value of these is impossible; to put down the mares as worth another million would surely be under the mark. Many horses run both on the flat arid in hurdle i-aces —some in steeplechases as well. A great many more are kept exclusively for events over fences, and among these are not a few who would command high, prices. A couple of thousand guineas would not purchase several) well-known jumpers—‘looo guineas was paid by Sir Charles Asshoton-Smith for Holy War and the same sum for Indian Runner; last month Mr. Stanley Howard’s Joule i note wn made 3300 guineas. Horses running under National Hunt rules arc certainly worth several hundreds of thousands. Some figures are definite. Thus last year 593 foals and yearlings made an average at auction of 307 i guineas. These, together with the crosscountry horses, must add up to quite a fifth million, and besides these there are the many hundreds of foals and yearlings bred and retained by their owners. The importance of the industry will be recognised from this hasty analysis; the amount of employment it affords in innumerable directions cannot bo appraised.