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New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IV, Issue 193, 5 April 1894, Page 4

The unfair treatment meted out. to English breeders in the matter of stallion fees is causing marked dissatisfaction in the old world, and the absurd prices in vogue are made a great deal more absurd by the proportion of resultless matings which recent returns have brought to light. Horses like Donovan, St. Simon, St. Serf, Ayrshire, Rosebery, &c. are shown in a very unfavourable light in this connection. In 1892 eighteen mares proved barren to Donovan, whose fee is 1000 dols., and his living foals stood at seventeen. St. Simon’s record was as bad, and Ayrshire’s was worse. No return privileges are allowed when mares fail to produce, and the contention that breeders should be given a little more advantage in connection with stallions whose fees are so exorbitant should, we consider, receive serious consideration. The returns re barrenness are made still worse by the fact that St. Simon’s foals this season are being born dead. “Thus the superb Queen Adelaide,” remarks a Yorkshire correspondent of The Spirit of the Times, “ who was bought for 7,750 dollars for the Blankney Stud at the December sales, has produced a dead foal to St. Simon, and so has the Scottish Chief mare Chant, bought at the same sales for 3,500 dollars for the late General Kodolitsch.” Further proof of the ground breeders have for dissatisfaction is given by a correspondent of the London Sporting Times, who writes: “ The l very large proportion of barren mares in the Stud Book for 1893, and the slipping and dead foals is proof sufficient that return privileges should be the rule on all stud farms instead of being the exception.” The writer goes on to advocate the formation of an association of small breeders for the purpose of selecting stallions on the return privilege system, and so check the excessive charges and the hard and fast lines laid down by aristocratic and wealthy owners of sires. According to a return in the article quoted from, eighteen mares were barren to Donovan in 1893; fifteen to Bend Or; fifteen to Ayrshire; twelve to St. Simon ; ten to Royal Hampton, and seven to Galopin. As the above are all high priced stallions it will be seen there is ample justification for the owners’ complaints.