RUSSIA AND THE THOROUGHBRED.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1246, 5 March 1914, Page 11

RUSSIA AND THE THOROUGHBRED.

The Russian Empire owns the largest number of horses under one Government in the world.. Since the Crimean war Russia has been one of England’s best customers for the thoroughbred. When the Crimean disturbance was on, the hackney and other light harness breeds were not pspular with Englishmen as saddle

horses, either on the road, in the ranks, or for pleasure. The English gentleman preferred a three-quarter thoroughbred horse, and English officers tried to get their chargers as nearly thoroughbred as possible: while the remount departments went for a similar class for the light cavalry. The heavy cavalry rode a bigger horse, with a strong dash of the Clydesdale in it, because of the tremendous weights they were compelled to carry; but subsequently it was proved that the lighter horse of

breeding handled the weight as well and went at faster speed. The Russians saw the advantage of the thoroughbred during that war, and have been buying heavily for over 50 years; but never, perhaps, did they come out of their shell to such an extent as at the last December sales, when M. Mantacheff, from the icy empire, expended over £50,000 in thoroughbreds, and after the sales made Mr. A. W. Cox an offer of 55,000 guineas for Lemberg. This great price (a record) was refused. Lemberg won £41,694 on the turf, and is a halfbrother to Bayardo, a son of Bay Donaiu —also the property of his breeder, Mr. Cox, who is frequently described as an Australian, but he is not. He is an Englishman who saw service as a jackeroo at Lake Dick, near Broken Hill, and acquired an original share in Broken Hill through winning a game of euchre. That original share made him a millionaire, and the luck that attended him in the desert stuck to him in bright green England, whither he returned and became the owner of Eager, one of the best horses in England. Subsequently he bred Lemberg and Bayardo. Lemberg (10) is by Cyllene by Galicia, by Galopin from Isoletta, by Isonomy from a Muncaster mare, Lady Muncaster, a descendant of Queen Mary. Mr. Cox may have spent his life out in the red sand* but for that game of euchre. He can echo that religiously reared American, who, after winning a pile

at faro, remarked: “An’ ter think that everybody in our village used ter say kyarus is a w’aste o’ time!”