THOROUGHBRED BREEDING IN FRANCE.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1415, 7 June 1917, Page 14

THOROUGHBRED BREEDING IN FRANCE.

Mr. Allison writes: —“French breeders are up n arms about statements made by Eugene Leigh to the effect that French blood stock will be practically wiped out by the war, and that the thoroughbred mares commandeered for war service will have lost their identity, as they did in America during the Civil War. Now, Eugene Leigh may be a capable trainer, but as regards breeding he has no pretensions to knowledge. The ‘French Stud Book’ has always been kept scrupulously pure to the ‘English Stud Book,’ and in France they have been vastly more careful than we have during the war not to let the stock be depleted by exportation. The decrease of the foal returns m France has been anything but serious, for whereas in 1913 there were 1911 registered, and in 1914 there were 1820, there were‘l7o9 in 1915, which, in the circumstances, is

an unappreciable difference. Moreover, such bloodstock as has been taken for army purposes consisted either of geldings or others of little value; but, in any case, their identification papers went with them, and will always be available, so that there can never be any trouble about their pedigrees in future, if these are ever wanted. I cannot but think that our French friends are somewhat unduly upset over Eugene Leigh’s pessimistic report. Naturally, as a trainer, he had no use for France in the days of storm and stress, and he may well have thought that because there was no racing to speak of there were no horses to train. A continuance of present condit ons would be disastrous to horse breeding in France as well as in England; but France has set an example to the world, both at the front and in the maintenance of her great industries under unexampled difficulties. Of those industries horse breeding is one of the most important, and I am glad to be able to show that the fountainhead of it, the thoroughbred, is still

being done full justice to. Since August 1, 1914, there has not been exported from France a single covering stallion less than ten years old, and no brood mare has been exported, except by a special temporary permit, for service in this country, and return within the year. The French studs are thus really intact, though we can all imagine the trouble the unfortunate breeders have had to face.”