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CARRYING OUT A PURPOSE OF RACING. "The improvement .of the -breed of horses" is one! of the declared purposes of all racing organizations, but It was" not until the Jockey Club established its breeding department and began the distribution of thoroughbred stallions among- the counties of New York, that any turf body took a practical step to make the declaration good. It will not be many years before New York will- begin to reap solid profits from the distinct improvement an infusion of thoroughbred blood is liound to bring about in Kb, commoner grades of horses; The thrpughbred 5s: not only able to run faster than . all other horses, but he is also superior as a work horse and pound for; pound will ontpull, outstep, outwork and outlast any other breed. That the example of the Jockey Club is felt elsewhere is shown In tlie declared purpose of President Heaslip of the New Orleans Jockey Club to Introduce the same system in Louisiana. Had the racing organizations of Chicago, been- sagacious- enough years ago to devote some portion of their overflow- ing profits to establishing one or two good thoroughbred stallions in every countyin Illinois, it is quite probable the resulting benefits would have engendered such friendship for racing that it -would be flourishing here today. The experiment in Louisiana, if successfully carried out, cannot fail to in? beneficial. Concerning it the New Orleans Picayune says: j "The jockey club will set aside a certain amount of money every year for. the purchase of high class stallious which have become no - longer of use as racing stock, but are excellent for the stud. These stallions will be placed in the hands of responsible pei-sons throughout the . state and a maximum fee for service will be fixed by a board, which will -have under its management the distribution and supervision of these horses. "The club will ask Governor Blanchard ttf appoint a commission of gentlemen, who will lie really u board of commissioners for the advancement of better breeding of horses. These gentlemen will see that the objects- of the club are properly carried out, that the stallions purchased are placed in proper hands, and that the fees charged will not excee-J j the actual cost of keeping the horses. The farmers j or planters to whom the horses are given will have the free use of the stallions as payment for the care of the horses, and the fees collected, which should be most moderate, will go toward the actual cost of caring for the studs. "In Louisiana there is the Atrnkapas pony, which is strongly built and possessed of a wonderful amount of endurance. All they lack "Hb a little size. By breeding these native Louisiana mares to high-class - stallions the standard of horses in the state will be wonderfully improved. A horse will be turned out which will be speedy as a sprinter, sure of foot and as tough as a little pine knot. "President Heaslip talked at length on the plan decided upon and pointed out scores of ways this helping hand of the Jockey Club mlgbtVbc made to greatly benefit the state. He called attention to the very high prices paid for polo ponies. These ponies must be quick as cats on their feet, very tough and possess wonderful endurance. The Louis- lana pony has the endurance and the quickness. Cross these ponies with a high-class horse which will introduce new blood into the old strain, and the get of such a cross should make a polo pony which will equal anything in the United States. He should possess all the qualifications which these hard-ridden little animals are expected to produce. . "President Heaslip added that he had already laid his lines for the organization of. this system. The club has decided to assist the farmers of the. state iu breeding horses of which Louisiana may feel IToud. When these lines have lieen completed nnd the best quality of stallions purchased, they will be donated by the club to the people. "Every year there are stallions broiight down south for racing purposes which are sound as a dollar, high, bred and perfect in conformation, but for one cause or another .Ire no longer useful as racing stock. These are the stallions the club will purchase. The blood, of the animal is still as pure and rich as ever, faster fields or other causes making the horse a useless possession as a racing factor. "The commission which the governor will be asked to appoint will see that these horses, are properly scattered over the state in order that every locality may have the use of a stud. Thand possibilities of such a plan are almost endless. "When the plan, which is now hardly worked out to completion, has been finally launched and the years pass when the Louisiana race horses become a factor in the racing of the state, the New Orleans Jockey Club will feel that it has fulfilled its. promise called for by its charter, that It has done something toward Improving the class of stock- raised in, this state, that it has raised the standard; of horses and has furnished some pleasure to the people of this great state." - .
