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VIRGINIAS GREATEST BREEDING FARM. Brilliant Racers Sent Out from R. J. Hancocks Ellorslie Stud by Eolus and His Successors.. "I have been breeding and raising thoroughbred race hora-s for thirty-six years and during all these years 1 have never bet a cent nor bought a pool," is the extraordinary statement of Captain It. .T. Hancock, the venerable breeder, who. with his son, Arthur Hancock, conducts the historic horse farm. Kllerslie, near Charlottesville, Virginia. Sneh n statement, coming from ib man of Captain Hancocks standing, who has bred sonic of the most notable stake winners in America and for more than a generation lias been identilied with the a Tails of the turf, its fascinations, excitements and temptations, should prove an agreeable surprise just now, when there is so much legislation that is hostile to horse racing. It goes to show that the old-time conception of the sport partook as much of legitimate business and rivalry as it did of speculation. In discussing the present conditions and future of racing. Captain Hancock made the following statement: "What I say is with no ill will to any of my brother breeders and turfmen. There aro James It. Haggin. James It. Kecne, August I.elniout. H. 1. Whitney. Henry Oxnard and John Madden with their numerous broodmares and stallions. These gentlemen breed and raise race horses enough every year to furnish the world with such stock; if they were the right sort. "Xow as to England. There arc Edward VII.. a true sportsman: Lord Kosebery. the Duke of 1ort-land and the Duke of Westminster. Perhaps they are four of the wealthiest men in the kingdom. I doubt if either of them has as many as thirty broodmares in their studs, but they are the cream of the stud book. "Compare these with a lot of mares picked up promiscuously the worthless ones to eat the heads off the good ones every winter. Now, why cannot we Americans adopt the same tactics? Get rid of the trash and breed nothing but the bluest blood. "Then there is France. I understand she will not allow a two-year-old to start until August 1 every year, which is good, hard sense, and our jockey clubs would do well to protit by the example. Under pros-, ont conditions ,000 is enough to give any two ycHr-olrt to run a six-furlong race, and 0,000 for any three-year-old stake. "For instance, start the three-year-olds, say at Plmlico, not earlier than the lirst or middle of May, and a liberal amount of older horses in handicaps and overnight events. What good sense is there in giving such horses as Morello or Colin 0,000 or 0,000 to run a six-furlong race when Hush Whacker and Princeton -were sent four-mile heats three heats, twelve miles, and the old Maryland. Jockey Club gave only ,500 added money? "They were sure enough race horses, and so were Glenmore and Willie D., which went the same route over tho same track for the same amount of money in the fastest time ever made at the distance." Thoroughly warmed up to his theme, with a benevolent but virile sparkles in his line eyes, the standi old Virginian continued: "I do not advocate four-mile heats nor three-mile heats, but I-tblnk two miles Is not too far to send a; -good horse, and occasionally a dash of two and a half miles.- three miles and four miles. -"Wo -can certainly breed as good horses aa England or France, and we should begin next year to nend them as the English and French do. Let the Jockey1 clubs reduce the amount of the stakes, especially for- two-year-olds, and tho gate owjrcy. and entrance fees will lie sufficient, I imagine, to foot the bills and have a good margin besides." Prominent among the trees at Ellexslie is the elm. There is a tradition among horsemen that wherever the elm tree grows thoroughbred horses will thrive. In creating 5iis establishment Captain Hancock had good judgment to begin with, which he supplemented by careful study of blood lines, individual characteristics and mating. Along with this he made close observation of the natural requirements in the development of soundness, health and all the attributes that count in a typical race horse, while his long experience with the life on the farm and its vicissitudes equips him for the business. When he selected Charaxus to breed to the fillies of his premier sire. Eolus. he revealed a discrimination which has attracted the attention of horsemen everywhere. The -following is but an incomplete chronicle of the great racers sent out from Ellorslie: Horse. Races. Amt. .Morello. Futurity Stakes, etc -1 .105 Euros, Suburban Handicap, etc 28 G;.225 Elkwood, Suburban Handicap, etc 1-1 o0,H70 Eon. New York Jockey Club. etc.... ",1 -lo,005 Diablo, Brooklyn Handicap, etc Ill 715,107 Eole, cups, handicaps, etc 27 SI, 1ST Eolian, Woodlawn Handicap, etc 21 18,000 Uussell. Great American Stakes, etc... ol S1.17S Charade. Metropolitan Handicap, etc. . . i?5 50.057 Charentus, mile and a quarter record on circular course, 2:01 M 30,7i!5 Itosinaiite. Pacific Coast record for mile and an eighth, 1:52, etc 2S 11,015 Hamuiie, Surf Stakes, etc 17 10.2:15 Lester, the "Iron Horse" -11 20,525 Ma I!cllc, nine consecutive victories... t!.". 15,015 Chateau, Expectation Stakes, etc 15 10,515 Eolus. was a son of Leamington and Fanny Washington, coming from stock noted for its racing powers. Not only was Eolus n groat sire but he begot colts tlrat made good as sires. For example. Morello was the sire of Eddie Jones, one of the best horses ever raced on the coast: Imperious, winner of the lSurns 0,000- Handicap, etc.; Russell, which sired Triaditza Memphis seven-eighths mile record. l:27i; Miss Bennett, champion two-year-old in the west in 1000; Cheesemite. the crack steeplechaser of that year in the west. In speaking of steeplechasers, Charaxus sired the great hurdler Oliarawind, another western star iu 1500 and again in 1003, when he won six crosscountry races. Comiug down to more recent times, for the last three or four years Fatherless, a son of Isonomy and Orphan Agnes, has presided as premier at the Ellerslie court. He was a great race horse in England when imported to Virginia and has made his impress upon the racing stock of the state. Isonomy is the only horse that ever sired two winners of the "Triple Event." In 1005, up to April 13. Fatherless was the only sire in the United States that season to be represented by live two-year-old winners, -and this year he has a place in the list of twenty leading stallions. Some Baltimore horsemen have owned Fatherless colts and raced them on the New York tracks with success. Prominent among his get have been Peter. Judge White, T. S. Martin, Jupiter. Venus. Bonnet, The Clown, Workman, Workmaid, Orphan Lad. Giles. Billie Hibbs. Marster, Trey of Spades. Nellie Burn. Awless, Reynard, Mistiss, Minnie Baker and Alkeu. This fall seventeen yearlings by Fatherless were disposed of, and it remains to be seen whether his progeny will "go back" or achieve laurels worthy of their sire and their home.
