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AT KINGSTON AND CASTLETON STUDS A writer in the Horseman and Spirit of the Timt s thus describes a recent visit to Kingston and Castle ton Farms near Lexington Ky KyIt It was a perfect October day when the motor car carried us from Lexington to what has long been known as Kingston Stud Farm James Ferguson who for vears handled the starting tlag on prominent miming tracks founded this breeding farm but when he crossed the divide it passed to other hands When occupied by Clarence II Mackay its appoint ¬ ments were enlarged and now Major F A Dainger field bus much spare room on it It was not with ¬ out heartburnings that the transfer of household goods from Castleton to Kingston was made The welllighted office near thn residence is the literary and business workshop of Sliss Dalngerfield The outlook Is cheerful and the silence which thu scholar craves in hours of reflection is there when desired On all sides are books of reference including vol ¬ umes of the American Trotting Register Miss Daingerfield is familiar with the lines from which Derby and Futurity winners on the running turf descend and now she is studying the families which have given us great trotters like Uhlan and Badeu The stables of Kingston are fit to shelter kings and queens The water is good with ample flow The views are farreaching and in tho long summer days the Iravesof oak maple and locust are rustelcd by cooling breezes Tho atmosphere of cordial and graceful hospitality has been carried from Castlctou to Kingston KingstonThe The stallions broodmares and foals of James R Keene are still at Castloton At the time of my visit there were thirtyfour weanlings Mr Kecnc Is in poor health and is gradually closing out his stud The once premier stallion Kingston Is now but u shadow His twentyseven years rest heavily upon him The luster of his eye is gone his form is withered and his steps faltering The winter doubt ¬ less will end the period of decreptitudc Only once did the old spirit light up tho form of Kingston and that was when he stood in the golden sunshine near Peter Pan and Delhi The admiration bestowed upon the younger stallions excited the envy of the scarred and faded warrior and quickened the pulsa tions of the heart For an instant his head was lifted high and the eyes flashed with the fire of other days Then the palsying witch of time re ¬ newed control and with halting step the wasted form passed from view In all America a finer group of thoroughbred stallions was never seen than the one composed of Voter 1 years Ben Brush 10 Disguise 14 Delhi 12 Superman S Peter Pan 8 Hippodrome 7 Sweep 7 and Ultimus the last of the sons of Domino Ultimus is a horse of 1210 pounds and of wonderful muscular development Superman is a grand chestnut with fluted legs hunt ¬ ing shoulder and splendid carriage by Domino Hippodrome shows immense powcr and his foals are highly regarded regardedIt It is a pity to see a groun of stallions dispersed which illustrate on one farm the most progressive standards of breeding Should I live for another fifty years which is impossible I would not see in any stud over which the Stars and Stripes fly a baud of thormishbrpd sires the filial of those which won paraded before me In the generous sunshine of that memorable Octol er day at CastlHon The vio ¬ lence of the crusado against racing has imposed a heavy handicap on the development of the thorough ¬ bred horse In the United States of America Tho name of James R Keene will long live in history as one of our greatest breeders
