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THE THOKOUGHBBED GKOWING IN FAVOR. Director* of the National Horse Show- at last have re, ..gnized the utility of the thoroughbred aud in consequence there will he more opportunities at the oSmiug show for hornes registered by the Jockev flub than ever have been presented lief or,- at a show- in Madison Square Garden. In the program for the Garden show from November c to 12 there are classes exclusively for thoroughbred saddle horses, thoroughhred hunters, thoroughbred nolo ponies, etc.. and all these classes will be Judged on the same day, which will be designated as • -Thoroughbred Day." In late years there has been a vast widening of the sphere of the thoroughbred, which must form an important chapter in American horse history, lu the early days of the horse akani there was scarcely a place for him in the whole range of the , lassiiications. In those days the hunters were for the most parr coarse horses showing little trace of racing blood. The saddle horses were cuielly grades or by-products of the fritter. Ine hackney and the gaited Kentucky saddle bred, while the jiolo ponies were far removed from the thoroughbred type. A blood horse in any of these etaacea would have lieen more likely to get the gate than the blue ribbon. The high speed at which a twentieth century hunter must go to be in the lirst flight in following hounds has brought the thoroughbred horse aud the three-quarter-bred horse to the front in this fleld. In polo there is the same story to lie told. The little tliirteeii-liand colts of thirty years ago have given place to fifteen-hand hor.es that are often clean thoroughbreds with sufficient speed to plav successfully in important games. It is as a saddle horse, however, that the thoroughbred has made the greatest strides. So fasliioiiaiile Las the blood hack become among members of the riding clubs and others that this year he has com pcllcd recognition as a distinct type, and for the tirst time the National Horse Show Association has made separate classes for such horses all through the prize list for the coming exhibition at the Garden. Not all the horses shown in itese classes will be dean thoroughbreds, as a matter of course, but the nearer they approach the thoroughbred type the better will be their chance of winning. The old-fashioned docked saddle horses of "harnessy" figure and showy style and action are not to be eliminated or ignored, as separate classes also have been provided for them. Cimpcting iu the same classes with horses of the opposite type, tin- thoroughbreds and halt-breed-have steadily made headway at the Garden show. until in the last few years their winnings have rivalled those of the old established walk-trot saddle horses that were alone in the field in the early-years of the show. At the last show, for example Mrs. F. Ambrose Clarks Supplement, bv Tournament— Sally Supple, won the novice .-lass open to saddle horses of all breeds and types, beatin" among other*, the champions of the* Brooklvn ami Long Branch shows. Proud Prince, a registered thoroughbred by Nick — Lady Disdain, carried off the blue ribbon as t.ie beat ladvg saddle horse, beating Nickel Plate, the champion ot the year before at the Garden show. Iron Trail, a thoroughbred now owned bv John Sanford. one of the stewards of the Jockey Club was reserve champion at this show. Heartspring" Indian riower. Sir Evelyn, Sceptre, Sweethriar ami Saxon Queen are some of the many other thoroivh-breds that have won over all comers at the big show iu New York.
