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f + A TIMELY INTERVIEW WITH C. K. G. BILLINGS, WHO IS NOW k INTERESTING HIMSELF IN THE THOROUGHBRED t There is no man letter qualified to speak on the horse and anything iiertaining to him than C. K. G. Pollings, who owns more championship trotters and pacers than any other man and who has become interested in the racing of thoroghbreds recently, having purchased, in partnership with Frederick Johnson, a dozen head of English yearlings, which reached this country recently and are now quartered at Belmont Park. Mr. Billings early love was the harness horse. ead he has a remarkable breeding stud at Curies Neck Farm, fourteen miles from Richmond, Va., where the chumpi M trotting stallion of th*» world. The Harvester, with a record of 2:01. holds court over a priceless collection of trotting dams, many with records of better than 2:Kt. and having as its bright particular star Lou Dillon. 1:5X1.., the fastest mare in the world. The produce of this stud is marketed in Hie fall: they are weaned in an absolutely untrained condition. It is Mr. Billings plan to have the opportunity for obtaining a world beater ojien to everybody, and when the youngsters go into the ring they are sold on their breeding and individuality, coupled with whatever quality of action they may possess naturally. In discussing this plan recently the distinguished horse-man said: "1 started the farm chiefly as a diversion, and if I succeed in breeding good horses 1 shall be treniendously gratified. It has been my endeavor to start right. The Harvester has all that a ire should have — size, speed, conformation, disposition and breeding -and the mares that have been mated with him are my idea of what trotting dams should be. In having their produce pass to Hie people at large 1 aim to l.eentit the community. If anything sensational develops I can buy the same as anyliody else after they are trained." While Mr. Hillings takes much pleasure with the champion II, Ian. 1 :.«S. which he both rides and drives, and has up to tlie present used trolters exclusively under saddle, he confesses to a growing loudness for horses of pure blood. This is most encouraging to his associates iu tlie Jackey Club, who know that he will bring to their deliberations a wealth of knowledge in connection with the horse family at large. Like many other Americans of great affairs. Mr. Hillings is an ardent disciple of the gospel of preparedness and thinks that no matter engaging the attention of the people of the United States at the prcsent ti:ne surpasses it in importance. No part of the policy in his estimation outweighs that which ■SB to do with :he horsing of eutrehr* and the equipping ot the gun and transport service. Speaking in this connect i n I few days ago he said: "It is ini-peeattvc that the work of breeding horses for the army should lie in the most competent hands im»s-s:ble. The governments own ex]»eriuients. which have been limited because of insufficient appropriation, should lie broadened — money should not be a consideration at this time — and the work should be carried on under the control and direction of the army, which should be competent to pass on the needs of the service much better than a commission of outsiders, oftentimes not in sympathy with the movements. Washington is ideally situated for the prosecution of the work, as it is in a st»ction aliouuding in land that would be suitable for the pur- pose. There are regions in Virginia with its rich, rolling pastures and spring water that should produce as sound and well-furnished bonus as any district in the Patted States." 1 "How do you regard the thoroughbred as a sire in this connection?" Mr. Billings was asked. "The thoroughbred sire of projM-r type is the horse par excellence for this work in the estimation of Contiontal authorities whose success has made their accomplishment a standard for other eountries. Mated with the right kind of mares, and personally I prefer the trotter, they should give satisfaction in ; a majority of eases. Where the sire is of tlie high- strung, excitable type, discretion in the selection of s mares should be used. I am of the opinion, how- j ever, that many of our thoroughbreds are made t nervous and excitable through faulty education. The policy pursued by many trainers is, to my mind. B . wrong. Some trainers keep horses hidden away. There must be no noise lest the animal become ir- . ri fable. To my way of thinking tlie system prevail- j ing in trotting horse stables is infinitely better. . There each horse has his own grmm, or swipe, and the animals education is broader ls?cause of the close human companionship. I believe if the thor- . oughhrcd was handled from his birth in the same intimate fashion as the trotter we would have lietter . behaved horses in the paddock and at the barrier. and our racing would be benefited tremendously. There would be fewer bad actors and kickers, and , the percentage of cripple horses would be reduced to a minimum. : "Russia does these tilings well," continued Mr. Hillings. "la that country the favorite hitch is the troika -three hufaaa abreast — usually two mares and I a stallion, the latter in the middle of the team. There is no noise-, no fuss, either during the breed- ing season or at other time-s. Stallions and mares are- Bracked hi the double te-aius e-ve-ry w here. Geldings are few. anil the knife is neve-r ue.-d on a good hcrse. When we took ITilan to Moscow ami St. Petersburg the authoritie-s were- amazed to find [ him a gelding, and one high dignitary aske-d iu -thumb rous tones who was responsible for the unsex- ! ing of the king of trotters. The troika which they presented to me f»n that occasion consisted of a stalliem and two mares, and they we-re representu- lire of the country both as to disposition and • gait." "Do yon think the people of the Tniteel States at large appreciate the importance of the horse and •what lie means to the community?" Mr. Billings was asked. •-I elo not." was the response, "after a moments deliberation, "but I be-lieve we are on the eve of a i gradual awakening. The horse shows and amateur , racing :fre giving a world of help. Thoroughbreel and half-thoroiighbrtil hunters anel saddle hnuuuB are liecoming metre anel more in elenianel in large e-enters of population where tlie leisure class must !*» catered to. thus furnishing a market for the products of horse breeding communities. The people at large are thus acquiring at e-loser range the benefits of racing as exemplifieel in tlie th-iroiighbreel anel his nriMlue-ts. The amateur race timet ings, such as at Piping Rock, are bringing into the sport men who woulel probably have lieen le-ss keen under different cire-nmstane-es."
