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1 1 I 1 , , 1 1 . , , . 1 • . , , , , , . l . j I J * . : J t I * ► t I . t * t 1 GREAT OPPORTUNITY NOW IN SIGHT. Something About the Blood Lines of Englands Best Families of Thoroughbreds. "The opportunity that just now presents itself to lovers of the thoroughbred horses in America. to secure representaives from the best racing fami- lies in England, is one that should not lie over- looked or neglected." writes Charley Brossman, fr.iin Columbus, O. "There never has lieen such a chance to purchase at a reasonable price horses that in other years would he unattainable because they would not be for sale at any price. England is the home of the thoroughbred horse, by breeding to the win- ners of the classic events, daughters of producng families, carefully selected, they have produced a s|jeedy, game, vigorous, rugged breed that are sn- perior to the horses of any other country. Horse racing is a national sport in England, encouraged by the government, the King himself maintaining an extensive breeding establishment. The Derby has been annually run since 17S0, when it was won by Diomed. by Florizel. which was afterward imported into the United States and the impress of his blood is still felt in this country through the line of Diomid. Sir Archy. Timoleou. Boston. Lexington, etc. The second Derby in 17S1 was won by Young Ecliiise. by Eclipse. Allabaculla. by Sampson, won the first St. Leger in 1770. "In 1779 Bridget, by Herod, won the first English Oaks anil the second was won in 17S0 by Teetotum. by Matchem. Breeders in any country today are pleased to trace the pedigrees of their horses as many times as possible to Hered. Matchem and Eclipse and the blood of the descendants of these great sires is more potent today than it was over one hundred years ago. "All students of the breeding problem will agree that there are certain OMM or nicks of blood* as they are called, that are compatible and when brought together produce an individual of greater worth than either of the parents. It is the kind of a cross that breeders say breeds on. In this country it was first noticed in the Gloncoe — l.evia- than cross, then the Lexington — Glencoe. Vandal — Margrave. Leamington — Lexington. Bonnie Scotland — Lexington, etc.. and so n through the sons and daughters of these famous horses, but it is a ques-» lion if any blood line stands out more prominently in America than that, founded by Glencoe. Glencoe. Vandal. Virgil. Hindoo. Hanover and their illustri-. oils sons and daughters made a line of thoroughbred race horses that have stood the test and were not excelled by the horses of auy country. "In the early history of English racing it was found that Eclipse crossed best with the daughters of his old-time rival Hernd. Later 011 the popular cross was Sultan -Whisker, lien Stockwcll — Mel- 1 ourne. Hermit---S.ockwell. etc. Now SIH-kwell was out of Pocahontas, a daughter of Olem-oe. and what a lot of giants of the turf de-, ended from him. Stockwell. Bend, Or. Ormonde, the un-. beaten, known as the horse of th" century, all trace to MaekWCU. Another jltkwtil line that was very prciiotcnt was Stockwcll. Malt Athol. Prince Charlie, etc Almost any son of Prince Charlie that was ever tried in the stud sired not only good race horses, but champions. There are numerous other excellent male lines that have made records ou the Ln-lish turf. Among the number that stand out prominently is the one to Newminster. by Touchstone out of the great race mare Beeswing. Touchstone. Newminster, Lord Clifden, Hampton etc. What an array of prominent sires. Another prominent sire family that must not be overlooked is that of Voltigeur. by Voltaire, out of Martha Lynn. Voltaire. Voltigeur, Vedette. Galopin. St. Simon, etc. some of the greatest horses ever on the rnglish turf trace to this line of sires. It is well known among students o" the breeding problem that more than three-fourths of the best race horses trace to a limited number of great broodmares, mares that may be said to have founded racing families, showing a superiority of certain families in the maternal line. Among the best in America is the Levity. Miss Obstinate. Young Maid of the Oaks. Callopade. Magnolia. Marie West. etc.. and from these mares and their descendants have come the major part of the best race horses that ever trod the American turf. In England Prunella, by Highllyer. was the first to attract marked attention in this regard. She was the dam of Parasol, Waxy. Pepe Joan and Pelisse, and was ably succeeded by her daughter Penelope in the gift of~ transmitting speed, which was the dam of the Derby winners Whalebone. 1M0. and Whisker. 1S15, also Web. Wire. Wofull and Windfall. "Web foaled Filigree and Trampoline and Filigree foaled Cobweb, which in turn foaled the invincible Bay Middletou. while Trampoline foaled our own great imported Gieucoe, and this family descending through Prunella in the female line, has continued to furnish England with its mightiest equine champions. Queen Mary is another instance that attracts attention. In addition to being the dam of the two great race horses and sires. Ilonnie Scotland and Ralrownie, her famous daughters wei-e I.link Bonny, Bonny Bell. Blooming Heather, Haricot. Braxey. etc.. and all have bred on. "Emma, by Whisker, is another case in point. She produced two Derby winners in Muudig. MB, and Cotlicrstone. 1S43. which also won the Two Thousand Guineas the same year. Slt» also produced imported Trustee ind Mowerina. dim of West Australian: also Jeunala. whose daughter, Gruyere, foaled Parmesan. Pocahontas, by Glencoe. is. "however, one of the most celebrated of all the broodmares in the stud books. Her sons were race horses and sires of the highest type and her female descendants have earric,l on the succession. A description of the good race horses that trace to Pocahontas would fill a volume, and her name can not appear too many times in a pedigree. The Agnes family. .Mice Hawthorn. St. Angela and others, have each contributed their share toward making the records of the English turf famous all over the world, and for the honor of winning one of their classic events many wealthy men would give a fortune. So it will eventually be in this country — sportsmen, men of leisure and wealth, will enter racing for r«-oreation and will vie with each other for the honor of wincing a Derby it great handicap, and will pay fabulous p rices for horses iliat they think can deliver the prize. On aceount oT tlie war there is now the best op|H.rti]tiitv ever offered for American race horse men to go t England and se lire some of these well-formed and royally-bred youngsters, race them f"r several years and eventually they will find their way to the breeding farms of the country, thereby building up a great industry and at the same time securing pleasure, profit and fame, and have the satisf action of doing something to help improve the breed of horses in this country."
