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MR. BELMONT OPTIMISTIC CHAIRMAN OF JOCKEY CLUB LOOKS FORWARD TO SEASON OF 1916 CONFIDENTLY. Notable List of Recruits to Sport and Advent of Imported Horses in Great Numbers Factors in Arousing Interest in Eastern Racing. New York. December 28. — August Belmont, chair man of the Jockey Club, is quoted as follows: "The racing season of JfllO should be notable in , many respects, the entries for the stakes of the . Westchester Racing Association and the Saratoga Association, which closed recently, reaching a total I that was most encouraging, while a large number of new names — men that should be a tower of strength in the future development of the sport — . appear among the nominators. •This is the best argument that ihe sport made friends in 1915, and that racing is still held in , high esteem by a large proportion of the people. Another feature which will make the season of 1910 ; noteworthy is that we shall have a chance to , see in action the 200 or more English and French-bred horses which have liecu purchased bv various owners iu the 1 nited States since the outbreak of • the war. Racing will have an added zest because of the appearance of these strangers. There will I then lie an opjiortunity ot determining how our horses , compare with those of other countries when they have to race on foreign soil. Hitherto England I lias sent us few horses that were intended for the . track, most of our importations having lteen for ; breeding purposes. A few English horses have appeared from time to time, but they were not of as ; high class as those we sent to try " conclusions with ! the best in England and France. "The contests next year should serve a definite . pur|K se. therefore, besides adding to the glorious , uncertainty which has always been a characteristic . of racing. It will be interesting to note the effect t our climate will have ou the foreign-bred horses, and will also be a splendid opportunity of comparing the individuality of the English and French i with the American types. "I should like to have seen more fillies imported. but it is only natural for the breeders to cling to » their young mares to the last, as they will lie needed when the war is over to replenish the breeding ranks. England has been the great nursery of f thoroughbreds and she has benefited every country, her horses having left their impress on the equine c product of all nations, none more so than our own. "Tnlikc other European |Kiwers. England has s • t cr«r established breeding studs under government t siqiervisiou : but it is significant that this policv is s to be changed, and. witli Colonel William Hall 1 Walker gift of his splendid stud as a nucleus, she I should soon be in a fair way to rival the breeding j establishments operated by France. Germany, Russia. Austria-Hungary and other continental countries. The war has demonstrated with fresh emphasis the importance of the thoroughbred, for without it the cavalry of the belligerents would have e played a small part in the titanic struggle. "What is true of England and other European ii countries can he said of the United States, and 1 racing should lie encouraged and fostered iu every i ]m s .il de way. if only as an element of preparedness. While congress is planning to spend millions on an i increased army and navy, nothing has been said 1 about the horse, without which no army would he I complete.
