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PROBLEMS FACING AMERICAN BREEDERS. New York. June 12. — Not the least fascinating feature of the current racing season will be the comparison of our home-bred thoroughbreds as individuals and in point of speed with those that have come from abroad. Two youngsters of purely foreign lineage. Hourless and Jack Mount, have already won, and as the season progresses and more of the imported colts and fillies sport silk the interest will increase. There have been in all since January 1. 1915. more than 350 registrations with the Jockey Club, and of these 160 are two -year-olds, of which about one-fourth are entirely American-bred or out of American mares that were sent abroad during the period when the turf Languished in the United States. Much has been said and written about the benefit which will be derived from these importations of fresh blood, some of the best families being represented in the lot. In discussing this point on Saturday W. H. Rowe. the registrar of the Jockey Club, and an acknowledged expert in blood lines, said: "No doubt there are many winning families represented in recent importations and a satisfactory number of them will produce animals of merit, but American breeders should not lose sight of the fact, that we have at home some of the greatest racing blood, viewed in the light of achievement, that turf history has recorded. Ttake, for example, the Maggie B. B., Ballet and Gallopade families. There is scarcely a great race in this country that hasnt been won by deseendants of these mares, while they figure in the pedigrees of the winners of the Derby and other great turf events of England and continental Europe. "Despite their achievements we find that descendants of Wanda and Ballet are barred from registration in the English and French Stud Books because the female line as recorded in the American Stud Book does not trace to an English source. Durbar wen the Derby, but he couldnt get into the English Stud Book, it having been ruled some four or five years ago that only horses that traced in all points of their pedigree directly to that authority were eligible for that honor. France, on March 1. 1913. put up the bars in like manner, and Shannon and Blarney, both good horses and winners of big money in that eountry, would not lie eligible for registration under tic present English ruling l e-cause their sire. Irish Lad, doesnt trace through the female line to the Britisli authority. This has produced a peculiar condition of affairs, for while Colin is registered in th" English Stud Book, a sister or brother to him or their produce would be refused. "This is the time for the American breeder to study the blood lines of the families he wishes to amalgamate." went on Mr. Rowe. "He shouldnt be carrkd away by brilliant top-crosses, but should delve into the female lines and see that they contain the qualifications he wishes to incorporate into his product. We have been accused of breeding a lot of spriuters, but I think that if our horses were trained to stay they would show stamina of a high order. Speed must me served, of course, and it is the first essential every great race horse must ihis-sess. If we find the happy blend that results in speed and staying powers, we have reached the apex of our endeavors." In discussing the decline in the registration of thoroughbred foals from the high -water mark of 4.415 in 1905 to less than 2.000 last year, Mr. Rowe said: "The registration of 4.415 foals in 1905 doesnt imply that we hadnt more than that numbei -oftlioroughbredB l*»rn in that year. There were many that died, and others that were not worth recording in the estimation of their owners, so that I should say that taking last years figures as a working basis, the number of thoroughbred dams in tin? Halted States and Canada hud decreased by more than one-half in ten years. Its going to take a long time to get back to our former figure. Witli the increased interest that is being taken in the thoroughbred, however, and the part he is bound to play in the governments breeding policy, the gain will, permaps, be more rapid than under conditions that existed some years ago. "There is no dearth of material." said Mr. Rowe. in conclusion, "for the prosecution of the breeding of army horses, as sires that possess the characteristics necessary for the production of the type, hat lack the strains of blood that would make them desirable to produce race horses, are abundant. Many of the English importations are horses of size and iKine. and would make an admirable top-cross for the cold-blooded marcs that are to be found in every rural community."
