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NUMBER OF THOROUGHBREDS INCREASING. Now York, October 4. Figures in the possession of Walter S. Vosburgh, the official handicapper of the Jockey Club, give some idea of the shrinkage in the production of the thoroughbred in the United States during the past decade. This official has a minute record of the labors for the twenty-seven years he has been adjusting the weights, and from them it is gleaned that the high-water mark for the racing of thoroughbreds in this country was reached in 100.1, when he handicapped no fewer than 9,200 individual horses. When it is remembered that there were other thousands of horses that did not race on the Jockey Club courses Mr. Vosburghs jurisdiction not extending to any of the courses in Canada, California, Kentucky, Louisiana or other distant points some idea of the magnitude of the thoroughbred breeding industry may lie obtained. The number varied from the maximum In 1!02 down to less than 3,000 in 1014, while to date this year 4,000 different horses have come up for otllcial consideration. By the close of the Maryland season perhaps the total will reach 5,000. : The brighter days which have come for the turf will no doubt see a material, increase for 1017. The foal registrations in the Jockey Clubs stud books for the current year ore better than in 1915, but the total is not as great as many would think, much of our broodmare stock having been sold overseas or put to menial uses, many good mares having become producers of mules instead of race horses. It is from the extensive importations of English and French stock that this new material will be recruited. Already more than 400 head of yearlings, broodmares and sires have been imported in 1910, and with Thomas Welsh, J. O. Keeue and others abroad eager for bargains, there will be at least 500 foreign-bred thoroughbreds on our shores by New Years day. The fact that the agents from this country are at present taking nothing but the best-bred ones that can le found is being commented upon by English fanciers, who do not relish the thought of parting with the blood which has made turf history abroad. Some of the earlier purchases for American account were not remarkable for either individuality or blood lines, and they ran as they looked, but when the Joel and Blanc studs were invaded by Messrs. Ma-cbniber and Widener there was a real protest that something should be done to prevent the further despoliation of the representative studs of England and France. The announcement from Mr. Joel that lie would continue breeding has soothed John Bull somewhat, but everywhere there is a demand for more racing in order that the horse breeding industry of England may not become an empty shadow of its former glory when it was the thoroughbred nursery of the universe. There was a time when the thoroughbred -was used exclusively for racing in the United States, but of late years the excellence of the clean-bred animal for horse show, saddle and hunting purposes has milde friends for him in communities where he was liitherto a stranger. Those who attended the recent big shows at Piping Rock, Syracuse and Rochester found the thoroughbred and half-bred in the hunting and saddle classes not only the finished product, but the immature representatives by the stallions of the breeding bureau of the Jockey Club. Friends of Governor Whitman, who has visited many fairs throughout the state this fall, say that he commented favorably on the display of light horses suitable for army purposes, which he saw, and in conversation with the breeders lie encouraged them .to Increase the production of this type, of which there has long been a shortage. Regions which have riot given any attention to the production of half-breds have taken up the matter seriously. Willis Sharpe Kilmer of Binghanipton, and Geoffrey Tower of Watervllle, being the newest additions to the ranks of the enthusists, while W. Avedill Harriman and Pierre Lorillard, Jr., of Goshen, are on their return from a hunting trip In the west to make a requisition for a thoroughbred sire of the breeding bureau. In addition to these, the State Agricultural College wants a horse, so that the horse breeding industry in New York may be safely pronounced AS. itprovi.
