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FUSION OF THOROUGHBRED AND TROTTER. By Christopher J. Fitz Gerald. Lexington. Ky., October IS. Mr. II. K. Dcvoreaux of Cleveland, president of the Grand Circuit and an amateur reinsmen second to none and the guiding spirit of the syndicate known as the Pastime Stables, Avliich owns the champion trotting stallion of the Avorld, Lee AxAvorthy, 1:5s1!, as Aell as the record-holding three-year-old filly Aolga, 2:04., has been a visitor at the meeting of the Kentucky "Trotting Horse Breeders Association, which came to a close on Thursday. Mr. Devereaux is a close student of the horse and, Avhile primarily interested in the trotting family, is a broad-gauge sportsman aa-1io can see merit in other types. He is in harmony with any movement looking to the production of a family that will be thoroughly representative of general-purpose usage. Like other progressive horsemen, he is unable to fathom the Avisdom of the policy of the federal government as expressed through the committee on agriculture, which recommends an appropriation of 5,000 for experimental Avork in horse breeding for 1917. Speaking to some friends a feAV days ago, he said: "I notice that 7,000 is set aside for experimental Aork in poultry and ostriches during 1917, Avhile only 5,000 is to be devoted to the horse. There is such a scarcity of horses of the proper type for caA-alry service that a protest should be made from every breeder and lover of the light horse, Avhether trotter, thoroughbred or saddler. I know of the absence of the remount type, because I had to buy one for my son who was going to the border. In the end I got a mount that was only fair in quality. I am told that the Avork which has been carried out at Front Royal and other stations, though limited, has been productive of much good and that the sires, which include all the light-horse type, have been Avell patronized by the farmers having access to them. Ten times the present appropriation A-ould be too small for the proper conduct of the campaign in its primary stages measured by the sums foreign goA-ernments set aside for such Avork." Upon being told that the war authorities, from Generals AVood and Scott down, favored the half or three-quarter-bred horse for cavalry, and that most of the best ones came from a blending of the thoroughbred and trotting families using the clean-bred horse as a top cross, Mr. Devereaux said: "I haA-e gone on record as being opposed to the thoroughbred cross in trotting families Avhen it is close up, but I am open to conviction, and those Avho haA-e had much to do Avith representatives of this horse should be competent to judge. The half and three-quarter-bred hunters and saddle horses I saAV at the New York State Fair at Syracuse recently A-ere fine types and possessed qualities we all admire. It A-as the first time I had giA-en them close attention, and the fact that many of the best of them Avere out of trotting dams impressed me. Our oavii champions pedigree is buttressed with thoroughbred blood, and that other great trotter, Mary Putneys second dam, Expressive, 2:11, is out of the thoroughbred mare Esther, by Express. When Lee AxAvorthy finished his mile in 1:5S4 the other day Avith a thoroughbred prompter on either side of him he tried his best to beat them, and, though tired, he never AvaA-ered or Avanted to do anything but trot. The Avarm blood didnt hurt him any then. "The best trotting family," resumed Mr. Devereaux, "have, I think, quite as much courage and staying powers as the thoroughbred. Its been put into them through the test of racing. Wiiy shouldnt the mingling of these strains produce good horses? "The future holds a menace, however," ho continued. "We are inbreeding our trotting families to intensely, and an out-cross is needed. I believe that the Orloff is our salvation. Some years ago two mares of the Chetsey type, a blending of the American standard-bred and the Orloff were sent to Cleveland to be bred to my stallion, John A. Mc-Kerron, 2:04. They Avere both lovely mares, big bodied and on short legs ideal dams to throw caAalry horses and one of them had a record of 2:11. She failed to get with foal, but the other threw a colt named LcA-ar that Avhen three years old lowered the Russian record five seconds for trotters of his age. lie did still greater things later on. The Russians then bought Harry McKerron, a son of John A. McKerron, and although a double-gaited horse and not specially qualified to get cavalry horses, his progeny gave such satisfaction to the authorities that they Avanted still more of the blood. Frank Caton, the American trainer, cabled to Toronto and bought Jack McKerron, 2:07, for ,500. He sold the horse in a short time for 5,000, and Caton, Avho is here, tells me that 0,000 was refused for Harry McKerron. The progressive spirit of the Russian is shown by the offer of the Imperial Trotting Club of Petrograd to give a race of the A-alue of 50,000 rubles, open to the world, and a special invitation to American owners to participate. "Mares of the Chetsey type should go a long way toAA-ard helping us solve our problem." said Mr. DcA-ereaux in conclusion. "Mated with our best sires thoroughbred or trotter they should help us deAelop a useful family of horses big enough fqr any purpose and having the courage and other qualities which would carry them through any task Avhetlier the emergency came in peace or Avar. I for one belieA-e the experiment Avonld be well AAorth Avliile." Horsemen the country over Avill be swayed considerably by Mr. DeA-ereauxs judgment, as he is a student and is laboring constantly for progress. One of the races given at every meeting of the Grand Circuit owes its origin to him and bears his nanie. The conditions under which it is raced has provided better contests and divides the money more evenly than any other plan yet devised. The provision folloAvs. Three-heat-plan 80 for the first heat; 1916.sh00 for the second heat, and 20 for the third heat. The purse in each heat is divided fifty per cent, fifteen per cent and ten per cent. Of the balance goes to the AVinner of the race; 0 to the AAinning driver, and 0 to the fifth and sixth horses.
