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EXPERT VIEWS OF IMPORTED HORSES. Trainers Think Young: Foreigners Will Show Better Form in Next Years Racing. By Ed Cole. New York, November 7. Barney Schreiber, Avho once was one of the most prominent breeders of thoroughbreds in this country and hones soon to be in the foremost ranks again, asked the question: "Have the imported horses shown to be superior to the domestic product so far this year?" The subject was being argued at the time by some well-known trainers at Laurel. "Up to the present time I cannot say that the foreign-bred horses have done anything to warrant their being classed as superior to those from the home farms," said Mr. Schreiber. "Our crop has been short for some years, and we have not had the opportunities Europe has had to produce the highest type of thoroughbred. Mind you, I do not say that Europe cannot produce as good as and possibly better horses than Ave can, but the two hundred or more that haA-e been brought here in the past year or so have not by any means determined the question. What they Avill do in the future remains to be seen. The question of tAVo-year-old supremacy is a matter of oninion between Mr. Belmonts Ilourless and Mr. Wilsons Campfire. Good judges tell me that if both could be tried at their best, there would be little to choose between them. "But possibly neither can be considered a clear represcntatiAc of its country, as Ave have had better two-year-olds than Campfire, and no doubt there have been better horses than Ilourless bred in Europe. Of the older horses, Short Grass and Star Hawk claim superiority over all other importations, anil they are good horses, but in looking over the past can they be favorably compared with Sysonby, Colin, Domino," Commando, Hanover, Hindoo and horses of their undisputed quality? I have mentioned the best of this countrys product, of course. Europe may have had better horses. In fact, I think Persimmon Avas a giant in the thoroughbred Avorld, but if Ave had the same great number of mares here as in Europe, I firmly believe Ave could produce as good horses lien; as they have. They have thousands Avhere Ave only have hundreds. "It is probable that the importations of foreign horses will give as desirable results in years to come. I also believe that many of the younger horses of the season will be far better three-year-olds and Avill improve with age. While the pick of Europe Avas not brought to this country, it is a sure thing those imported Avere not all culls. Some are from the finest stock and, Avhile they may not show extraordinary ability as racers, there is little doubt they will produce high-class racing material." Tom Healey, who is oik; of the most experienced trainers, and avIio has handled some of the best horses in this country, is conserA-ati-e in his opinion. "I beat Ilourless with Campfire." said he, "and I expect to do it again. Whether I do or not remains to be seen. But one thing is positive about foreign-bred horses when a really high-class horse is shown on the other side of the Atlantic, he is a race horse. Like great men in all countries, there are few, but they shine distinctively. So it is in the thoroughbred world." The majority of owners who bought imported horses for racing this year have been disappointed. This Avas mostly due to sickness which prevailed in all the stables. Fcav of the youngsters did well. They may not have become acclimated. That isthe hope of owners and trainers, who look for decided improvement in the imported stock next season. AY. H. Rowe, registrar of the Jockey Club, supports the theory of lack of perfect acclimitization as the cause for the poor showing of horses imported here during the past year. Mr. Rowe believes that no horse born and bred in Europe, regardless Of age, can shoAA his best qualities until he lias been here a year and a half or tAvo years. And Mr. Rowe has indisputable data to support his contention. "The bitter experience of American sportsmen of tcday Avith foreign racehorses is not new to those who have folloAved the fortunes of imported stock in races on the American turf," said Mr. Rowe. "More; than twenty -years ago," he continued, "Mr. John A. Morris met with like disappointment with a .string of young horses he bought in England at high prices. All failed when put to the test here. In the lot imported was the celebrated sire Ornus. This horse was brought to the United States when a yearling. Mr. Morris had high hopes for the horse on account of his superb blood lines and speed trials in England, but he failed to Avin until he Avas a four-year-old, although he started many times as a two and three-year-old. In the stud he sired such good horses as Olambala and Oiseau. "That experience convinced Mr. Morris that the game was not Avorth the candle, for the reason that the element of chance was too great to justify the big outlay of money involved in the transactions. He therefore hit upon the idea of sending some American broodmares to England, mating them with high-class stallions there and bringing the produce to this country as weanlings. It was a happy scheme, because several of these AA-eanlings carried high honors on the American turf when they reached racing age. The Friar and BoAvling Brook Avere two of the most notable weanlings thus bred and imported by Mr. Morris. "The success achieved by Mr. Morris plan convinced me that, a successful thing for a prospectiA-e purchaser of foreign race horses is to buy weanlings or mares with Aveanlings and ship them here, or send American mares abroad and mate them with the best stallions. Mr. Morris, as well as the present-day buyers of alien stock, purchased Avith a view to the two-year-old stakes, because they are more valuable than prizes offered in races for older horses. "If an American pays a big price for a yearling abroad and has to Avait a year or two for the animal to attain his true form, those years of Avaiting rej-resent a most unfortunate period of unproductiveness on the part of the importation. In other words, after the valuable tAvo-year-old and possibly three-year-old events an; decided, the animal begins to show high form Avhen his greatest opportunities have passed. It reminds me somewhat of the saying: The operation Avas successful, but the patient died. Algernon Dainserfield, assistant secretary of the Jockey Club, and a son of the late Maj. Foxhall A. Daiugerfield, avIio managed the famous Castleton Stud of James R. Keene for many years, attributes the inferior performances of the foreign youngsters to climatic changes. He said: "Father always maintained that no horse purchased abroad was capabh; of giving a true demonstration of his worth as a racer until he had been thoroughly acclimated. This usually took from one year and a half to two years. To obtain the best results Avith foreign stock it was necessary to import Aveanlings or horses in utero. The great Sysonby Avas imported in utero. "Father often spoke of the pecularities of broodmares purchased abroad. They required as much care and attention as real old mares, Avith which father always kept them. When first served with the blue grass of Kentucky or corn they did not appear to know Iioav to cheAV it. Many months Avere required to educate them in the art of eating, both before they Avere able to take care of themselves. "So good a judge of horses as the late Byron McClelland once told me that the change from Kentucky to New York frequently upset his racers. Unless he arrived a mouth in advance of the meeting at which he expected to race, his thoroughbreds would run far IioIoav the winning form they had exhibited in Kentucky. "I believe that many foreign youngsters that disappointed their owners in races here this season will do much better next season. Omar Khayyam and Jack Mount are two that I expect to make real good three-year-olds." William L. Powers believes that the young foreign racers Avill be seen to better advantage next season. He atributes their shortcomings to change of climate. "By next spring," he explained, "the youngsters Avill be thoroughly acclimated and fit to give good accounts of themselves."
