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1 1 ; i 1 i : 1 i i i REGARDS RACING AS THE TRUE TEST. New Yrk. November 11. Alfred B. Maelay. chairman of the executive committee of the National Horse Show Association, whose annual exhibition in Madison Square Garden has just opened, is an enthusiastic horseman, and a particular admirer of the types which will be on parade for the next week in the big arena. A member of the famous Millbrook Hunt, one of the organizers of Squadron A and a Spanish War veteran, he is also fond of the standard-bred, the noted road horse Auditor B winning championships for him in the days when the trotter was one of the big attractions of the Garden. The fact that Mr. Maclay has served as a judge of hunters, saddle horses and light harness horses at nearly every show of prominence in the east and i that he has visited and made observations on horse breeding in practically every country in continental Europe should render him especially competent to pass on conditions in connection within the United States. Upon being asked what medium he considered the most important for the distribution of knowledge pertaining to the horse Mr. Maclay said yesterday: "The horse show is unquestionably the greatest of all educators, for it is there that type is illustrated in living, breathing form. Those who are intelligent and progressive have an opportunity to see what others are producing and they can learn how to avoid not only their own errors but those of their fellows as well. The horse show, which is now a feature of social life everywhere in the United States and Canada, has done more to develop certain types of horses than any other influence that can be named. This is particularly true of the saddle horse, hunter and harness horse of everv type. "Racing I would place next as a contributing factor. Without the tests on both the running and trotting courses our breeding ventures, which nature renders uncertain despite all our science, would be still less satisfactory. Its the only way to show up structural and other weaknesses and we cannot hope to make progress without these competitions. There is no more stirring spectacle, aside from the economic principle involved, than in a rousing contest between well-matched horses that are trained to the minute. We had such a race in our Point to Point Steeplechase at Millbrook last Saturday near Poughkeepsie. Such men as Ambrose Clark, Bryce Wing, Harry Smith and F. H. von Stade took part. The course was over a natural country that is as beautiful as anvthing in Leicestershire and there was a thrill for the thousands who watched it every foot of the four and a half miles." Mr. Maclay was most enthusiastic about the system for the production of an army horse type in France, Germany, Bussia and Austria-Hungary. "All these countries have surpassed England in the production of the army horse," continued Mr. Maclay, "and this despite the fact that England had tin? material at her doors, but failed to avail herself of it. Every year the agents of these foreign governments came to the Dublin Horse Show and carried away the best of the animals shown. The Irish horses have the bone and other qualities which have assimilated so perfectly with those of other lauds. England would not pay the price such horses commanded, while the agents of the continental powers had practically cart blanche when they found something desirable." "Doesnt the experience of England convey a parallel to conditions at homer" Mr. Maclay was asked. "We have certainly permitted a lot of useful horses to leave the United States," was his reply, "and there is no argument as to the quality of the cavalry horses now at the border. They are poor indeed. What can you expect when the government is so niggardly in its experimental appropriations and will only pay a maximum of 75 for a three-year-old! That figure should be increased to 50 at once and as many desirable three-year-olds as can be secured should be bought and sent to the various training stations for development. "What is my type of a cavalry remount? A big bodied, short-leged horse with a good shoulder and a nice rein. He should not be under 15.2 nor more than 15.3 15.2Vi would be the ideal size and I believe that he will stand the test better if he is a combination of thoroughbred and trotting strains. The sort of horse that is being bred in the Genesee valley, where the Jockey Clubs breeding bureau has its best sires, should answer every question. "I am glad to see so many army officers taking an active interest in our show," said Mr. Maclay in conclusion. "There is much interest in the Jockey Clubs special for the troopers mount com- 1 petition which was inaugurated last season, and the fact that it is open to every saddle horse and hunter in the show and that post entries may be made should bring out a strong class. With a type estab- 1 lished by competent authorities, these young officers 1 will carry away with them impressions which must : make for progress in the production of a necessary i adjunct of our present-day life." 1
