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THOROUGHBREDS SLOWLY INCREASING. Registrations Show Next Years Domestic Two-Ycar-Olds Will Exceed Those of 1916. By Ed Cole. New York, November 20. Gradually this country is getting into its stride again in the thoroughbred line. In conversation with W. II. Rowe, who looks after the registration of all thoroughbreds, he says the home-bred two-year-olds which were registered for next year number 1,97-1, as against 1,879 this year. While this is but a small increase, it is something and does not include 205 Xoreign-bred youngsters that were imported for next years contests. This totals 2,179 two-year-olds for 1917. "It is doubtful," said Mr. Rowe, "if there will be quite as many registrations this year as there were in 1915, owing to so many mares proving barren. One breeder reported that only one of his eight mares had given results. This, of course, was an extraordinary case, but as far as I can see now, it will not be" surprising to see a decrease of about one hundred registrations this year compared with 1915. The proportion of foals in nearly every stud was lower this year for some unaccountable reason." A comparative table for the past six years shows a steady growth since the Hughes crusade against the sport of racing in 1910. In that year there were 2,415 home-bred yearlings registered. It continued to decrease until 1914, when the number took an upward trend, the.-e being 157 more registrations in 1914 than in 1913. Following are the figures for the past six years, for domestic-bred horses only: In the year 1915, there were 1,974 yearlings registrations; in 1914, 1,879; in 1913, 1,722; in 1912, 1,904; in Mil. 2,403; in 3910. 2,415. Had not adverse legislation interfered with the growth of the thoroughbred industry, according to statements made by members of the Jockey Olub, it would not have been out of reason to expect a list of 3,500 registrations by this time. Many breeding establishments began to sell their stock to foreign buyers as early as 1908, and by 1910, hundreds of mares had been shipped to foreign countries. For the past two or three years, however, there have been many importations to this country and, according to Mr. Rowe, the result will be beneficial in the long run, as we needed new blood on the farms Mid there is no question it has been brought here. Many horses of Europes select blood have been brought over and, while it may take a few years to demonstrate what the result will be, the general feeling is that in a year or two we shall have as good horses as ever were foaled here, and possibly better. From all viewpoints the thoroughbred breeding industry is now in a healthy condition. 1 ! 1 ! L ! r ; 1 1
