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TURF PROSPERITY SEEMS ASSURED. Greatly Increased Number of Stake Entries Presage Return to Golden Era of Old. I.y Ed. Cole. New York. March IS. — Turf prosperity is growing to such extraordinary proportions that it is scarcely believable. Five years ago. from practically a mere handful of horses, thousands are now being prepared for racing. Nothing could be more convincing on this point than the comparative lists of entries for the Saratoga stakes for the last two seasons and those received for the coming meeting at the Springs next August. In IMS there were 1.44K entries; in MM they numbered iMl.tL. and tiiis year there are no less than 2.M1 eligibles for the twenty six stakes. In three years the entries have increased practically one hundred per cent., and this year they are abou: thirty -five per cent more than they were list year. These figures are beyond all expectations of the association and aii- convincing that the sport of racing has taken a hold in this country that surpasses the Wildest dreams of horsemen mil breeders. The great number of influential men who have lent a shoulder to the industry, or one might call a necessity for this country — for without tiie thoroughbred the horse of today would be but a midget-show their determination to push ahead notwithstanding the obstacles they have had to surmount from political and reform onslaughts of those who know little of what la needed either iu a patriotic or sportsmans channel. Great credit is du ! to the owners and breeder- of this country for the way they have answered the call and acquired thoroughbred blood for the luitod States to replace that which was practically cast overboard a few years ago for political, si lfisii and asinine reasons well known to those of broader knowledge. Owe Much to Leading Sportsmen. Wan it not for men of the August lit lmont type and his associate members of the New York lackey Club, the Kentucky Racing Commission and the Canadian Hieing Associations, it would almost take a microscopic investigation to discover a thoroughbred on the continental map. They have all worked hard in iheir different localities to keep the racing edifice from being shattered by a minimum voice of the sample. TUtfir efforts were followed by individuals who have invested millions of dollars irrespective of the opposition emanating from the finicky, fnm II Sl bra ling reformer whose peaceful proclivities WOUld S00U have had the thoroughbred relegated to the archives of the past could he have had his way. Bat the good red blood of the patriot and sportsman would not have it that way. and along came A. K. Mucomber. Price McKinuey. lames Cotllgna, Congressman ;corge AY. Loft, W. S. Kilmer. Y. It. One, . K. O. Hillings, Cifford A. Cochran, John Sanforl. Kred Johnson. James Butler and scores of others of more or less social and influential standing. All these men bent to the task of reviving the American thoroughbred to a state of perfection, and their efforts are being crowned with success. Today thii country is gathering together a stock of thoroughbred blood that will eventually lead to the desired end -America foremost in the production of tin horse. That is the ambition of every man today who owns a thoroughbred. The pinacle of his desire would be achieved if he could but point to an American bred horse as the best in the world. Material to Produce Best Horse. Material to produce such a horse is in this country. The men are here capable of scientific mating. There is no lack of money to carry on the experiment of buying a missing link in blood lines. Associations are offering premiums of good proportions to earn arage contests among the best horses that can be produced. The thoroughbred farm is just newly and plentifully stocked. The entries in future stakes of 1917. l.tls. litiii and MCSO show that breeders are determined to improve their stock and spend fabulous sums to make this country the leading market for horses of every type. The present war was not a day old wdien every belligerent country scrambled to this country for horses. Hundreds of thousands were shipped to Kmopess countries. Ninety per cent of them could be termed scraggy far lack of thoroughbred bl .oil. Supposing the ninety per cent had possessed the thoroughbred cross, they would have been worth at least twenty five per cent more money. These facts are now being realized by all breeders. "We want thoroughbred blood in our horses." say tiie farmers. "We want thoroughbred blood in our remounts." says General Leonard Wood. "We want the beat thoroughbreds in the world." say the breeders of thoroughbreds exclusively. At the rate things are going in the bane world just now it will not be long before all will have practically what they arc striving for. The extraordinary nnsvn r to the call for horse* for the rich slakes to lie run iu this country shows it distinctly. If the same rate, numerically, as in the last three years, is continued for tin- next ten years, there is little question the country will be the tieatest thoroughbred and utility horse market in the world.
