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HORSE RACING A NATIONAL NECESSITY. War Will Awaken Country to the Need of Good Horses and Scarcity of Them. New- York, April 17. — That horse racing is almost more necessary in this country now than ever before, since the declaration of war against Ger-many. seems to be the consensus of opinion among all those interested in the turf and horse breeding sport. The Rockaway Hunt Club, after long fn l serious consideration, has decided that it will run the meetings on April 28 and May 5. as announced. The committee was at first in doubt as to the advisability of holding the meeting, due to tlie fact that many of the horsemen and many of the club mein-Iwrs and patrons will be serving in the army or navy. Bat finally, with the thought of doing something that will really be of interest and for the general good of the country, it was decided to go ahead with the plans arranged si me time ago. The decision of the Rockaway Hunt Club is cerrain to meet with general approval, as all must appreciate that the need of development of the thoroughbred liorse is now greater and more urgent than ever before. That the country is immediately to realize the need of good horses and the scarcity of them is certain, and all this seed will come to the army heads with the first call for mobilization. The fact will then be brought home that the pick of the ISjillari have been taken away from the Halted States by Fngland. and others of the allied nations engaged in war. until there are so few left that it will be proved that the Catted States is wane iff. ill that line of supply, than in any other thing seed d in the tarrying on of a war. Patriotic Service of Kentucky Breeders. Responding to a declaration that they are in a position to perform a patriotic service, over 100 breeders of livestock from all parts of Kentucky, •it i SMI ting of the board of trad recently, rpeedily affected a permanent organization to be known as the Kentucky Fure-Fred Livestock Association, a- a means of developing the livestock industry of the state and to meet, as far as possible, whatever demands the war may place upon this state in the matter of livestock. Naturally the extent to which sports will suffer as || salt of the war depends upon a number of conditions. That the various athletic activities will suffer more so than racing is evident. Tiny are suffering already, bat not from the effects of war. as there are no effeets as yet. It would seem that the trouble li". in the hurried calling off of athletic activities by the prominent athletic organizations and institutions. It is plain that the governmental authorities are not in favor of immediate suspension of athletics on the part of the universiti. s. judging by the fact that the Naval Academy and West Point teams play out their St hi dak ■ as far as they are concerned, and turf followers can rest assured that the government will not be any too hasty in interfering with horse racing. Major Qeaeral Wood suggests that athletics, and in fact SB sports, be continued as heretofore aatfl such time as the government calls for men. In his opinion the needs of the Fnited States will be much better seined if the students of the universities continue their athleti- activities and remain in the best condition. The same can be expected of his opinion on r.oing :s what would serve better fitted horses, than to have the competitive racing on the various tracks.
