Urge Bumper Crop Of Foals.: James W. Gerard, Former Ambassador to Germany, Says Breeding Industry Should Be Encouraged., Daily Racing Form, 1917-06-19

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URGE BUMPER CROP OF FOALS. James W. Gerard, Former Ambassador to Germany, Says Breeding Industry Should Be Encouraged. New York. June 18.— The appeal which is being made by the Jockey Club, the National Federation of Horse Sh.iws. the Hackney Society and kindred other organizations throughout the country to the farmers of the Inited States for a breeding cam saiga of unusual proportions has met with the approval of all. who are familiar with present day conditions in the horse breeding industry both at home and abroad. To none has it come with greater force than to the Hon. James W. Gerard, former Ambassador to Getaway, who is familiar with the policy that has given continental Europe such splaidid war horses. Mr. Gerard is a son-in-law of the late Manns Daly, who brought some of the best thoroughbred blood of Europe to the Initial Stabs. He was a daring cross-country rider, knows horses thoroughly, and his opinion should carry weight with American horse breeders. "This war is calling for horses as well as for men of fighting spirit." said Mr. Gerard at the Rita Carlton, ••and while cavalry has played only a small pari in hostilities to date it does not follow that they will not be needed later on. Germany and Austria are prepared for any emergency through the establishment many years ago of a system of studs for the production of army horses which is only rivaled by that of France. Only those who have visited continental Europe and have aeea the vysti-m under operation can appreciate the rare and expense hastened ii|m»ii the work. Racing and army bane breediag are so dearly allied that the recent aim •uieemeiit of 108 days of sport in the Gorman Empire this year, arhile it caused comment here, only means that the enemy is keeping up the speed tests in order to find the most desirable ma terial for the twenty-four great breeding studs that are scattered throughout the empire. Chief Stud Located at Graditz. "The chief ,,f these is located at Grudiiz in East Pra—la, and was loumlcd by Count Lehadorff, tin-famous Prussian Master of Horse. Only horses whose breeding in all parts trace in a direct line to the English Slud Beak are kept at GraditS, and pone is considered worthy to be a member of thai band which has not demonstrated his quality on the racecourse. Count EehndoilT gave 21.000 guineas for the Irish bred Aril Patrick, a winner of the Epsom Derby, and 14.000 guineas for his half brother. Galtee More. This would indicate that money was not a consideration in the development of the plan, which was inaugurated in the late sixties and had assumed such proportions that in WO 16,000 mares were bred in East Prussia alone. This number was increased in 1910 to 47.000. and the cost of the upkeep of the various establishments was given in the budget for that year at 388.552 pounds sterling, or almost two millions of our money. The revenue from stud fees, which arc purely nominal, sometimes as low as at country establishments, and from speculation on the race courses in the same year amounted to 215.221 pounds steriiag, leaviag a deficit of 172.311 pounds sterling to be defrayed by the Prussian government. "When the Russians invaded East Prussia during the early days of tie- war and carried off more than 10. ooo of their prized brood mares there was greatei regret than over any other incident connected with that campaign. Americans have never placed a proper valae aa thefcf mans, and I am glad to learn that their parehaae far army use has been forbidden by our government. Every available matron of the proper type will be needed to rehabilitate our supply of war horses. "It ought to be an obligation." said Mr. Gerard in i elusion, "for every farmer and horse breeder in the country to see that the crop of foals next s-ason should be the largest in the history of the Halted States. If the rural communities bare not the type of sire which is needed to secure the best results an appeal should be made to the go; -eminent. There is an abundance of good warm blood in t!ie country, and it should be had for the asking for such a patriotic purpose. The Breediag Bareaa policies of he Jockey Club, in this state, and of the Kentucky State Baciag Commission in Kentucky, might well be emulated by every state in the Inion."


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