view raw text
OPTIMISTIC ABOUT TURFS FUTURE. August Belmont Believes Present Season Will Show Relationship Between Breeding and Racing. New York. June 18. In matters related to the turf, its past history and what the future has in prospect for this admittedly most important adjunct to the breeding interests of the country, there proh ably is no man in the Inited States better i|Ualifi"d to speak than August Belmont, chairman of the Jockey Club. Therefore it would appear that anything he might have to say on this important subject will !«• well worth perusal. Mr. Itel nt is optimistic when the future of the turf in the Inited States is under discussion. He believes that the present season will demonstrate anew the close relationship between racing and horse breeding. ;|S there will be an increased d-niaud lor army horses, particu tarty those of the remount type, and that the public at large will be placed in possession of facts in i i-ction with the breeding industry and racing which will be enlightening. "France, although torn by war." said Mr. ltd niont. "has never lost sight of the fact that racing tests ale absolutely the only standard by which breediag values may be detei min-d. The cables receatly told us how Frank Hitchcocks Ameri-caa-bred horse Haady Hook -.von the first feature race at Ch.inlill.v at the meeting which is being road at ted aader governmental aaapiees without spei ulation and with only trainers and others connected with the racing anl br ling industries present. This MCCtiag had for its object the selection of the best predatts of the various farms in Fraace for breediag purposes, and is indicative of their policy to ht nothing interfere with the conservation of their horse product. "There has been an impression in some quarters." resumed Mr. Bfhaoat. "that the governmental studs of France have been injured be] oud repair, but this is not tim. The horses are still there, ami there arc many private French stada and the American studs of William K. Yanderbilt. Clarence 11. Uackay, Mrs. Daryea, Joseph E. wTdeaar. John Baaford and my own, where breeding is still being carried on. American Horses Safe in France, "Some French troopers, in the excitement of the ■art] days of the war before the Ocrmnns entered Chaiitilly. took several American-owned thoroughbreds without authority, among them being my karat Bavard III., by Ethelbert Bivouac, but tin y subsequently returned him and finally bought him to place in their stud for 12,hHt francs. "He was the type of horse they wanted and besides being a good individual was a large winner at three and four years of age. suffering defeat by only a nose for the Prix Municipal, the feature race of the autumn season. "England has most of her horses also, and no doubt the large studs will be kept intact. The British have deemed it wise to discontinue racing this season because of the lack of ears for transportation and the impending shortage of food supplies. "Racing in England and France has always been regarded as an essential test, rnfortunatelv in this country, however. Ave have allowed our prejudices ■gataat the sport io run riot, thus bringing aliout :.n economic catastrophe such as was precipitated in tsaH. "Now comes the governments complaint through Mr. Rommel, the head of the Bareaa of Animal Husbandry, that they havent enough horses. It s-ems to me that the situation in connection with the sport in the Inite | States was well put in a recent editorial in the Springfield Republican, one of the safest ami sanest of our American publication-:, which is far r-moveil from the scene of racing, there having been no trotting or running meetings at Hampden Park in many years. "This editorial was induced by Jeneral Woods letter t expressing the hope that there would be no curtailment in racing in this country because of its importance in connection with horse br-eding. II ditorial said in substance that the sport was worth while because of the benefits derived through it. and that the moral aspect, as evidenced by incidental speculations, was practically negligible when measured by the nsults obtained."
