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BEWAILING LOSS-OP SLEDMERE YEARLINGS. The sale of the Sledmere yearlings en bloc to go to Aineriea recalls the story "of Curtius," who, in full panoply, dashed horse and all into a yawning abyss so as to sacrifice himself for the safety of the state. If anything will bring ministers to their senses in the matter of racing and horse-breeding this Sledmere sacrifice will do it. The whole nation is for the time being the poorer, but the loss will be more than made good if it be resolved that never again from henceforward shall the horse-breeding industry be placed in such jeopardy as that of the last two months. One cannot but feel a pang of real sorrow that these yearlings are gone. The Sledmere sale lias been such an institution for so many years that many of us will feel like fisli out of water when the customary date comes round and they are not. I myself have been to see the Sledmere yearlings for twenty-six years without a break and many times at intervals before that. I cannot but think that had Sir Mark Sykes been at home this sale to America would never have happened, but Mr. Cliolmondeley was doubtless quite right, as representing his interests, to close witli a good offer, which, in the present dismal condition of racing prospects, would seem like treasure trove. The price given has not transpired, but it is fair to assume that it must be an average of at least 1,000 guineas each and witli racing stopped, there would have been no English buyers for the seventeen yearlings at anything like that price. Yet, if confidence in the continuance of racing were properly restored, it would have better paid Sir Mark Sykes to sell the Sledmere yearlings in England for half the money than to have this break in the continuity of the Sledmere sales. It is different when a private breeder for his own racing sells, as Mr. J. B. Joel has been doing since the war, for he can resume when lie pleases, and be none the worse for the interval. But a long-established and famous yearling sale is another matter, and to drop a year of it means a sacrifice of some part of its good will. W. Allison in London Sportsman.
