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REGISTRATION OF FOALS W. H. Rowe Believes Figures from Now On Will Be in Ascendency. Futurity Nominations of 1921 In-dicate Larger Number and Better Quality for Future. XEW YORK, X. Y., January 7. There has been some comment around this city of late regarding the scarcity of two-rear-olds in these parts. Trainers who had large strings to prepare last spring have few today; in fact, at a glance there does not appear to ho more than fifty per cent of the number housed at Rolmont I ark and other near-by tracks as there were this time last year. Naturally rescinding the rule barring two-year-olds from racing before April 1 has had much to do with sending youngsters to the winter tracks now in operation. This has no doubt reduced the number that would have been stabled in this section and enlightened the general outlook. Registration figures indicate there should be just about, as many. in training this year as there were in 191S, but they are evidently spread around in many sections, for they certainly are not congregated in this community. Speaking of registrations, breeders are not making much headway in production of quantity, notwithstanding much new and desirable blood has been brought here from France and England. During the past seven years not one season shows a registration of 2,000 foals. Tiie average shows exactly 1,920 tier season. Comparing these figures with those of 1903-4-5-0 and 7, there is a sad deficiency, the jivorasfvflctttone. fire years- being 4t209 per-anrruni. In 1908 the registrations began to fall off, owing to the crusade against racing made by Governor Hughes. Jind they dwindled down until in 1913 there were but 1,731 foals recorded on the Jockey Clubs registration books. That was the lowest year in more than a generation. What seems to be the strangest part of the table of figures, however, is the fact, that each year since 1914 the number of registrations have become lower and lower. While there is little difference between 191S and 1917, there is a falling off. Hut W. II. Rowe, who looks after the registration of foals for the Jockey Club, is inclined to believe the bottom rung of the ladder has been reached, and from now on the figures will be in the ascendency. Rut in the meantime, with the return of racing in Canada, which is more than probiible. a longer season in this section and the prospects of more sport in the west, and Maryland as much as usual, it means that opportunities for horses will be considerably increased. Xot in many years have the prospects looked brighter for thoroughbreds than they do at this moment and the demand has every appearance of being greater for some years to come owing to the reduced number now being turned out from the breeding farms. It looks as if it would be fruitful for some years to breed any kind of registered stallion and mare for marketing purposes, though breeding such commoners might be hurtful to the object of improving the horse. Just to show what has been going on in the breeding ami registering line for the past sixteen years, herewith is a list of official registrations since 1903 up to last year, which will no doubt be read with interest by breeders and horsemen, as it has considerable bearing on what to expect in the approaching three or four years: Foal Registrations in Past Sixteen Years. Year. Foals. Year. Foals. 1903 3,880 1911 2,403 1904 4,37.-1 1912 1,904 190.-1 4,415 1913 1,731 1905 4.203 1914 1,879 1907 3,975 1915 1.985 1905 3.70S 19K! 1,000 1909 3.110 1917 1,941 1910 2,415 1918 1,938 FUTURE OUTLOOK BRIGHT. Turning to the brighter side of the situation, it is pleasing to note that the nominations for the Futurity of 1921 indicate there will not only be a greater number of horses bred but that their quality will lie improved if most of the mating recorded in the office of the Westchester Association amounts to a reasonable share of success. II. 1. Whitney has named close to seventy mares for the stake, notably matrons like Regret. Artful, Itlue Girl, Miss Hamburg, Flip Flap, Lady Hamburg and many others of more or less prominence in the racing annals. These mares liave been mated to such famous stallions as Peter Pan. Pennant, Rroomstick, All Gold, Sardanapale and Whisk Itroom II. Major August Belmont has named nearly forty mares for the Futurity of 1921, and a wonderful choice band they are, including Beldame. Violet Ray, Dragnet, Rock of Gold. Mission, Olympia, Relvale, Iuly Amelia, Hour Glass II., the latter having been bred back to Xegofol. Xegofol and Hour Glass II. produced Hourless some five years ago. Hourless is now in the stud, and has had engagements with the good mares Mission and Relvale. a well-bred mare. The result of Hourless first year at the farm will be watched with much concern, as will the result of the second mating of Xegofol and Hour Glass II. Tracery, another of Major Uelmonts valuable stallions, is represented in the list of Futurity nominations two years hence. James Rutler will have some representations in the 1921 Futurity, having nominated more than fortv mares, mostly from domestic families. The sires named are Pebbles, Fair Count, Uncle and Iltimus. Last year Mr. Rutlers stable did not meet with much success, but that is exacted in the best regulated establishments. Major Kelmont was also unfortunate last year. Owners and trainers have their good and bad years the same as do men in any business line or profession. It was hinted last year at Saratoga that Major Kelmont might 1m redneing his breeding stock, owing to his sale of vearlings, but his list of nominations made for the" Futurity indicates lie is still much in line for turf lienors in the future.
