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NO LONGER SPORT OF KINGS Racing Now Sport of the People and a Valuable Asset. So Says Major August Belmont, Urging National and State Encouragement for It. NEW YORK, X. Y.. January IS. Major August P.elmont, chairman of the Jockey Club, who recently returned from abroad, is more than ever convinced, as a result of his observations, of the necessity for racing as an essential in the improvement of the horse product of the country. He found the keenest interest manifested in the thoroughbred in France and England, and looks for a renewal of racing abroad on something of the same scale as prevailed iMfore the war. As far as the sport at home is concerned lie anticipates a successful season, and the news that he will take the same active interest in the turf as formerly will 1m; welcomed by all those who have the best interests of the siort at heart. "Every-Iwwlv abroad concedes the all important part cavalry !ayed at decisive moments in the great struggle," said Major Relmont a few days ago. "The thoroughbred is the prime factor in the production of this type, and no less an authority than Sir Douglas liaig. the Rritish commander in chief, himself a cavalryman and a sincere lover of the horse, whose charger is the thoroughbred Croesus, has indorsed the wisdom of breeding horses for the two military virtues or hardiness and activity. He is on record ns exptessing the opinion that the best animals for army purposes are also the most valuable for agriculture, commerce and sport. " Illustrating the adaptability of the thoroughbred ns.-!- JnHiIwiM mount. Major Relmont .said: "My on Lieut. Raymond of tlie headquarters, mounted troop of thc-Seventy-eighth Division, TOde all through the heavy fighting in the Argonne during the last seven weeks of the war a three-year-old filly by Rabelais Field Mouse, bred at my Haras de Villers. He writes me that she was absolutely fearless under fire, and stood the campaign and exiosure lettcr than the cold-blooded horses. He says that many French officers ride thoroughbreds, some of not great substance, but the universal opinion among those who practice it and do not theorize, as many of our best horsemen are apt to do at home, is that the thoroughbred is tougher and more courageous than his less well bred brother. The onlv thing is that he must be educated to his calling as a cavalry mount and not be a graduate of the race course. MUST TRAIN FOR PURPOSE DESIRED. "Our officers," resumed the Major, "have in many cases attempted the use of race course cast-offs. It was done on the Mexican Itorder with unfortunate consequences to the reputation of the thoroughbred. There always will be exceptions, but a thoroughbred should be brought up and trained for his career, whether it be iwlo pony, hunter, charger of the light draft, just as much as the human, if a proiier average of success is to be achieved. "Raymond was short of a mount when his division was stationed not far from my Haras de Villers, and I cabled him he could select whatever he might find to suit him. The three-year-old filly Fickle had leen turned out and never broken, destined for the stud. Raymond took her because of her substance, broke her us he went along, and within a few months she was doing regular field service, bivouacking with the lest of them and holding her own in health and flesh." In commenting upon racing and its connection with breeding, Major Relmont said: "Racing cannot exist without its faults and weaknesses, which are well known, although grossly exaggerated; but its usefulness and necessity for the preservation of the light horse must now more than ever be recognized as or national importance. I hope it will le finally favored by our governments, itnte- and national, and encouraged in a national and broad spirited way. Stop calling it the sport of kings; it is a sport of the people, and for the good of one of their most valuable assets for all ""I hope," said Major Relmont in conclusion, "to become more useful to the thoroughbred interests than I have been heretofore, if peace, as I believe it will, brings me more leisure."
