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JACK KEENES WAY WITH A STALLION Horse Needs Comforts and Certain Amount of Freedom Cites Luke McXuke as an Example. NEW YORK, N. Y., November 24. Jack Keenc was sitting in the Waldorf a few days ago talking to Jefferson Livingston on the subject of breeding and the care of both sire and dam and the produce. Judging from Mr. Keenes conversation the ideas of breeders and the care of their stock are vastly different. "Naturally everybody thinks his way is the best and I suppose my methods are criticized," said that well-known breeder. "For instance, some breeders keep their stallions housed up all the time like prisoners. This, in my opinion, is just as much against their inclination as it would be to keep a person locked up in one room without associates. Horses are like human .beings; they need comfort and congenial surroundings. They need contentment and a certain amount of freedom or they become almost utunanagable. I was looking at Fair Play a day or two ago and he is :i wonderful specimen, with the largest eye I ever saw in a horse and plenty of width of forehead, denoting brains and intelligence. But he is almost unmanageable. I think tills is caused by his practical isolation and confinement. "I treat Luke McLuke quite differently. I have a six-acre paddock over which Luke roams at will. In this paddock he has a shed in which he can sleep if he wants to and can roll around In the mud if that pleases him. There is always plenty of hay in the shed and he can eat grass if he chooses. Sometimes he likes to stand, out in the rain and at others he will duck under the shed when the weather is too bad. Never have I seen his congenial temper disturbed and- when I whistle for him to come to the fence he is there as soon as his legs can carry him. He likes to be petted, and is as. docile as a cat, rubbing his nose against mearid doing all kinds of stunts. Never did I see a more docile and contented stallion. Some sires are crazy when brought out. of their stalls owing to their continuous confinement. Naturally old Luke does not look as polished in coat as some of the other stallions, hut lie is as hardy, and possibly hardier, and more tractable. "When February comes around I take him up and hitch him to a wagon and drive him, beginning with i three-mile spin, which is gradually increased to six and seven miles every day. It is a sort of training preparation prior to his season. After driving him I cool him out just the same as 1 would after a race. I keep this treatment .up until lie is healthy and fit for his season, after which he goes back into his paddock and stays there until the following year, just roughing it and doing as he likes. I have eleven yearlings at the farm by Luke McLuke, eight colts and three fillies, and 1 dont know anyone who can show a finer bunch by one sire. Once I thought of selling them, but took a second notion, as I might get as much for one of them after a race as I could get for the whole collection at a yearling sale. I am taking that chance. "Of course I cannot tell just yet how good my youngsters are going to turn out, but if looks are any criterion well, I dont want to say anything more about them. Next spring will be time enough to talk." Mr. Keene came on here to attend the horse show and make entries for the many stakes that are about to close. He will remain for a week or so, when he will return to Kentucky.
