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. i , ,1 . i • • MISTY OLD AMERICAN PEDIGREES THEIR EXCLUSION FROM THE GENERAL STUD BOOK OF ENGLAND-SOME WHICH CANNOT BE TRACED-DOUBTS AND CONJECTURES-HANOVERS ALLEGED FLAW-WILD MEDLEY- STORY OF OPHELIA - DURBAR1 S FLAW - THE TAYL0E BELLAIR MARE- MARIA WESTS DESCENDANTS -ENGLISH HORSES EXCLUDED - THREE WINNERS OF THE EPSOM DERBY WITH DEFECTIVE PEDIGREES - OR BY, DURBAR AND GRAND PARADE - | as By W. S. VOSBURGH Ry a resolution of the Jockey Club of Newmarket, passed a few year- since, the publishers of the Qeacial Stud Rook Englishl. Messrs. Weatherny. were instructed to admit no mare or horse unless it traced without law in its pedigree to horses and marcs already accepted in its earlier volumes. No question was raised as to the registry in the Stud Rook of American -bred horses until the suspension of racing in the States left American breeders without a market for their yearlings, and qatte a number wen sent to England for sale. It was then breeders in England complained, and a petition was presented to the Jockey Club asking that steps be taken to restrict the importation of American-bred yearlings. In addition, writers in the English sporting journals begun to claim that many American-bred horses were not thoroughbred — that their pedigrees could not be traced. One of these. Dr. Robertson, a man of vast information and acute observation, wont so far as to «io it as his opinion that the American horses were descended from half a dozen animals abandoned by De Sotos lieutenant. Lays de Moscoso. on the banks of the Mississippi in 1542. Dr. Robertson has no evidence of this. It is merely a conclusion. A conclusion is no evidence. In a court of law a wiiness is not allowed to give his conclusions. Should he be asked to state what he thinks, instead of what he knows, the apposing counsel would at once interpose with "Objected to as calling for a conclusion. and the judge replies: •Objection sustained." I long had. and have, the atest sincei- admiration for Dr. Robertson as a writer, but his statement quoted above is as little creditable to his judgement as his quoting "Hoston Jack" .is a racing authority is to his discern nt. As to the horses descended from those abandoned by De Soto, they were mustangs ami not the sort from which race horses could be bred. The foundation stock of the American race bone was imported from England. The planters of the South and the merchants of tin- North were gentlemen of great wealth and culture and as careful of the purity of blood as were their English cousins. Rut the only records of pedigrees beat were in the hands of individuals. There was no Stud Rook, no central depository of records. The Turf Register and Sporting Magazine of ninety years ago endeavored to collect pedigrees, but it was not until Edgar published an incomplete Stud Rook that any attempt was made to publish oil-. Wallace published one: then came Brace in 18S8, and the last named became the standard. Meantime, many former owners and breeders had died: many memoranda were lost. Much depended in consequence upon hearsay, and dates became mixed. Rut there is hardly a doubt that many pedigrees that cannot be traced are quite orthodox, as the horses tracing through them continue to demonstrate racing and reproductive ability generation after generation. The late Capt. Thus. Mm-j . in his book. "The American Thoroughbred." is responsible for casting doubts upon the pedigrees of many American horses, including Hanover, when he states on the authority of a man named Robert Wooding, who told him that Wild Medley, the stare of Ophelia Hanovers fourth dam I. was "a myth unknown. and that "nobody could have recalled seeing such horse as Wild Medley." As Wild Medley existed about one hundred years ago this is likely, yet nobody but Capt. Merry and his friend ever made such a claim. The late Mr. has. Whcatley. my neighbor for years, and who was secretary of the American Jockey Club, as will as the Saratoga and Monmouth Associations, from 18ii to 1S93. lived in Kentucky until IMS. He was one of the best authorities on American pedigrees, and he not only remembered Ophelia and her son Jrey Eagle, but he never questioned the identitv of Wild Medley. Capt. Merrys statement as to Ophelias "mythical tire" has been freely quoted by English writers to the detriment of American racing stock, probably on the assumption that a man who writes a book is an authority. Assuredly, apt. Merry was a man of much information and experience in racing matters, but many things he allowed himself to publish in his book betrayed a lack of good judgment, ami certainly peer taste It has always seemed to lie- that his statement regarding Hanovers fourth dam, Ophelia, was made without dae consideration for facts and resting upon tiie idle gossip of a garrulous acquaintance. Suppose, then, we look into the matter. After the death of his father, Dannie Duncan, in 1S34. the late Henry T. Duncan of Paris. Ky., purchased at the sale of his fathers horses the grey mare Ophelia foaled 1S23I for *0. and from her lie breu the following year the noted horse Orey Eagle — a son of Woodpecker. The mare also bred Sir Archy Montorio and Falcon. Mr. Duncan, born in ISM, died in March. IsSo. and was well konwn to horsemen of the present generation, his grandson George P.. Duncan having during the late war commanded as Major .eneral the S2nd Division of the American Expedition Army in France. It is fair to tielieve that so thorough a horseman as Mr. Duncan would not bare reserved for breeding a mare whose pedigree was in dispute. As to Wild Medley, he was a son of imported Mendoza. also called Roxer. bred in England by Mr. Rioadhutst. and Wild Medleys dam is given as by imported Pensacola: second lam by Lindsays Arabian, third dam by imported Fearnaught. Ophelias him was by Sir Archy. granddam Lady Chestertield by Disused, and she traced to the imported mare Solima by Qodoiphia Arabian. Her daughter Falcon sister to Qrey Eaglel produced Ella D., by Vandal, and Alert by Lexington. Ella D. produced Rourbou Relle. till- dam of Hanover: Alert produced Tolma and Rich 1. the latter one of the best three -year -olds of lss.5. Alhfc from Ophelias female line, all the descendants of her renowned son Crey Eagle are involved in this matter, notably the mare Eagless. hence the champion two and three-year-olds of lSfr_. Morello. as well as Crey Planet. Steel Eyes. Mary Clark. Lizzie Lucas. Chimera. Salvation sire id Royce Bents, Artful and Delhi — the two last named ranking among the greatest racers of their generation. There are many families in the Stud Hook that cannot be traced. The family that produced King Alfonso. Yei-sailes. Purest. I.etola. etc. cannot be traced farther than a mare brought from Virginia by Capt. George Rurbridge. who lost the pedigree. The family that produced Tom Rowling and Calvin can not be traced alter the third generation. The family that predated Betas, Fanny Washington, etc.. could not he traced beyond Sttdla. by Contention, owing to the pedigree being burmil in the tire at Judge Tylers house, but Col. Brace extended it on the authority of tin- old American Farmer, making Stella a granddaughter of Pompadour, a marc which Judge Tyler oace owned, and she a daughter of the imported mare Jenny Cameron. The pedigree of t lie great brood mare Roxana by Cbestcrheld, son of Priam I. cannot be traced beyond her ninth dam, although such good ones descended from her as Tipperary. Then, Chesapeake. The unbeaten horse Tivmniit fair from an obscure family ending at the eighth generation in a mare by Brilliant, son of imported Marplot. • Durbar II.. winner of the Epsom Derby of 1914. is a son of the American-bled mare Armenia, which, while a daughter and granddaughter of such great marcs as Crania and Wanda, cannot be traced beyond the tenth generation — to an unnamed daughter if imported Medley, The family of Minerva Anderson, a family which produced such enseal BS Duke of Magenta. Larkin. Marion. Hollywood and Merrill, is a worse case. Minerva Anderson is given as a chestnut mare, bred In 1*37 by Mr. J. O. BseweB, sired by imported I.uzborougli: BTSt dam by Sir Charles, scread dam by Director, third dam by Duroc. A footnote in the Stud Rook states the compilers doubt as to its correctness, and adds his belief that it should end with a mare by Primmer. Mr. Whcatley. win. remembered Minerva Anderson, often told me that the pedigree oouid not be traced farther thaa that her dam was only a quarter racing mare, sired by Rig Printer from a mare of unknown breeding, and he so published It in compiling Mr. P. Lorillards catalog. The line tracing to Mary Bedford has also produced good serfs* men, but is open to doubt. Mary Bedford, foaled ISIS, i- gtren in tin Stud Rook as from a mare bj imported Speculator. | niinlilam as by imported Dare Devil. The Dare Devil mare i~ aid to have been brought to Kentucky by Stephen Rulloek of Virginia, and that she was bred by Cot. Beesnee ii ISM, Bad was a daughter of imported Trumpetta. As be Speculator mare above is given In Stud Beak, Vol. II.. page 828, as having been foaled in 1MB, it would make her a year older than her dam. Either tic dates have become mixed or the pedigree is. Col. Booates imported both Specula tor and Dare Devil. Trumpetta is recorded as having a illy foal in ISM and the Dare Devil male as having a colt foal by Speculator, but as late as 1S14. So much for the lines which cannot be traced and which have net produced prominent horses in recent years. Put there are several Americas pedigrees able* cannot be traced to horses in tile earlier volumes of the Geaeral Englishl Stud Rook, which, nevertheless, hare so established their merit, both on the race course and in the -dud. that tiny cannot be ignored. lor example, the Strain tracing in the female line I to Tayloes Hellair mare. This mare is described in the Stud Rook as having been "brought from Virginia to Kentucky by Mr. Samuel Pryar, and eel tlged as being thoroughbred by T. D. On lags, Bsq., who once i owned her." From this mate came the celebrated llatls Maria, whose gnat grsudssn Rudolph 1S31 v s tin- best bene of his era. Ft I the same family has descended Melody, Florine. ldlewild. Aerolite. Legal Tender the nrst horse to run a mile in 1:441, Platina. Wlldidle, Fellow craft. Rutherford. Mozart. | Jersey Belle, Jersey I. ass. Fanchon. Spendthrift, Miser. Drake Carter*, Bersea and others. Nor has the family tracing to the Tay|.,o I.ellair marc been confined in its merit to the production of line race horses and brood mares. It has been equally successful in producing lUCCCSSful sires. Thus the strain has cut both way-. Hastings, son of Spendthrift, has twice led the "winning sires" im |aMJ and i IMS. Kingston, son of Spendthrift, has twice led the winning siies Ifloo and MM. Hastings son. Pair Play, has lacked but one of having led the winning sires of MM with his sons. Man o War and Mad I Hatter. Lamplighter, another son of Spendthrift, was one of the best race hsrsta of his time. Even Miser, the blind brother of Spendthrift, while useless for racing, sired the celebrated lilly Ynrkv illc Relic. It seems to me that, not withstanding its rxcnsiea from tin- Geaeral Stud Rook of England, such a family is worth preserving, and there are one or two others. Another maternal line, that tracing to Maria West and her dam. Ella Crump, is one that has played Continued on second paije. MISTY OLD AMERICAN PEDIGREES I Continued from fir-t page. an important part in racing. It cannot be triced beyond the fourth dam of Klla Crump, which was a mare by imported lanii-. Flla Crump in 1VJ7 foaled Maria Wist, which mare foaled the renowned race horse Wagicr: also Fanny. Childc Harold and Margaret Wood by Imported Iriain i . From Margaret W Is dnngbter. Heraldry, came Balloon, Parachate ami Ascension. Parachute produced Blue Ribbon, whose granddaughter Albia was the granddam of Hen Brash, winner of the Suburban of 1 sj»7 and one of the most successful race horses and sires of hi- generation. Halloon. n ed above, produced Revolver Tin Kan-hee. True Hlue am! Ballet. Ballet predated Vega, Blue Cra-s Holb . Modesty. Peg Wadingtan and Maid of Ralgowau. Vega produced The Pepper. Blue Crass Bella produced Uavbdle. granddam of Exterminator. Mode-ty was not only a lirst la-s race mare, but she produced Daisy P.. who-e daughter Jersey Lightning produced Regret and Thunderer. Ieg Worlingtou produced David Oarriek and Rracegirdle. dam of The Manager, and Lady Longfellow, the latter the dam of Kllaugowan. dam of Cock o the Walk. Maid of I.aL-ow an produced Prince of Melbourne. It is curious that Regret, and Thunderer, the Futurity winner, trace through both sire and dam to Maria West, than: SIRES LINE. DAMS LINE. r.rooni-tick Rine Kibboii Jersey Lightning Balloon Ben Brush Parachate Daisy F. Heraldry Roseville Heraldry Mode-ty Margaret Wood Albia Margaret Wood Battel Maria West Fla-tic Maria West | In connection with the exctoshM of hoi-.- from the Bagliab simi Book, it i- arorthy of notice that the famous "Agnes family." so-called. In. m whence i ate, Sardaiaipaie. lommern. Sceptre and so many distinguished race harass bare* descended, S no older than some of the American pedigrees which have been refused admission. Nor does it trace lo any well-known marc It terminates in "Sister to Stripling, by Huttons Spot." A horse named Stripling raced in 1751, but the pedigree of his dam was not given, and thus it would appear that -he might also have been a "myth unknown." Nor inn any record be found of this "Sister to Stripling" foals racing. It is probable the youngest pedhrn f any female line in the English Stud Beak. It runs "into the WSSds" n*Wr* than some American p digrce-: but while nouveau riche. it breeds latter karats than many which trace to well authenticated sources. It is also but fair to stab that the Jockey Club of N earmarks* baa excluded all Rritish-bred hor-es whose pedigrees are defective ami Which are classified as "half bred." Some tine performers have been barred from the Stud Book on that ground. Marlborough Back was railed a "half bred." yet he ran second to Tcddington for the Derby of 1851, backed down to 7 to 1. Clorane was another, yet he wa- a tine race horse, winning the Lincolnshire of 1896 with 190 pounds no. Curzoii was a half bred, but he ran seeond for tiie Derby of 1999. Then there was Mrs. Taft. winner of the Cesarewitch. 1951; Intrepid. winner of the Cesarewitch, 1845; Mr. Sykes. winner of the Cesarewitch, 1855, as well as Scent, second for the Oaks. 1859, and Sir William. The Lawyer and Shogun. It is not my purpose to ascribe motives to the a it ion of the Jockey Club of Newmarket in barring American horses from the Stud Book. That has been done by others and in a manner far from complimentary to a people of supposedly free trade principles. The Jockey Club wan quite within its rights, as the General Stud Book, while the property of Messrs. Weatherbey. is the otliciul organ of the Jo. key Club. It is but fair to believe that they were moved by a desire to prated the purity of the racing strain from tile introduction of doubtful elements inch a- might undo tin attentive work of over two hundred years. They insider the Stud Book as based on heredity. While the do not deny the racing ability of horses of doubtful pedigree, they consider sack horses as of doubtful ability to transmit their own excellence. Of that we have had several eoiihrmatory cases in this country. Duke of Magenta was one of the best rue hoists of his genera t ion. but a failure as a sire. Tom Bowling, another strictly lir-t la--. hut a stud failure, excei.t for having sired General Monroe. But on the other hand. Norfolk, with a short pedigree, was the most successful sire of ail Lexingtons sons. They are apt to point to Foxliall as an instance. He failed as a sire. But so did Tcddington. Clad-iateur. Blue down. Common and many others of undisputed pedigree. But they cannot paint to Orby. which, a grandson of Hanover, would be Ineligible under Ihe new rule, but which stamped himself one of the best sires in Fnrope. having sired Diadem, winner of the One Thousand Cuineas. and her brother. Diadumenos. winner of the Jubilee Stakes and the Duke of York Stake-, and whose stud advert i-euieut states his being "equally good at all distance-." Orby al-o sired Ola ad larade. the Derhv winner of 1919. Now. Orby. sire of Grand larade. would be ineligible to the Stud Book under the new rule. The pedigree of his dam not only cannot be traced to the earliei volumes, but it traces admittedly to coldblooded strains. He traces to Rotomac thus: Khoda B. 1995, Margarine 1899, Algerine 1S73. Abaci Kadei 1895, Rescue 1854, Berthune 1897, Bnaette 1939, Jenny t ro.-kracy 1914, Potomac 1896. Now, Potomacs pedigree given ill the Stud Book gives him ns: "By Diomcd. first dam Fairy, b Pcsjasne; .second dam Nancy McCullock. bj Young Yoriek. a cold-blooded horse; third dam by a common wagon horse; fourth dam a common plough mare called the Betray mare." Thus, three times within the past fifteen years the Fpsom Derby has been won by horses whose pedigrees would not be accepted for registry in the ieneral Stud Bool; Orby in 1!R7. Durbar II. in 1914. and Grand Parade Pi 1999. It is also worthy of mention that Orby is the only Derby winner which has sired a Derby winner in lifteen years, and only the -eceiid Derby winner to sire a Derby winner during the past thirty years.
