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PAUCITY OF THOMUGHBWEDSIi Spells a Warning to Those Interested in the Turf and Its Welfare. NEW YORK, N. Y,, November 3. Those who have been surprised at the small fields seen this fall : at the various courses around New York need only consult the breeding statistics of the United States . for an explanation that will be convincing and at : the same time disquieting to, all those who know what the thoroughbred means to the country in the matter of general purpose horse improvement. The records of The Jockey Club show that the American thoroughbred breeding industry reached its apex in 1905, when there were approximately , 10,000 mares registered in the Stud Book. These 10,000 mares produced approximately 5,000 foals. At any rate 4,415 were registered. At that period J. B. Haggin -alone whs the owner of 1,000, mares, and there were many breeders in various states in the Union with from 25 to 150 mares each, the industry of that time embracing Kentucky, California, Missouri, Tennessee, Virginia, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Nevada, Illinois and Mississippi. The crusade against racing which all but wiped the sport out of existence reached its crest in 1908, and the value of blood stock reached such a low ebb that many were disbanded utterly, among them the great Haggin, Rancho. del Paso and Eimendorf establishments in California and Kentucky, respectively. Stallions and brood mares were scattered to oil quarters of the globe, the Antipodes getting much of our best blood, while the Argentine and Europe also had their quota. Those were dark days for the breeding industry of the United States, Many individuals whose entire substance was invested in blood, horse production were ruined. Only those witli wealth, backed by courage and a belief that the American people .would not permanently concur in any movement which was hurtful to an essential industry, kept their studs intact, and waited the dawn of a day of greater sanity. REHABILITATION PERIOD SHORT. The period of rehabilitation has been short, and thg public at large, with whom racing is merely a pastime, has not kept in touch with breeding conditions. Tracks have multiplied until at the present there is racing at one course each in New York, Maryland and Kentucky, and at three tracks in Canada. This condition rules from the middle of May to November 1, and later there are the winter courses at Havana, New Orleans and Tijuana. The marvel of it all is that there are horses enough to keep them going when the present day records .are consulted. Volume 12 of the Stud Book recently issued embraces the years 1914. 15, 10 and 17. It contains the names of 5,500 mares. Registrar Rowe is of the opinion that making allowances for death and duplication there are about 4,000 mares in the country today. There were 1.811 foals registered in 1919, and in the same period 550 mares were reported dead or barren. The latter condition is something that is engaging the attention of the breeding authorities seriouslyj as it is on. the increase. A comparison with English records for 1919 is illuminating. The English Stud Book shows 5,663 mares registered last year. They produced 2.847 foals, or at least that many lived up to the date of registration. Aside from indicating a slightly greater degree of fertility it shows that Great Britain and Ireland have a larger supply of this coveted thoroughbred Jlood than the United States, and points to the .necessity of engaging in this pur-.suit an increased number of farmers and breeders in every grazing community throughout the laud. Ireland is where the small breeder is seen at his best. Every farmer there has a mare or two. There is a ready demand, for all the thoroughbreds that can he produced, either for the race" course or the hunting field. Such a condition should exist here, and when it does there will be larger fields to compete for prizes which are of such liberal proportions that breeding for the market is well worth while. The records of the Fasig-Tipton Company show that it sold in 1918 two hundred, and twenty-five yearlings, and. in 1919 two hundred and twenty-six. For the current year to date the number disposed of by this firm totals two hundred and .ninety. This represents every offering in the eastern market, and it indicates the paucity of the supply of juvenile material from which-to fashion oiir racing fabric of the immediate future! It spells, a warning to all those interested in the turf and its welfare.
