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AmeRican success abroad England and France Furnish Testimonials to Quality of Our Old-Fashioned Families. BY C. J. FITZ GERALD. NEW YORK, N. Y., November 20. Those who regard American strains of blood as essential to success in breeding thoroughbreds, believing that the best results are achieved through the blending of foreign and native families, find great satisfaction In the showing made this year in England and France by animals mated In this way. The fine performance by the progeny of Orby, whose dam was the Hanover mare Rhoda B., in England have beeri gratifying to the breeders of thoroughbreds in the United States, who have resented the barring from the English Stud Book of any animal whose pedigree traces to Lexington. The achievements of some of the best performers iii France during 1920 furnishes additional proof, if any were deeded, but there is a "world of merit in our good old-fashioned families.- France has really furnished sensational testimonials to the quality of American-strains of blood through Meddlesome Maid, Phusla, Cortland and Other racers whose performances this year have been remarkable. The case of Meddlesome Maid Is a fresli illustration of the romance of blood stock breeding; one of those happenings which make every man who owns a mare beiieve that some day he will breed a great performer. This phenomenal three-year-old filly was bred by Joseph E. Widener of Philadelphia at his Frencli Stud and sold by him along with others to A. K. Macomber a year ago. Her dam, Colonial Girl, was by Meddler. She had made a name for herself by defeating Herinis In the 0,000 Worlds Fair Handicap at St. Louis in 1900.- She "was, a mare of fine size and superb individuality, but when bred to: such sires as Rabelais, SaVdanapale and Eeouen, the best available in France, she gave nothing to the turf that -was beyond the ordinary. Finally, thoroughly dls--gusted with her, Mr. Widener mated Colonial Girl with Irish Lad, the American-bred son of Candel-mas and Arrowgrass, by Bramble, which was standing at the stud of the late Herman 15. Duryea. This horSe was selected chiefly because he was near at hand.. Meddlesome Maid was the result of that union, and it is one of the exasperating pranks Of fortune that she should have demonstrated her great powers of speed and bottom in the colors of another than her breeder. Early in the season just past the filly Flowershop, by Alcantara II., was hailed as the" champion of her age andsex in France, but the autumn proved that Meddlesonle Maid was not only her superior, but the mistress of all the other thoroughbreds in Prance when it came to running over a long distance. It is true that she was beaten by the English colt Comrade in one of the French races, but on that occasion she lost about eight lengths at the top of the stretch through being forced wide, but in the opinion of the best French critics, based on her recent performance in winning the Prix du Consell Municipal, where she vanquished ths best band that has gone to the post in France this year, she is regarded as even superior to the winner of the Grand Prix de Paris over a long route. Mr. Macomber, who was in New York on Tuesday of last week, haying Just returned from France, Is always loath to talk about his own horses for publication, but when asked about Meddlesome Maids race in the big event, he said: FRENCH LEADERS HALF AMERICAN. "It was superb the way she beat heir opponents at the finish and it was a great feather in the cap of those who believe in American blood. It is a remarkable fact that the five outstanding performers on the French turf this year all curry strong infusions of American blood. They are Durban, by Durbar Banshee, by Irish Lad; Durzetta, by Durbar Frizette, by Hamburg; Grazing, by Sweeper Xanthene, by Grey Plume; Phusla, by Malntenon Pope Joan, by Disguise, and Cortland, by Main-tenon Court Dress, also a daughter of Disguise. Durbar and Sweeper are both full of American blood and the fact that Frizette is the second dam of Durban marks her as a great brOod mare. These five two-year-olds I have just named will be the favorites for, the big French threeryear-old prizes of 1921, and, when you consider that there are about 7,000 horses from which the French have" to draw their supply, it Is a phenomenal showing." Mrs. Duryea bred Durzetta, Durban and Grazing, while Phusla and Cortland were bred by the late W. K. Vanderbilt and went to Mr. Macomber in the recent transfer of all the bloodstock owned by ; that good sportsman, whose passing was lamented by all friends -of the thoroughbred here and abroad. Each of these two-year-olds achieved distinction during the current season and all are said to be of fine individuality. Mr. Macomber is singularly fortunate in the possession of so many American -bred mares obtained through his Vanderbilt purchases. These1 dams are all registered In the French -Stud Book because of their importation into the country -prior to the period the English and French authorities raised the barrier against Lexington and his descendants. This gives Mr. Macomber a most unique position. The progeny of his mares of American lineage are eligible for registration also, but those from similar families bred here or from related families imported from France would be banned. This fact gives force to an idiosyncrasy in connection with turf regulations abroad which those engaged in the breeding Industry elsewhere find difficult to understand.
