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FOAL REGISTRATION Gives Estimate of Growth of Our Thoroughbred Bloodstock. Figures for the Last Fifteen Years Show Recovery After -Ravages of 1908-1912 Period. NEW YORK, N. Y., November 20. With the registration of thoroughbred foals for the current year virtually completed there is a chance to estimate the growth of the bloodstock industry in the United Stales, and at the same time present a few facts for the consideration of those who have in the past contributed to conditions that have made the perpetuation of this most useful type possible. The conclusion after scanning the figures for the last fifteen years is inevitable that it takes a long time to rebuild an institution which has been so ruthlessly assailed as was racing in the period from 1903 to 1912. When thoroughbred breeding was at its height in 190G the registration of foals for the year of 1906-1907 numbered 4,400 and they came from practically every state in the Union, the Dominion of Canada, Mexico, Cuba and the Hawaiian Islands. Kentucky and California were the chief contributors. There were individual studs which boasted of hundreds of mares, while one the Itancho del Paso establishment of James B. Haggin had more than 1,200 inmates. This was undoubtedly the largest institution of its kind in the world. The war of aggression waged in this state by the reformers, which resulted in the passage of the Agnew-Hart law, closed the courses operated under the jurisdiction of the Jockey Club. It was practically confiscatory in its provisions as far as the racing associations were concerned. It also beggared many men and women engaged in the breeding of bloodstock, because it made all but exceptional thoroughbreds of the same value as the ordinary cold-blooded horse. Racing properties maintained at a great expense, whose owners were committed to the fulfilling of stake obligations, were confronted with a condition which depleted treasuries and in one instance led to bankruptcy. DARK BAYS OF THE TURF. The suffering endured in the period between 1909 and 1912 will never be forgotten. Studs were decimated. Australia, the Argentine, France and Germany were the bene-f ciaries of the policy which drove from the United States that clement which had been welcomed by our people 150 years before, and which had leavened the lump, quickening the whole and bringing into beins a horse type unique to America in the shape of the standard-bred. The loss to American breeding interests can best be told by the statement that thoroughbred registrations for 1913 totaled only 1,740 a decrease of 2.GG0. The slowness with which confidence in the future of racing has been won is indicated in the figures for the current year, for which 2.2G5 foals have been . enrolled. This is an even 100 more than in 1921, which in turn was 304 in advance of 1920. The manner in which progress has been made may best be told by giving, the figures for the entire period between 1913, when racing was resumed in this state, and the present time. The table appended was furnished by registrar Andrew Hcrkert of the Jockey Club: Year. Kegistrations.Ycar. Registrations. 1913 1,740 1918 1.9S7 1914 1,880 1919 1.S29 1915 1.99-1 1920 1,831 1016 1.980 1921 J.16.-. 1917 1.9G1 102i 2.2C5 It takes time to produce a good mare, and the ground lost must of necessity slowly be rained. An influence which is certain to be helpful is seen in the increase of foreign Importations of bloodstock. Shipments like that from the French stud of A. IC Ma-comber play their part. The fifty head it comprises carry the best blood of France and England in their veins, and they will be a welcomed addition to the thoroughbred families of this country. They will become assimilated like those from the Mackay Hitchcock, Reiff, Duryea and other consignments of recent years.
