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Here and There on the Turf William Zeigler, Jr. Notable Turf Eecruit. Strong Yearling Market. Racing at Miami. "William Zeigler, Jr., is coming into racing in a big way and, though a comparatively recent recruit to the turf, he bids fair to be a most valued member of the sport. The purple, red hoops on sleeves and red cap have not thus far attracted a great deal of attention in the winning column, but unless all signs fail they ars colors that will take a prominent place, if not this year, at least in the racing of 1925. At the Xalapa Farm sale of yearlings Thursday night Mr. Zeigler paid the top price when he went to S16,000 for a son of Eternal, while he went to five figures each for two yearlings by Prince Pal. - Such buying deserves success and such men as William Zeigler, Jr., always do much for the turf of any country. Next to breeding your own thoroughbreds and carrying them through babyhood to the race course, the most satisfying feature of the greatest of all sports is to select your own yearlings, develop them and see them grow into champions. It is a small step from this to breeding your own, and it is almost inevitable that Mr. Zeigler will enter the ranks of the breeders, as have many bsfore him who begun in the same fashion. The turf cannot have too many sportsmen like William Zeigler, Jr.; men who can well afford to indulge themselves in the best horses the market affords and men to whom racing is purely a sport, and the best sport of all. Possibly there never has been a yearling bought for more than 0,000 as a business venture. There, is too much hazard in such a purchase. Possibly 80 or even 90 per cent of the yearlings that bring such figures do not earn their purchase price back in their years of racing. That is reason enough for its not being a business venture. But turfman of Mr. Zeiglers type will always keep the market healthy, for the reason that racing is not a business. The thrill that comes from seeing a colt that has been reared and developed from a yearling win under ones colors repays for the purchase price. William Zeigler, Jr., is deserving of every turf honor that comes to a good sportsman and the turf is to be congratulated in having such a sportsman in its fold. Thoso who feared that there would be a falling off in the yearling market this year have had all those fears dispelled. The magnificent returns from the sale of the young thoroughbreds from Edward F. Sims Xalapa Stock Farm set at rest all the apprehension. To have obtained 65,900 for forty-five yearlings makes the vendue a tremendously successful one, and, when it is remembered that there were ten of these that brought prices well up in the five figures, it is readiyl discerned how strong the market remains. Of these yearlings that brought big prices the price paid for a son of Eternal is a big boost for that young stallion. He sent one to the sales ring that brought 6,000, while another of his progeny was sold for 0,000. Negofol, the sire of Hourless, was represented by four that induced high bidding, when S. C. Hildreth took one for the Rancocas Stable for 5,500; another went for 4,000, and two others were sold for 2,000 each. Prince Pal was not far behind, with one selling for 2,500 and two others for 0,000 each. Then Prince Palatine was . represented by baa that brought 0,000. "Such a sab , ; i ! k " 3 leaves no doubt of the present condition of the thoroughbred market. Dates have been announced for the coming winter meeting at Miami. The offiicals have been announced and the beautiful new Florida course is virtually completed and ready for racing. When it was first announced that Miami was to have racing, there were many who doubted that the project would be carried to a successful accomplishment. There was a unanimous desire that every success should attend the proposed track, but there was the fear that no meeting would ever be possible. Now all these fears prove groundless and an official family has been announced for the conduct of the racing that lends instant importance to a winter racing plant. The racing is to begin at the newest, of the big tracks on January 14 and is to continue for fifty-one days. It is also promised that there will be not less than ,500 distributed each day, and this is a liberality that will attract-horses of good class to furnish the sport. . ; ! I
