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FOR AN AMERICAN INVASION Time Ripe for Our Sportsmen to Try for Foreign Turf Prizes. Some of Best Horses in This Country Likely to Be Named for Famous Ascot Gold Cup. NEW YORK, N. Y., Dec. 7. The sound beating administered the British thoroughbreds by French horses in the Ascot Gold Cup the past season, would indicate the lack of stayers in England, and render the present a propitious time for another American turf invasion of Great Britain. International racing would receive a tremendous impetus if some of our best horses should be sent across the water for a try at the most coveted long distance race in the world in 1925. Only one American-bred horse, the four-year-old Foxhall, by King Alfonso, Jamaica by Lexington, owned by James R. Keene, is credited with the victory in this great classic and he was successful in 1882. Fox-hall, then a four-year-old, carried 127 pounds and his victory was foreshadowed by his superb showing as a three-year-old when his triumphs included the Grand Prix de Paris, the Cambridgeshire and Cesarewitch and the Grand Duke Michael and Select Stakes. That the name of Tracery is not included in the list of Ascot Gold Cup winners, giving the United States credit for a second victory in the fixture, is to be regretted for the son of Rock Sand had the race won when he was seized by the bridle and thrown by a fanatic, leaving Prince Palatine to achieve an honor that must always be regarded as empty. It was a bitter blow to Major Belmont, owner of Tracery, for horses able to win such turf prizes are rare, and breeding one, capable of achieving the distinction represents the acme of endeavor in bloodstock production. MAJOR BELMONTS AMBITIOH. It is some years since Tracery was toppled to earth when galloping far in advance of Prince Palatine, whose life was snuffed out recently by fire dead in the same year as his rival but all through the years the Chairman of the Jockey Club has longad for a horse capable of giving him the treasured trophy of which he was deprived by so cruel a stroke of fate. Had he kept Man o War, the instrument perhaps would have b2en at hand, for the bulk of American j sportsmen will always believe that horse capable of winning the Cup had he been . sent after it. The American turf has had others in recent years like Grey Lag and Exterminator that might have annexed the trophy, and in the opinion of some it is high time that some of our best horses should be sent after it. The British, hidebound by tradition, looked askance at the proposal to have Papyrus come to this country in 1923 for his race with Zev. Every influence was brought to bear on the colts owner to keep him at home. Lord Lonsdale, the mouthpiece of the Jockey Club on many occasions, expressed himself as being entirely out of sympathy with the plan which had its birth in a desire to bring about a closer relationship between the turf authorities of England and those of the United States. There was a feeling that something should be done to match the sportsmanship shown by Ben Irish. After the defeat of Papyrus a number of American entries were forthcoming for the Ascot Gold Cup of this year. Basil Jarvis had offered to train any American horse that might be sent to him. It looked good for a time, but none of our horses crossed the sea. It remained for the French four-year-old Massine to show the way in the Gold Cup of 1924, with another French horse, Filibert de Savoie in second place. That an American invasion at this time would have a good effect may be taken for Continued on third page. FOR AN AMERICAN INVASION Continued from first page. granted. That something of the kind is expected abroad is evident from a recent inquiry from London where it had been reported that half a dozen or more of our best horses would leave New York, about the first of the coming year for a campaign abroad. The fact that inquiries had been made as to the date of the closing of nominations for the Gold Cup may have had something to do with the story. Entries are due early in January for the Ascot Gold Cup, and it would not be surprising to find the names of several of our best three-year-olds four-year-olds on January 1st going forward to the Messrs. "Weatherby. In Orainance, Sarazen, Alta-wood. Mad Play and Aga Mian this counrty has desirable Cup material. The first named fit and well will be a dangerous horse over the "about two and a half mile" course at Ascot. A grandson of their own Ormonde, and out of a mare by Rock Sand, he would only have to be sound in order to have a good chance of requiting Major Belmont for all his years of waiting. The eligibility of geldings for the Cup give Sarazen a chance to prove his greatness and his fair owner could wish for no higher honor than the possession of the splendid trophy whose value is set down in the condition of the race at Ll.OOQ, but whose worth from a sentimental viewpoint would be inestimable. Whether Sarazen could stay two miles and a half is a problem. Few experts believed him capable of winning at more than a mile and a furlong, early in the season, but his faultless action has carried him far beyond that goal, and left his ultimate capabilities enshrouded in doubt. Altawood in the light of his Pimlico campaign can apparently stay to the limit, while Mad Play and Aga Khan have races to their credit that would warrant their inclusion in any attempt to beard the British turf lion in his den. The loss of any or all of these horses would be felt at home next year, but the sacrifice in the cause of sport would be worth-while. If some of them should make the trip under conditions similar to those governing the invasions of Papyrus and Epinard, so much the better. Opposition would be disarmed and the way opened to that entente cordiale so devoutly to be wished, by those who have labored so disinterestedly for the cause of the turf.
