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IRWIN KIRKWOOD BREEDER . » Editor of Kansas City Star Notable Recruit to the Turf. » Creating Thoroughbred Establishment In 3Iissouri — Col. Frank IS. Drage in Charge — Nucleus of Stud. ♦ BT CAPT. DENIS KKTTPK. NEW YORK, N. Y., April 7.— The turf has acquired another recruit from the ranks of journalism, who is going about the business of building up a thoroughbred breeding plant in a manner that must delight those who take seriously that phrase about "the improvement of the breed of horses." I recall no case in recent years in which a novice to racing has approached it with more judgment of values and appreciation of the essentials than Irwin Kirkwood, editor of tho Kansas -City Star. At the present rate it seems within reason to predict that, before another year has passed, the stud which Mr. Kirkwood is creating in Missouri will have become the most notable production plant of thoroughbreds in the Middle West. Mr. Kirkwood might have been expected to appreciate the need of making haste slowly in the breeding of good thoroughbreds, as well as the need of mating the best blood if he wanted the best foals. From time to time he has had generous successes in the show horse rings with his own stock. Likewise he has bred polo ponies and hunters and is said to sit a hunter well himself. So it is not so strange that he should approach tho thoroughbreds with a considerable amount of horse sense. Another citizen of Kansas City, Col. Frank P.. Drage, was chosen by Mr. Kirkwood to direct his breeding establishment. Colonel Drage, a native of Kngland, and for many years an officer in the cavalry of the British army before he settled down to make his home in Missouri, is himself no novice in the handling of thoroughbreds. He and his brother, their father, and his father and grandfather before, all raced horses on the British turf. His brother still maintains a small stud in Kngland. Colonel Drage has completed his purchases for the brood mares which will form the Continued on sixteenth page ! I i j : j , i ! i : I i j | 1 I j j j , | I ; IRWIN KIRKWOOD BREEDER Continued from first page nucleus of the Kirkwood Stud. It is a spten-;did draft he has obtaineel. and no one acquainted with thore.ughbreds can peruse their breeding without anticipation of success for the « endure. Part of the mares are now in Kentucky, where they are being mated to the leading sires in the blue grass, and the others are in Virginia for a similar purpose-. Among the most notable- is the star mare of the breeding plant built up at Lexington by the late Joseph Marrone. This is Tiara by Peep o Day — My Gens, by Ornament, .he dam of the- brilliant Anna Marrone II., Joe Marrone III., etc. One of the most recent prrehases is Sweepings by Sweep— Virginia Moore, by Onon-dago. dam of Mainspring and half sister to the stake winners, White Plume- and Legend. This mare attained a new value last year When Marshall Field paid 6,000 for one of her sons in the Fasig-Tiptou ring at Sara-toga. The- colt has been named Pag Man and is said to be one of the swiftest of the field Of juveniles la training at Belmont Park. Tip Toe Inn, by Hessian — Lizzie Dixon by Sir Dixon, is the youngest mare of those ac-| quired, being only six years old. She raced with considerable success last year, after having earned a lasting place in the turf hall of fame in 192:t when, with 121 pounds Up, she won the litonia Oaks from Caddy, Sweetheart, Untidy, Betty Beall, Miss Cerina and cdhers. Ilanovia by Fair Play — Miss Hanover, by Hanover, is the dam of Catherine Von Utter. Drumfire by Vulcain — Delusion by Meddler is a mare that has had much ill luck in lireeding, but is still young enough to fulfill the hopes which her breeder. August Belmont, always held for her in the stud. Sun Kiss by Peep oDay— Evaline, by Deceiver is a mare that has produced several winners of moderate quality. Another mare that will certainly be watched with interest is Pily B. by McOcc — Sanfara. by lngojdsby. Students of breeding will quickly recognize her as the sister of Virginia _, .1. K. Criffiths fine mare that produced Single Foot to Wrack and Canter to Wildair. Imported marcs of good lines also ac-quired by Colonel Drage are Home Star, .by Sunstar; Btephaaote, by Stefan the Great and Rosy Tread, by Tredennis. Others in the lot are Margie C, by Fair Play — Magna Stella: Munitions, by sfcGec — Royal Fna; Celiva, by Celt— Lady Codiva. and Tulalip, by BaUot— Enterprise.
