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ACTIVITIES ARE REVIEWED Head of Thoroughbred Breeders l Association Issues Statement. » I Several Suggestions Offered Members for Improving Conditions of Canadian Racing and Breeding — First Sale Success. — ♦ TORONTO, Ont., May 13.— President Ry-land H. New has prepared for distribution to the members of the Thoroughbred Breeders Association of Canada a very interesting summary of the activities of the association , since its inception. This statement touches on the efforts of the association to further Canadian-bred racing; the first yearling sale sponsored by the breeders last fall at Woodbine Park; pays tribute to the able efforts of secretary Fergusson and offers several suggestions for improving the breeding and racing of thoroughbreds in Canada. The statement, in full, is reprinted below: "On the various tracks where the members of the association were active during the past season, the money given for Canadian-bred races was increased thirty-five percent over the previous season. This was largely due to the efforts of the secretary in creating closer co-operation between racing secretaries and their owners, and also through the efforts of members of the racing committee in securing the co-operation of the Canadian Racing Associations, which resulted in the enforcement of their rule that one Canadian-bred race must be given each day on the tracks under their jurisdiction, and the Canadian Racing Associations have further strengthened this by requiring that, where a Canadian race in the book does not fill, that it be substituted by another race for Canadian-breds. In former years these races were invariably substituted by open races, much to the disappointment of owners of Canadian-breds. FIRST SALE SUCCESS. "The sale of Canadian-foaled yearlings sponsored by your association, and which the directors hope will become an annual event, thus affording the Canadian breeder a continuous market for his yearlings and also establishing a fair market price for these animals, both to the breeder and to those wishing to acquire such stock for racing in Canada, was very successful and favorably commented on by many non-members but interested persons. Twenty-six yearlings were actually sold at an average price of 29, and three other animals were sold, which sales, I believe, were due to the interest created during our yearling sale, and if same had been sold during our sale the average price would have been increased to 16. Financially, as far as the association is concerned, the sale proved quite satisfactory in that there was a net profit of about 00, after providing for an expenditure of about 00 for permanent fixtures, which will be required if the sale is carried on in future years. "The leasing of brood mares to farme.rs by members of the association is another activity that is deserving of favorable comment, and it is the hope of the breeding committee and the directors that this practice will prove successful and be largely increased in future years. This will do much to create more interest in Canadian breeding and also be a great stimulus to the yearling sale, as it has done in other parts of the world, namely, Ireland and Kentucky. PLACE FACTS BEFORE GOVERNMENT. "During the past season your directors and members of the breeding and racing commission have on several occasions interviewed the premier of Ontario and other cabinet ministers of the Ontario legislature, also government officials, at which time they were afforded the opportunity of placing facts and figures before these gentlemen. "Several recommendations have been made to the secretaries of the different jockey clubs and racing associations. The results of these actions in a very short time will prove most beneficial to our members and those interested in the breeding and racing of thoroughbreds in this country. To the directors and secretaries of the different jockey clubs and racing associations, I wish to take this opportunity of expressing my sincere thanks for the co-operation and assistance that they have given us to date, and I trust that we will be favored with a continuance of this support in the future. "A copy of the annual statement has been forwarded to you, and by referring to same you will note the source of revenue for the past year, also the expenditures that have been made, and you will see that we are greatly indebted to the gentlemen who so kindly assisted us to finance this association until we are in a position to create a means of being self-supporting. VALUABLE SERVICE BY SECRETARY. "I commend to you the very able efforts of our secretary, Mr. Fergusson, whom I consider has rendered very valuable service during the past year, as the success of the association is largely due to his untiring efforts. I wish also to thank the directors who have worked with me during the past year for their kindly assistance and pleasant association, and it is my sincere hope that this association will always have such members who will be willing to work for its Interests as these men have done. "As much as we have accomplished during our first year of existence, I believe that there is much to be done to further improve conditions of breeding and racing of thoroughbreds in this country, and I trust that the following suggestions will give the directors who will be in charge of the activities for the coming year some line of thought: "Continuance of annual yearling sale. "Increasing number of mares leased by members to farmers. "More Canadian-bred races. "Races for Canadian-owned horses. "Renewal of Canadian-bred stakes. "Establishment oX some Canadian-bred futurities* * — "Better accommodation for men at tracks. "Lower transportation costs. "Federal and provincial government financial grants." "Signed. 1 "RYLAND H. NEW."
