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BARON LONG TO SELL OUT California Loses Foremost Breeder if Plans Are Completed. Majority of Horses in Training Disposed of About Sixty Brood Mares on Ranch. AGUA CALIENTE, Mexico, Feb. 11. If the present plans of Baron Long to dispose of his vast ranch near Alpine as well as his valuable sires and brood mares are carried through, California will lose one of its foremost breeders. Mr. Long, who with his horses was suspended some time ago for "acts prejudicial to the best interests of racing in general and Agua Caliente in particular," in connection with the now famous Linden Tree coup, recently announced that he would sell his entire thoroughbred holdings and retire from the turf. Mr. Long has already disposed of the majority of his horses in training at the Agua Caliente course. He has sold six of the best to Walter Fenwick, his trainer, a pair of two-year-olds to H. B. Wolfe, his second trainer, and George Mayberry, a .former trainer forLong, has obtained an option on three others. Among those purchased by Fenwick was Ervast, star of the stable. It is understood that all were sold under the credit system. The Long breeding ranch, named Rancho Valle de las Viejas, has long been one of the thoroughbred show places of Southern California, and from its acres have come horses that have won on almost every track in America and Canada. Among those bred there are Ervast, considered good enough to be sent East for the Kentucky Derby, Judge Schilling, a consistent winner on metropolitan tracks, and also, among others, Nifty, Wirt, Don Alvaro, Rubio, Daily News, Wirt G. Bowman, Crofton, Daneri, Excess Baggage, Andromeda, Conquistador, Tommy Lad and Justice. Sires now standing at the Long haras are Hand Grenade, producer of many winners; the veteran Runnymede; Cherry Tree, which carried the Long colors in many a thrilling combat at the old Tijuana track, and Iron Crown, Bistouri and Sir Lanny. The latter, whose get are appearing for the first time this season, is considered by Long to be the best horse that he ever bred. Sir Lanny went wrong after starting twice and was retired to the stud. At least sixty brood mares, most of them good producers, are on the ranch and the majority are in foal. Last season Long finished high up in the list of American breeders and it will be with regret that a large number of thoroughbred enthusiasts see him retire. Meanwhile many horsemen are wondering just what is the status of an honorary steward. Walter H. Dupee, who recently resigned as an official at Agua Caliente, was stated by president James N. Crofton to have been serving in an honorary capacity when he voted on the suspension of Long. If, as an honorary steward, he did not have the right to vote at that time, the Long ruling is a rather-difficult one to define, as judge Nelson favored the suspension of Long, while judge Schilling objected to the ruling. Dupee is said to have sided with judge Nelson.
