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- 9 Here and There on the Turf .Blandford s Success, Phenomenal Sons Won Four English Derbys Little of His Blood Here Fair Plays Record Best in U. S. Hardly any thoroughbred stallion in history, certainly not in modern times, has enjoyed the success of Blandford, which died recently at the comparatively early age of 16 years. His wonderful record was further strengthened Wednesday by Bahrains victory in the Epsom Derby, that being the fourth triumph in the worlds greatest horse race by one of his sons, the others having been Trigo, Blenheim and Windsor Lad. Since his first crop came to the races in 1927, Blandford has sired many other high class horses Including the French star Brantome, winner of- all his eleven performances. Brantome will cross the channel this autumn to run in the Ascot Gold Cup, Englands great distance classic, and he promises to be a stout favorite. Bahram was the outstanding two-year-old in English racing last season and he came back this spring to attain a decisive victory in the Derby. In being the fourth son of Blandford to take the blue riband, Bahram gave his sire a new record. This may be further increased as Blandford has four crops coming on two-year-olds, yearlings, Continued on twenty-sixth page. j HERE AND THERE ON THE TURF Continiied from second page. sucklings and foals of 1936. Judging from " his splendid record of four Derby winners but of his first seven crops, it appears safe to predict thatBlandfbrd might have one or more winners of the historic classic at Epsom Downs. Whether he does or not, Bland-fords name will long stand out in thoroughbred breeding and quite likely some of his sons -and daughters will carry on in the stud with the result that he will be a great influence upon breeding as well as upon racing. Blandford was a son of Swynford, going: back through John o Gaunt to Isinglass, and from Blanche, by White Eagle, he by Gallihule. Both Isinglass and Gallinule were by Isonomy. A third cross of the latter appears in Black Corrie, the fourth dam which was by that stallion. Blandfords third dam is Black Duchess, which is alsb the third dam of Jean Valjean and Grand Slam, the latter having won the Prairie State Stakes at Washington Park last Saturday. Mr.. Sponge and Shuffle Along are other well-known American horses from this family. Black Duchess also was the dam of Bay Ronald, a very successful sire. Very few of Blandfords get have raced in the United States, the writer can only recall Latovich and Blenheim not to be confused with the Epsom Derby winner of the same name. Latovich met with mediocre success in the little-seen silks of Herbert Bayrd Swope, now chairman of the New York State Racing Commission, but Blenheim did a little better racing for the Wheatley Stable of Mrs. H. C. Phipps and her brother Ogden Mills. There are probably two or three Blandford mares in America, but no more. However, American breeders undoubtedly will be on the lookout for the opportunity of obtaining daughters of this, great horse although they may have to pay well for them; The English have a habit of retaining ownership in desirable bloodstock, no matter how great the inducement. While Blandford has had no influence in American racing worthy of mention,, other sons of Swynford have done well in this respect. Cavalcade, hailed by many ex-u perts as the greatest race horse in this country since Man o War, was by Lancegaye, a son of Swynford. Lancegaye is now established in this country and Cavalcade wilL head Mrs. Isabel Dodge Sloanes stud in Virginia one of these days. Twenty Grand, another noted distance runner, was sired by St. Germans, a son of Swynford imported to this country by the Whitneys. Swift and Sure is yet another Swynford sire. The American stallion of recent history with a record anywhere approaching that of Blandfords was Fair Play, which sent out three sons Man o War, Mad Play and Chance Shot to capture the Belmont Stakes, the only race in this country comparing with the English Derby in every respect. Two of Man o Wars sons, American Flag and Crusader, were victorious in the Belmont as was Peace Chance, sired by Chance Shot. Falreno, another grandson of Fair Play, also was successful In the mile and a half special at the Nassau course, which is to have its 1935 renewal tomorrow. A difference of the two lines, however, is that Blandfords get were good at two and better at three but those of Fair Play seldom reached top form until three years of age.
