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Mary land Breeding Farms — Nos. 19-20-21 I ■ By NELSON DUNSTAN STRIKER FARM. Major G. L. Stryker, owner of Stryker Farm, Timonium, Baltimore County, is one of the pioneers of the modern Maryland breeding group. While he is by no means a large breeder, Major Stryker is one of the best known horsemen in the Old Line State and is regarded by his breeding neighbors as an authority on the stud farms within a radius of fifty miles from the city of Baltimore. This writer is heavily indebted to him for the aid he gave in the preparation of this series. As a breeder, the career of Major Stryker offers an interesting story. An army officer, he resigned in 1912 for the express purpose of developing a horse of the highest efficiency for army use. That was before the U. S. Remount came into being. The coming of the World War demanded he devote his time to his country, and throughout the conflict he gave his entire attention to the development of better horses for the U. S. Army. Immediately following the Armistice, the Major visited many sections of America in search of what he considered the ideal breeding country. In 1920 he settled in Baltimore County, Maryland, and says today, "I have never had cause to regret my choice. Maryland is comparable with any state in the matter of fine horse production." The Stryker Farm is one of the most beautiful this writer has ever visited and comprised of about 290 acres, has no superior in the beauty of its surrounding country. Besides the Stryker homestead, there are three barns with a total of twenty-six stalls and the layout is essentially the same as originally designed by the owner some sixteen years ago. When the U. S. Remount opened the experimental station at Front Royal, Va., Major Stryker discontinued his experimenting and turned his attention to the production of hunters and thoroughbreds. But deeply interested in research anent the horse, he sacrificed many of those on his farm when blindness and eye trouble affected his entire horse population. Calling in veterinarians, he instructed them to proceed in the interest of science regardless of how many head he lost. He became so deeply interested in the study of opthalmia, that even today he maintains blind horses, or those affected with eye trouble, so that veterinarians might continue their studies as to the best means of combating the dreaded disease. The affected horses are isolated, of course, from Major Strykers own group Never allowing his horse population to become larger than he can personally handle, the Major has twelve mares in one barn, and the gallant old stallion, Trojan Futurity winner, in another. Now twenty-six years old, Trojan is a remarkably well preserved horse for his years, with no dip in the back or other signs indicating age. He is the sire of the Vanderbilt racer, Dreel, and in the small stable of horses he will race this year, the Major has Glowing Coal, a three-year-old full sister to the Sagamore Stable color-bearer. CANNADAY FARM. Located at Sparks, the Cannaday Farm is one of the newer Maryland breeding establishments. From the main highway, the entire farm of 200 acres can be seen, and with its spotless white fences, makes an appealing picture for passing motorists. Driving in, the visitor stops at an office which is more a thoroughbred picture-gallery, the walls being covered with photographs of the great and no-so-greats of the British and American turf. There are two large new barns at Cannaday, attractively painted in green and white. Jointly they will house twenty-four head, and at present are occupied by four brood mares, six yearlings and the imported stallion, Golden Pine II. The latter, foaled in 1928 is a handsome and powerful chestnut son of Golden Myth, from Pineapple, by Louvois. His stud fee for this season is 00. FOX HILL. An estate of 500 acres, Fox Hill, is the Maryland home of John and Elizabeth Bose-ley, and is now famed as the birthplace of the ill-fated Chase Me, who, first starting as a four-year-old, became an unbeaten sen-j sation until death cut him down in the Metropolitan Handicap of 1934. Bred by John Boseley, Jr., and Regan McKinney, both of whom were top-notch gentlemen riders, Chase Me was acquired by Mrs. Boseley and her daughter, Sarah, for saddle and show purposes. By Purchase — Mayanel, it was discovered the gelding possessed burning speed, and under Mrs. Boseleys supervision, he won seven straight races before the tragic afternoon of May 19, 1934. That was the race, it will be recalled, which was to decide Chase Mes pretentions to Equipoises cup crown. The latter won, but was disqualified and Mr. Khayyam declared the winner. On March 9 of this year, a great event occurred at Fox Hill. For on emerging from a stall veterinarians announced that Purchase and Mayanel had presented Mrs. Boseley, with a full-brother to Chase Me. This writer arrived at Fox Hill when the j new born was but two days old, and need-• less to say, was immediately taken to the j stall of Mayanel and her colt. With long j legs set at crazy angles, the little fellow j looked at us with all the curiosity with ! which we gazed at him. There are no stallions, only three mares and one yearling by Purchase at Fox Hill. The farm is used mainly as the headquarters for the racing strings of Mr. and Mrs. Boseley, who each train a stable separate from that of the other. At the time of our visit thirty-three horses in training were stationed at Fox Hill.
