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Here and There on the Turf Booking Time Engages Breeders Blenheim Stands at Highest Fee I Two Horses Are Advanced j New Stallions Find Favor j i---------- - - - - - - . Breeders in various parts of the country, particularly in the established center in Kentuckys blue grass section, are busily engaged just now booking their mares for next spring, if they have-not done so already. Many of them have been astute enough to book them long before now, thus avoiding the headaches so often caused when the "book full" sign is hung out for the stallions considered the most desirable. Of the sires publicly announced as standing next season, twenty-eight are at fees of ,000 or more, with the highest figure being ,500, for Blenheim. The books of a dozen of these horses, including the English star, which was imported to this country for a quarter of a million dollars, already have been filled, and as this is a higher percentage than for the other stallions, it is evidence that the topnotch sires are most in demand regardless. In this respect, however, it may be mentioned that the more highly regarded stallions generally are owned by the larger breeders and after they have finished booking their own mares or trading seasons with other such producers also having top progeni-1ors, but few seasons are available to outsiders. Blenheim, for example, is the property of seven breeders, one of whom owns a quarter, the others an eighth of the son of Blandford. Each share represents five seasons, so it can well be imagined that each partner in the syndicate has too few chances to breed to Blenheim, let alone dispose of any of them unless the proposition is most attractive. If any seasons to Blenheim were booked at ,500 we do not know, but more than likely that amornt was announced to give matings to the horse a definite value and no return, either. No fees are announced for some of the stallions, as in the case of Bull Dog, but his book was filled so long ago that it wasnt necessary to mention publicly anything about nim. Others are helu at private contract, but this generally means seasons can be had for little or nothing if the mares are suitable and is an indication that the owners are anxious to establish their horses if they can by filling their books easily. An exception to the horses standing at private contract is Man o War, whose fee never has been announced. It has been said, however, that Samuel D. Riddle has received as much as ,000 for a season to his peerless horse. Man o War at no time has been exploited, and Riddle probably has traded more seasons to his star than hes sold. In fact, some of his mares have been bred to Blenheim, which ij an answer to this question. Several new or comparatively new stallions are in the higher-bracketed group whose books already are filled. Among them are Menow and Flares, both of which are entering the stud for the first time. The former, as well may be remembered, was a very fast son of Pharamond II., with the Belmont Futurity as his most important victory, whereas Flares is an American-bred winner of the Ascot Gold Cup and other important English races. Horses which have come to the front and whose fees have been raised include Challenger II. and Questionnaire, both sires of fine two-year-olds out this season in Challedon and Third Degree, respectively. Challenger H. with headquarters in Maryland has been coming along steadily since his importation from England, Challedon, putting him over the top, and I Questionnaire had to go to Mrs. Payne Whitneys Greentree Farm before getting an adequate chance to prove himself. Perhaps the most prominent horse calculated to enter the stud next spring is War Admiral, but his name hasnt been included in the advertising concerning Man o War and the other stallions at Faraway Farm. His book already is subscribed, however, so it wont be necessary to state publicly the terms under which he will stand. In addition to War Admiral, Menow and Flares, other young horses going into the stud in the spring after having completed this year of racing or last, include Aneroid, Grand Slam, Rosemont, Today, Top Row, Boswell, Castel Fusano, Reaping Reward, Shifting Sands II., Foray and Tintagel. The names of most of these horses are easily remembered, but Castel Fusano raced in France, and Boswell, Shifting Sands II. and Foray in England, all with distinction. As they are attractively bred, confidence in their future has been freely expressed by their connections.
