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JMpsEIIif jrf*s* JUDGES STAND By Charles Hatron 44 Horse Mart Already Booming Spa Preferred as Scene of Sales Breeders Risk Fashions Whims Cost of Rearing Yearling Soars LOUISVILLE. Ky.. April 14. Not all thoroughbred fanciers are familiar with Shakespeares works, but an amazing number of them are going about paraphras- ing King Richard s urgent request : A horse ! A horse! My kingdom for a horse ! " The writer cannot remember when the market was quite so flourishing. Perhaps half a million dollars of bloodstock has changed hands, by private treaty, since January 1 — exclusive of the traffic in platers. Knight. Helis, Hancock. Mayer, Scott and Tanner are among those who have dabbled in the market — in some instances both as salesman and customer. "Dabbled scarcely expresses Knights activities adequately. Probably we should say "plunged" in his case. He already is reputed to have cleared his investment on the Valdina deal, by the way. And he now has other irons in other fires. This ready market for thoroughbreds, the fabulous prices involved, lends credence to the prophesy that this seasons yearling sales will produce an average-per-head of more than the ,865.99 realized last year. The record is ,758.78. in 1927. Services to "the more desirable sires also have been snapped up eagerly, as fast as they were made available. Many are "booked solid" for 1945. First-class stallions and mares simply are not for sale, even at farms which have numerous representatives of the same breed at stud. It is our observation that more yearlings than usual have been purchased privately to be resold at the auctions as a speculation. It is our observation also that some superior colts and fillies will be offered at Lexington and Meadow Brook. Fred Hooper, William Helis. Mrs. Ethel V. Mars and "Elizabeth Arden" again are expected to be among the buyers. There may be some changes among the consignors. Col. C. V. Whitney is retaining his entire yearling crop, but P. A. B. Widener has 15 for sale. Owing to the fixed number that may be listed for auction by the Breeders* J- ales Company at Keeneland. there will be some better lots than usual at the fall vendues and other good ones disposed of privately. Incidentally, the recent rains have relieved the drought, which helps breeders to condition their offerings. The results of last summers Lexington sales proved buyers will support auctions in this locale, and generously, under the present war time circumstances. But yearling growers are almost unanimous in their preference of the Spa, when it has racing. Much of the bidding at the 43 sales was among agents, who had orders for certain lots. The sums these "talent scouts" might bid were limited. At Saratoga more of the actual purchasers are present. Frequently they become imbued with the enthusiastic spirit of the occasion and bid higher than they intended originally, or some yearling they had not previously seen captivates them. Thus, racing at Saratoga not only is a boon to the townsfolk but to the bloodstock industry. There is some bargaining now for the Fasig-Tipton Company paddocks at the Adirondacks resort, which indicates certain David Harums have confidence the Spa turf has a future. The yearling sales are often called "a lottery," but no element in racing assumes greater hazards than do the breeders. Particularly those rearing thoroughbreds for the market. The progeny of a comparative few like Sir Gallahad III., Blenheim II.. Bull Dog and the Man o" War mares are in constant demand. But breeders risk a great deal on the vagaries of ••fashion," attempting to anticipate what buyers will want two years hence. Buyers memories are notoriously short. Usually they seek colts and fillies bred similar to the two-year-old or three-year-old who c*iances to be strutting his brief hour on the racing stage concurrent with the time of the sales. For instance, there is no logical reason bidders interest in the get of Grand Slam and Sweeping Light should be so mercurial. Either might sire another Devils Thumb or Sweeping Light any time. Nor why Jamestown is not more fashionable, remembering Johnstown and that his issue have a high average earnings of about ,000. Nor why a colt bred like Director J. E should have fetched only ,500. recalling Cravat and Stagehand. Sickles recent demise probably will put a higher premium on his yearlings, incidentally. Breeders must obtain more for their yearlings now than they did a few seasons back. They feel the impact of soaring priest for hay and straw, just as do owners ef racing stables.
