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William Helis Thoroughbred Breeding Activities Boon to New Jersey Sport Farm Among Largest in This Country; 166 Mares Served This Spring at His Nursery CAMDEN, N. J., June 24. New Jersey racing grows competitively richer each year through the addition of William Helis to the ranks of its thoroughbred breeders. His farm is now 2,500 acres, being increased by the acquisition of the adjoining 1,000 acres, formerly maintained by the Walker Gordon Milk Co., and other smaller tracts. These supplemented the 1,300 first obtained from Harry Sinclair, whose Ran-cocas site serves as the nucleus of the William Helis Farm. With five stallions and 108 broodmares on the property, it now is outranked by few in the entire land. Much of the credit for the coming of Helis to this state should go to Eugene Mori and his associates in the Garden State Park venture. That organization controlled Rancocas Farm at the time it was taken over by the man who came practically penniless from Greece to find his pot of gold in this country. The president of the Garden State Racing Association pointed out to Helis the propertys advantage as a breeding farm and training grounds, proving this so well that Rancocas was acquired by its present owner in 1943. It was a transaction he never has regretted. The former Lorillard-Sinclair farm- has taken giant strides forward since that year, easily becoming the outstanding haras in New Jersey and one which will have something like fifty horses to draw from this year for action within the states borders. Each season that number will mount steadily, through the Helis activities as a breeder and purchaser of young bloodstock. Fifty Matrons Visit Attention No less than 166 mares were served during the spring by the five stallions on the farm. Attention, stake winning son of Equipoise, was busiest of the quintette, with 50 matrons going to his court. The imported Rounders, Irish-bred son of Colorado Kid, and Valdina Orphan, by Hilltown, each served 40 mares, both being desirable, not only because of their blood-lines, but also due to the fact that they were good stake winners. Brave Soldier, by Pharamond H. and Deil, a Diavolo horse, are the lesser known members of the group. First named handled 21 mares and Jhe other 15. Roughly, around 140 mares visited the Helis Farm this spring with the majority who make their home there going to the outside courts of Mahmoud, Case Ace, Grand Slam, Count Fleet and others who have been less in the public eye. At present there are eight homebred yearlings on the property, a number which will be increased considerably through the sales in Kentucky and New York. There also were 38 homebred foals this spring. Forty-nine Helis horses now are campaigning in three eastern areas, New York, New England and Delaware. Such first rate stake winners as Olympic Zenith, Elpis, Earshot and Greek Warrior are the most formidable of the seasoned campaigners, while among the 18 newcomers are numerous likely prospects. Jerseys foremost breeder spent 11,900. for 21 yearlings in open market in 1945, paying a total of 13,000 for four colts. Uranium, by Blue Larkspur Gallant Lady, cost 5,000; Cosmic Bcmb, by Pharamond JX Banish Fear, was a 9,500 buy; Final Curtain, by Menow Grand Finale, was obtained for 5,500 and Jobstown, by Unbreakable Forsythia, was a 3,000 purchase. All are slated for New Jersey competition during 1946. From the present Helis thoroughbred holdings it appears that it should not be long before he will be as prominent in racing in this state as was Harry Sinclair, previous owner of Rancocas, in the thoroughbred sport in New York. In those times there was no racing within the borders of this commonwealth.
