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REFLECTIONS By Nelson Dunstan Belmont Reflects Growth of Breeding Ben Brush, Fair Play, Domino Clans Lexington, Fair Play Were Top Sires American Lines Wrote Belmont History NEW YORK, N. Y., May 30. The Belmont Stakes, which will have its seventy-ninth running tomorrow, is one of those classics which reflect the growth of the breeding industry in this country. For, of the numerous events which run side by side down through the years, two lists which resemble one another in many instances are the Belmont Stakes winning roster and that of Americas leading sires. Two stallions stand out in the light of the annals of the Belmont Stakes, and they are Lexington and Fair Play. But, to get a true picture of the Belmont, we must even go back beyond Lexington to the "Blind Hero," who was the leading sire in this country on 16 different occasions, 14 of which were in succession. We must go back to the spring of 1798 when Diomed, the first winner of the Epsom Derby in England, arrived in Virginia. Diomed, of course, was too early an arrival in this country to play a definite part in the annals of the Belmont Stakes, or, of course, on the leading sire list. But no stallion was so ably represented as he was by his great-great grandson, Lexington, who was foaled in 1850. Lexington was the first to sire four winners of the Belmont, namely, General Duke, 1868; Kingfisher, 1870; Harry Bassett, 1871, and Duke of Magenta, 1878. Every student of American breeding: knows there are three so-called American sire lines, those" of Ben Brush, Fair Play and Domino. For those who are not familiar with breeding:, we want to present here one of the most remarkable facts in all breeding- annals. For, while .a great many stallions had been imported to these shores since the landing of Diomed, there were three who were to establish these lasting American lines, and they were brought to these shores within the short period of three years. Why that should have been defies explanation, but it remains that Bonnie Scotland arrived in America r in 1857,Australian, in 1858, and Eclipse, in 1859. When Bonnie Scotland came to this country, he by no means was accorded the reception given Blenheim n., Mah-moud or Bahram. For 15 years, he was shoved from pillar to post and given little chance until quartered at Belle Meade Stud in Tennessee. But though in the twilight of his career as the years of a stallion are measured, he become the sire of Bourbon Belle, the dam of Hanover, winner of the Belmont in 1887. His son, Bramble, was the sire of Ben Brush, founder of the Ben Brush line. The Ben Brush clan was still in the picture when Pasteurized won the Belmont in 1938, and was followed by Johnstown in 1939. It is impossible in a column of this length to give more than a bare outline of the Belmont winners and the male line from which they came. Australian reached these shores in 1858 and, of all the three stallions who founded American lines, he was the most impressive. Three of his own sons were Belmont winners, and among them Spendthrift, the winner in 1879. Spendthrifts own son, Hastings, took the Belmont- honors in 1896, but the latters greatest son, Fair Play, could do no better than run second to Colin in the non-famous renewal of 1908. Probably the greatest horse to carve his name in Belmont history was Man o War, who sent American Flag, Crusader and War Ad- . miral to the winners circle in the Belmont. "Fair Play was the leading American sire in 1920, 1924 and 1927, while his son, Man o War, was Americas leading sire in 1926. Insofar as the Belmont Stakes is concerned, there was no greater "father and son" combination, and the impression those two made fn both sons and daughters will always live as one of the brilliant pages in Belmont Stakes annals, and also breeding history of this country. Eclipse, the last of the three famous stallions to be brought to these shores, was the sire of Ruthless, the winner of the first running of the Belmont Stakes in 1867. Eclipse not only sired Ruthless, but also Alarm, who, besides being known as the first real sprinter ever developed in this countryj was also sire of Panique, winner of the Belmont of 1884. Alarm, who was one of the fastest horses of his day, also sired Himyar, who, in turn, was to sire Domino, the "Black Whirlwind," and who was to become the founder of the Domino line, often said to be one of the fastest lines of horses the world over. Although Domino was mainly noted for his speed, he was, nevertheless, the sire of Commando, winner of the Belmont in 1901, and Commando, in turn, was to sire Peter Pan, winner in 1907, and the undefeated Colin, who defeated Fair Play in 1908. Thus we have just a sketch of the three American lines, and what they have meant in both Belmont Stakes history and the leading sire list of this country. The Fair Plays, of course, stand out insofar as their accomplishments in the Belmont Stakes are concerned. It was back in 1919 that Sir Barton became the first horse in American history to win the American Triple Crown of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes. The era of "Triple Crown" winners, however, really dates from 1930 when Gallant Fox not only won all three of these spring classics, but also earned 08,275, the greatest sum ever earned by a thoroughbred anywhere in the world, up to that time. In 1935, Gallant Fox was represented by his son, Omaha, as a "Triple Crown" winner. But, although the Teddy line had become a very powerful one in this country, the line of Fair Play came back strongly when War Admiral won the "Triple Crown" races in 193. For the past 10 years, or since War Admiral won in 1937, only one winner by an imported stallion has been able to win the Belmont Stakes, and that was Whirlaway in 1941. He "also won the "Triple Crown," and he was followed on that roster by Count Fleet, a son of Reigh Count, in 1943, and Assault, a son of Bold Venture, who won in 1946.
