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BELMONT CUP, which becomes the possession of the winning owner for one year and a replica of which is given for permanent possession. Belmont Known asTest of Champion Many Contestants in Event Have Gained Fame in Stud Classic Reflects, in Several Instances, Breeding Changes Made Through Importations By NELSON DUNSTAN BELMONT PARK, Elmont, L. L, N. Y., June 6. — Belmont Park is the home of many famous races in the spring and fall, but its outstanding, event is the Belmont Stakes, which will have its 84th running at the famous Elmont course tomorrow. At one and one-half miles, the Belmont is called the "test of the champion" in that a winner must have speed and yet be endowed with the stamina this distance asks of a three-year-old in June. Inaugurated in 1867, the Belmont has been won by many horses who went on to equal fame as sires and on occasion some who finished second or third proved greater than the winner when sent to the breeding farms. One instance was Fair Play, who ran second to Colin in 1908, but who overshadowed his rival by siring many successful sons and daughters. The history of the Fair Play line is brilliant. While all of our horses are of foreign, Fair Play, along with Domino and Ben Brush, have firmly established the three lines that we consider strictly "American" today. x Fresh infusions of blood, from whatever source, are good for the breed and from Diomed right down to Sunreigh, male ancestors of Counterpoint, winner of the Belmont in 1951, this race reflects, in numerous instances, the changes that have been made in breeding by the importation of foreign horses. Diomed Arrived Here in 1798 Racing in this country was in its infancy when Diomed, winner of the inaugural running of the Epsom Derby in 1780, arrived in Virginia in the spring of 1798. So was breeding, and it was natural that from 1800 on, our breeders sought stallions in the mother country. Among those imported were Glencoe, Billet, Bonnie Scotland, Australian, Eclipse and Leamington, all of whom, or their sons, were to play a prominent part in the annals of the Belmont Stakes, and also breeding. Diomed, of course, was toa early an arrival to play a direct part, but no stallion was so gloriously represented as he was by his great-great grandson, Lexington, who, foaled in 1850 was to lead the American sires for 16 years 14 in succession and was the first to sire four winners of the Belmont Stakes, General Duke, 1368; Kingfisher, 1870; Harry Bassett, 1871, and Duke of Magenta, 1878. Leamington toppled Lexington from the sire throne in 1875, only to have Lexington lead again in 1876 and 1878. Leamington regained the position in 1877, 1879 and 1881, Bonnie Scotland having entered the struggle to wrest the championship from Leamington in 1880 and 1882. Thus was the sire list dominated by three stallions in 22 seasons, from 1861 to 1882, inclusive. Leamington was the sire of Saunterer, Belmont winner in 1881, and Bonnie Scotland, sire of George Kinney, winner of the renewal of 1883. Staged at Three Tracks The Belmont was staged at Jerome Park, Morris Park and Belmont Park from 1867 to 1910, with no racing in New York in 1911 or 1912. When we combine the racing at the three points, the breeding sequences and the changes down the years come into clearer focus. As early as the third running in 1869, August Belmonts colors were to be first over the finish line, in fact, one-two, when Fenian defeated" his stablemate, Glenelg. The latter, a son of Citadel— Balto and imported in utero, was by far the better of the two and was the first horse, though he ran second, to bring honors to the Belmont Stakes by way of the leading sires list. He was premier sire in this country four times, 1884-86-87 and 88. Even greater was the accomplishment of Hanover, son of Hindoo and, through Virgil and Vandal, a direct male descendent of Glencoe. A winner of the Belmont in 1887, Hanover went on to become leading sire in four successive years, from 1895 to 1898. His son, Hamburg, sired Burgomaster, winner of the Belmont in 1906, and Prince Eugene, 1913, while another son, Yankee, sired Joe Madden, winner in 1909. Early Belmont runnings were marked by more than the feats of Lexington and Leamington as sires and later the fact that Glenelg and Hanover, second and first, respectively, in the Belmont, each became premier sire on four occasions. The inaugural Belmont winner was Ruthless, a bay daughter of imported Eclipse — Barbarity, by Simoon, thus a member of that famous "Barbarous Battalion." Imported Australian was represented by three winners. Right there we touch on one of the most surprising developments in all breeding annals. While a great many stallions had been imported to these shores since Diomed, the three who were to establish lasting American lines were imported within three years. Why that should have been defies explanation, but it remains that Bonnie Scotland arrived in 1857, Australian in 1858 and Eclipse in 1859. In view of the fast that Eclipse was the sire of Ruthless, the first Belmont winner, suppose we take the last of those three importations and follow his line down through 1910. Eclipse not only sired Ruthless, but also Alarm, who besides being known as the first real sprinter developed in this country, he was sire of Panique, winner of the Belmont of 1884. Alarm was also sire of Himyar out of Hira, by Lexington, who, in turn, was to sire Domino, the "Black Whirlwind," and founder of the "Domino Line" that was to be carried on by Commando, winner of the Belmont in 1901. Commando, in turn, was to sire Peter Pan, 1907, and Colin, 1908. Sired Dam of Hanoyer Two years before Eclipse arrived, Bonnie Scotland landed here. For 15 years he was pushed from pillar to post and given little chance until quartered at Belle Meade Stud in Tennessee. Though in the twilight of his career, as the years of a stallion are reckoned, he sired George Kinney 1883, and Bourbon Belle, dam of Hanover, winner in 1887. His son, Bramble, out of Ivy Leaf, a daughter of Australian Ivy Leaf was out of Bay Flower, by Lexington , was the sire of Ben Brush, founder of the "Ben Brush Line." Brambles daughter, Libbie L., produced Hdrim, winner of the. Belmont in 1900, and his son, Ben Brush, sired Delhi, winner in 1904, and Sweep, winner in 1910, the year preceding those two when the New York racing parks were to be vast acres of wasteland. Between the importations of Bonnie Scotland and Eclipse, Australian reached our shores in 1858 and of all three stallions who founded American lines, his record and that of his male ancestors is the most impressive. His three sons to win the Belmont were Joe Daniels 1872, Springbook 1873 and Spendthrift 1879. Spendthrifts son, Hastings, took the Belmont in 1896, and was a factor in making" Spendthrift the countrys leading sire in that year. Hastings was to contribute further to the Belmont roster, siring Masterman, winner in 1902, and Fair Play, who, though he ran second to Colin in the renewal of 1908, was to outclass the horse by becoming one of the greatest stallions in Belmont history. New York Racing Revived in 1913 When racing was revived in New York in 1913, thoroughbred breeding was perilously close to extinction. For the two years dt -ing which the racing parks were but acres of wasteland left there was no market for thoroughbreds and hundreds were sold for work horses while others were shipped abroad to bring whatever the traffic would be offered. Yet, under these discouraging circumstances, the gates were thrown open in 1913 with the public obviously eager for the revival. Though the breeders ranks had materially thinned, many of the veterans along with newcomers, proceeded to mend the riven strands of thoroughbred production. Imported stallions continued to play their part in the makeup of the Belmont Stakes roster, and imported Star Shoot, who was to become the leading sire of the country for five seasons, sent a great pair of winners forth when Sir Barton won in 1919 and Grey Lag in 1921. Between Sir Barton and Grey Lag, however, the greatest American racer of all time was to carve his name on the Belmont roster — Man o War. Here was a milestone in the long history of the Belmont. From the imported horses Eclipse Domino line , Bonnie Scotland Ben Brush line and Australian Fair Play line, we had seen three great American thoroughbred lines emerge. But when Fair Play was mated with daughters of Rock Sand, a Triple Crown winner in England, one of the most famous "nicks" in all breeding history was established. From a mating of Fair Play and Rock Sands daughter Mahubah, came the "super" horse, Man o War, who, with his sire, was to write a long chapter of success for the "Fair Play dynasty" on the Belmont Stakes roster. Sired Mad Play and Chance Shot Following Man o War, Fair Play leading sire, 1920-24-27, sent Mad Play, 1924, and Chance Shot, 1927, to the Belmont winners circle. Chance Shot, in turn, sired Peace Chance, 1934, but two years before, Chatterton leading sire, 1932, another son of Fair Play had added another score for the line with the victory of Faireno. Nor was Man o War leading sire, 1926, long in asserting himself, with American Flag, 1925; Crusader, 1926, and War Ad- Continued on Page Forty-Five Belmont Long Has Made Its jlmprint on Breeding Structure Continued from Page Five miral in 1937, he duplicated the feats of Australian and Fair Play in the siring of three Belmont Stakes winners. From 1919, when Sir Barton became the first Triple Crown winner of this country, the purse of the Belmont Stakes fluctuated with the conditions of the times. Sir Barton won 1,950, while in 1930 Gallant Fox, the second Triple Crown winner, earned 6,040. From 1930 down to the present year, our breeders ever on the loolout for top foreign stallions, went to breath-taking prices to obtain the best available stallions in England, Ireland, France and,, in a few instances. South America. The constant importation of horses has brought about many changes in the Belmont Stakes and other events, but it is surprising, when the records are examined, how many of the good old American lines of Fair Play, Domino and Ben Brush are still disputing those of more recent foreign blood. Never in history have breeders imported so many horses to this country as in the past 25 years, but with it all, Man o War sired War Admiral, winner in 1937; Black Toney sired Bimelech in 1940, and Equipoise sent Shut Out to the winners circle in 1942. It has been give and take* but in the final analysis all .have been blended from the improvement of the breed. Reigh Count is an ideal example for, as a son of the imported Sunreigh, he went to England as an "American horse" to win the Coronation Stakes and then came back to sire Count Fleet, winner of the Belmont in 1943. The latter, in turn, sired Counterpoint, last years winner of the race that completes the "Triple Crown" series.
