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g— yw» mi BETWEEN RACES * melons " :yffTTtaSr-|T DOWNS. Louisville, St—A. bit of gossip that is tcemeiidObrfy exciting has hit the Blue Grass country, namely, that there is something of a possibility that in the future, there may be an importation of thoroughbred sires and a few matrons into Russia from both England and the United States. While we say, the gossip is tenuous, but it has been given some sort of substance by the recent conciliatory world developments plus a report which has just been received from Russia is regarding the "state of the turf" there. That state, you might be interested to know, is one of great prosperity, flourishing studs, tremendous popularity among the leaders of Russia and with the common man s as well, although the reports say that the people are "kept in their place," even more rigorously than in the days of the czars. What started the story about the Russians possibly getting some English, Irish and American blood lines is the fact that breeding has of necessity tended toward excessive inbreeding because of absolute lack of imports from abroad, this in spite of the fact that the Russians captured a considerable number of fine thoroughbreds from Central Europe and Germany during the war. Unfortunately, most of these horses did not live to reproduce, having been butchered and eaten by the Red invaders. This has been too well documented to be denied. In any event, the sensation of the 1952 racing season in Russia was the item that army general Shte-menkos horses romped off with most of the big stakes, defeating the horses owned by marshal Budenny and marshal Koniev, proprietors of two well known studs, and among those reported a bit annoyed are Georgi Malenkov and V. A. Molotov, patrons of the Chshtemensk state _ stud. Since the 1952 season, Malenkov has become the Hint Westerand Exports to Russia Possible Soviet Brass Maintains Big Studs, Stables Believe Outcrosses Needed for Invigoration Snobs Dime a Dozen in Classless Society top man in all Russia. What would be more natural, it is argued, than to see Malenkov build up the state stud to be more powerful, and how else could it be done except by some importing for outcrossing? AAA It also is learned that many of the leading soldiers and party office holders in Russia have invested their big salaries and bonuses in studs and racing stock, .his despite the supposed theory that in Russia all horses are state owned and state trained, and all jockeys are state officials. The theory is all right, but the facts, as we learn them, do not coincide. We are told that racing is not one bit different than it was under the czars. In Moscow, the races are run at the MGH — Moskovski-Gosurdarstvenni-Hippodron — built originally about 50 years ago. It was once a popular place with the czar and hit court, and it burned down in 1939, was immediately, although slowly, rebuilt, and was finished shortly after the war. It is said to be one of the most luxurious race tracks in the world. Most big Soviet towns have their own race courses, the Saratoga of Russia being in the Crimea, a summer resort area. At most Russian courses, the people are sealed off completely from the exclusive enclosures reserved for the bigwigs, but in Crimea, the public isnt allowed on the grounds anywhere. Thus, we learn, the party brass and the army higherups can indulge in the noble pastime undisturbed by the envious looks of the common man. The statement is made that Soviet racing now conforms to the rules of racing in all capitalistic countries, with totes and bookies, with one important exception, i.e., in exclusiveness. Boxes and seats on the grandstand are not only expensive, but are reserved 109 per cent for ranking government officials and soldiers in the higher grades. The public places are practically walled off, so much so that the common man deems himself lucky if he can get a glimpse of their "heroes" when said heroes lead their horses into the winners circle. The year 1952 also is said to have shattered all records, in both attendance and wagering, including those in the days of the czar. We have heard some queries as to just what blood lines are predominant in Soviet Russia, and that we cannot answer. Nor can we say that the Russian thoroughbred is now inbred beyond the point of safety, but we have no way of knowing which captured horses reached Russia to enter stud, and which did not. But the answers to this may be forthcoming within the next year. AAA As far as exportation of horses to Russia is concerned, this might strike a sour note with some, but come what may, the fact cannot be ignored that the thoroughbred knows no national boundaries, his distribution is world wide", and we dare say that if a traffic, on a limited scale, is set up between Russia and the Western world, it will be at diplomatic level. A lot of people do not like Peron in the Argentine, either, but that doesnt stop Argentine horses being welcomed here both for performance and enrichment of our blood lines. And we hold that any bold outcross can be deemed an enrichment. AAA Only 10 years ago, we were engaged in an all-out war against Japan, which is now, volume wise, at least, our continents best customer in the matter of thoroughbreds. Continued on Page Forty-Four BETWEEN RACES I By OSCAR OTIS Continued from Page Forty-Eight A few months ago. we noted the Japanese bidding at the Fasig-Tipton winter sales in California, going to ,800. as we recall, to obtain a single stud. Prior to that sale, they had participated in another vendue, and in addition, purchased more than 70 horses privately. Currently, Arnold Shrimpton, of Lexington, and formerly of Australia, has purchased 40 more thoroughbreds for Japanese interests, and is making arrangements to ship them. While most will leave from West .Coast ports, nine are due to leave from the port of New York next month on a Japanese steamer which will take 42 days to make the voyage, with stops at the Canal Zone, Honolulu, Wellington and Brisbane. Shrimpton did not pay more than 00 for any animal purchased, and while this may not sound like much money, it still has acted as sop for excess production, and certainly 00 is better than 0. To return to Russia briefly, it came as a surprise to this writer to discover that in fact, racing in the Soviet was quite as "capitalistic" as anywhere else in the world, and maybe in some respects, more so. We had believed the old line that the state owned everything. And that stud farms and stables were regarded by Russian leaders as being "gilt edged" investments was at first glance surprising, too, but on sober reflection, perhaps it isnt. Here in Kentucky, they think ownership of a good sire or a good broodmare is better than bonds in the bank and nothing we have seen can make us believe that maybe the Kentuckians do not have a point well taken.
