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- * ... IN THE BLUE GRASS By Hugh J. McGuire LEXINGTON, Ky., May 26.— The recent disastrous stable fire at Detroit, following the horrendous number of similar holo-, causts causts in in various various sec- causts causts in in various various sec- sectors of the country, prompted Alex Bower to wonder if it would not be possible in these days of chemical miracles for a plastic or other manufacturing company to devise a non-inflammable substitute for the straw that is used as bedding in horse stalls throughout out the the country. country. There There out the the country. country. There There would certainly be a market for such a product. Bower, executive secretary of the Cromwell Bloodstock Agency and a well-known writer on the thoroughbred, is under no dubious doubt that such a product would solve the problem of flash lires that quickly turn wooden stables into thoroughbred pyres. Concrete barns and the ex-z pensive sprinkler system appear to be , the best-known prevention against such disasters. But even in such buildings the straw is often closest to the source of the blaze, and not infrequently the resultant smoke causes suffocation. There have been many cases of the death by suffocation of animals who were not touched by the flames. The substitute for straw would have to be fairly absorbent and meet other requirements, including that of price, although anyone who is paying feed bills will tell you that it would not have to be cheap to meet the cost of straw. AAA Prom John A. Bell DX, president of the Thoroughbred Club of America, we learn that under consideration hy that organization is a panel discussion of the question of the advisability of dispensing with the live foal clause in breeding contracts and the simultaneous reduction of stud fees. Just the other day we wrote of the opinions on this topic of one breeder who was wholeheartedly in favor of such a program, but felt that it might be inoperative. Bell and other members of the TCA board of directors recognize that this is a real problem and plan to provide the "battleground" for the discussion. It was Bells thought that the greatest divergence of opinion would come from those who were stallion owners and those who owned mares. Although Bell did not say so, this would ap- ► Bower Comes Up With Good ldea Ponders Plastic Sub for Straw TCA Studying Live Foal Clause pear to be evidence that mare owners were satisfied with the present conditions and that stallion owners felt that they were victims of an injustice. AAA Possibly the solution, if there is one, could come through compromise. From what we nave learned, it would appear that the, stallion owner is less concerned about mares who lose their foals after having conceived than with cheap mares who repeatedly fail to get in foal. Just where the responsibility of the stallion ends and where that of the mare begins is a fine question to be resolved. One of the salient points for the mare owner is that he is paying his money and is entitled to something in return as in every other purchase. Not to be lost sight of while on the question of finances in the case is the substantial reduction of stallion fees that would be effected. AAA in this respect, stallion owners are not in complete agreement, and estimates of the percentage of reduction we have heard run from 30 to 50 per cent. Compromises that have been advanced include variar tions of a policy which we believe once was introduced by the late Col. E. R. Bradley of charging an additional 10 per cent, or some other figure, over the stud fee to insure a live foal. One stallion owner who feels that the stallion loses something hy repeatedly serving a mare who declined to get in foal has suggested a plan along the lines of one we believe is operated hy Taylor Hardin in Virginia hy which the, stud fee is controlled at"00 the leap."" Mare owners object that stallion owners who have been paid for services on a certain date nave the use of the, mare owners funds for several months where the mare subsequently fails to have a live foal. The subject is a lively one with many facets, and is of great significance to the industry. The TCA panel discussions on the topic will be eagerly awaited. AAA A recent article in a national magazine, purported to show that dogs were not smart and, from time to time, the same question is raised of thoroughbreds. We «are certainly no authority on the subject, but we recall seeing the charts of experts who placed the horse below the dog in intelligence. It Would seem to us that just what constitutes being smart is a matter of opinion. We are inclined, perhaps, to be influenced on the subject by the performances of individual animals who have been subjected to rigorous training for exhibition purposes. This could be anything from a trained seal to a talking horse or the clever pony of Buddy Raines. Whether or not the horse who tries to get into your pocket for sugar is smart pf just a sweet tooth, we wouldnt pretend to know. Nor would be venture that horses who do cute things horses were never intended to do were geniuses. We do know that owners of sales yearlings will spend anxious days between now and sale times, hoping against hope that the youngsters will have enough sense not to go berserk in their paddocks and injure themselves by foolishly charging into fences or otherwise committing mayhem. If pinned .down, most breeders and trainers will admit that the majority of horses are not purely endowed with gray matter and the yearlings who mess up themselves on the eve of their sales are nothing less than clumsy dummies. AAA Blades of Blue Grass: Mandel Camargo of the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, which governs thoroughbred activities in that country, is expected here to get an insight into American breeding methods. Camargo is to represent Brazil at the annual convention of the National Association of State Racing Commissioners at Asbury Park, N. J., in June. He plans to spend the intervening time before the meeting at local breeding farms. Dr, Robert E. Bardwell, who has considerable knowledge of the Latin American countries, and Alex Bower will show the visitor around the Blue Grass., .Joseph G. Lease, president of the Western Totalisator Company, of Vancouver, has added to his oroodmare band with the purchase of three mares from Mark Leach. Lease conducts liis breeding activities at Walden, N. Y, His purchases were Yellow Rose, by Jean Val-jean — Yellow -Blossom, who has a colt foal; by .Leachs stallion, No Wrinkles, -and has been bred to Psychic Bid; Cautious Gal, by; Sir Gallahad HI. — Be Careful, who has -a colt foal by Psychic Bid arid will go to . Mr, Busher, and Lady Stim, by Stimulus — Lady; James, who has no foal, but has been bred: to Fleeting Star, a son of Count Fleet.
