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IN THE BLUE GRASS ! By Hugh J. McGuire — Standard Date for Payment of Stud Fees Sought by Breeders Six Different Methods of Stallion Payments Now in . Effect Most Breeders Finance Such Operations Through Local Banks Impressive Stake Records by Spendthrift Farm Stallions LEXINGTON, Ky., May 29. Two topics currently under discussion in this area are the questions of the advise-ability of discarding the live foal clause from breeding contracts and compensating with reduced stud fee, and the possibility of securing uniform with reduced stud fee, and the possibility of securing uniform a closing dates for stakes. The first subject appears to have marly supporters and many opponents along with another faction which suggests some sort of compromise. Insofar as we have learned personally the second proposal, which was first broached some time ago in this space at the suggestion of Calumets Paul Ebelhardt, has been received with unanimous acclaim by all breeders but unfortunately it is not within the powers of the breeders individually or as a group to bring about the desired change except by request. The final words here depends upon the willingness of track operators to cooperate. Now into these two problems a third has been injected which has a place in any open forum and is a matter which could be answered by the breeders or stallion owners themselves. selves, It it is, is, in m effect, eiiect, that tnat while wmie breeders oreeaers discuss discuss a a standard standard ito nominof nominations ?rvnc they f Viott micrVif. might olcn also pniieiHoi consider fViaf. that o a standard cfonHarrl flato date Via be selves, It it is, is, in m effect, eiiect, that tnat while wmie breeders oreeaers discuss discuss a a standard standard ito nominof nominations ?rvnc they f Viott micrVif. might olcn also pniieiHoi consider fViaf. that o a standard cfonHarrl flato date Via be closing date for stake set for the payment of fees for stud services. Al A A This proposal was set out as material for possible discussion by Joe Metz who can be considered unbiased in that he stands three stallions, Crafty Admiral, Education and With Pleasure at his farm and also pays stud fees on his mares. Metz pointed out that the wealthy breeder would not. be too much affected by the setting of a uniform date for the payment of stud fees other than that he, like all others, would gain by the concentration of the necessary office work into one stated time. He was not considering the marginal breeder either but was concerned with the professional operator below the ranks of the wealthy and also with the group of breeders of good character and reputation who breed for the love, of the game and for profit maybe and are of the type who belong in the business. Metz noted that there were now in general practice no less than six different periods for stallion fee payments. These included the return clause, payment on the date bred, payment on August 1, September 1 and October 1, and payment when the foal was born, stood and nursed. AAA, Exploring .the Metz thought further than the convenience of having a single date for fee payment, it would appear that there is a definite financial aspect to the proposal. We feel it fair to interject at this point that Metz suggested" only that the topic was one for discussion and he is not responsible for the other observations given here. Most breeders finance their operations through local banks and those who sell only in the fall sales are involved with stud fee financing for three full seasons while those who are able to get all their yearlings into the summer sales are involved in two seasons before they get a return on their investments through sales. A breeder with any sizeable number of mares for whom he can get services to some of the better stallions, could very readily have stud fees amounting to 5,000 or more annually and over three years this would involve 5,000 tied up while waiting for the fall sales. The setting of a uniform date for fee payments would eliminate the possibility of the necessity for six different trips to the bank each year to finance an operation. Just how far back, if at all, stallion owners would be willing to set the date of payment we have no way of knowing. Certainly we have found a very definite resentment on the part of mare owners against the practice of taking their money out of circulation early in the gestation period. We plan to have more on this subject later. AAA At the Spendthrift Farm of Leslie Combs II. no less than 10 of the 11 stallions who have American produce old enough to race have sired stakes winners or horses that placed in stakes. We think it is a rather encouraging record particularly in that the exception was Ardan, who had only a very short first crop. We have not made an effort to name all the get of these stallions who have distinguished themselves but Alibhai had Determine and Hasseyampa, Ace Admiral had Admiral Porter. Bernborough is the sire of Berseem and Gainsboro Girl. Top Traffic is a son of Billings. Jet Pilot got Jet Action. Black Metal is by Lord Boswell. Mr. Busher is the sire of Beau Busher. Cerise Reine is a daughter of Requested. Shannon U. is the sire of Sea O Erin. Fascinator is by War Jeep. It is quite an imposing list and while he does not belong in this category it might be remembered that Royal Charger, who is at Spendthrift, is the sire of Turn-to. AAA So far as we can leam there are only two imported yearlings to be sold at the Keeneland summer sales, one of each sex. The colt is the much-admired bronze son of Royal Charger, from Bray Melody. This youngster was purchased in England by Mr. and Mrs. Howard Reineman- as a weanling and is eliciting the plaudits of all who inspect his handsome physique at Crown Crest Farm. He is a full brother to the leading three-year-old filly in England in 1953, Happy Laughter, who won nine races including the 1,000 Guineas, Acorn and Coronation Stakes. The lone im- ported yearling -filly is a daughter of Tehran— Caprifolia who is consigned by tbp Bwamazon Farm of Millard Waldheim. She is a sister to the winner Caftan and half-sister to the stakes winners Capsize, Isle of Capri and The Solicitor. It is thought that these youngsters might be the medium of some stirring bidding duels. * A A * Any consideration of modern stallion records must include the success story ♦ of Heliopolis, which is somewhat akin to that of a self-made man in that during his early appearance, here he was not immediately accepted and he took what mares he could get. It is not the intention to dwell on the eventual rise to prominence of the_son of Hyperion as confirmed by the exploits of such of his " sons and daughters as Greek Ship, Ace Admiral, Grecian Queen, Olympia, Greek ■« Song and more than a score of other stakes winners. Annually two-year-olds by Heliopolis have been prominent in the winners lists and the performances this season of such as Summer Tan and other juveniles would indicate that, there is to be no letup. AAA It was late in 1951 that Henry H. Knight secured Heliopolis from Dale ShaffeS and it is to the credit of those who went along with Knights syndication of hi»fl that his age did not deter them. Now he is 18 and his first crop conceived undej Knights syndication are now two-year-olds. In his Almahurst Farm consignment the Saratoga sales. Knight will have four yearlings by Heliopolis. A filly fronP Clickety Clack is a full sister to Frankly. Another filly is from Miss Kimo, who won more than 10 stakes and handicaps. A gray colt is from Topsy, a daughter of Jacopo — Forever Yours. The fourth yearling is a colt from Stage Sister, a sistei* to Stagehand. ja
