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a— SIRES AND DAMS by nelson dunstan LEXINGTON, Ky., June 19.— All this week, this writer has been in the Blue Grass of Kentucky inspecting as many as possible of the yearlings who will go into the sales ring for what the traffic will bear on July 26 to 28, inclusive. Some 363 , head will be offered under the auspices of the Breeders Breeders Sales Sales Co. Co. and and as as in" inrprenf: recent a— Breeders Breeders Sales Sales Co. Co. and and as as in" inrprenf: recent years these colts and fillies have been screened as to pedigree and conformation by qualified men assigned to this task. This system has proved itself a valuable one and an examination of the records would reveal that since the inception of the company no less than 60 Keeneland sold horses have won 00,000 or more. They are not all high-priced horses. Oh Leo sold for ,600 and went on to prove a rare bargain when he won 42,722. Even less than that price, Phil D. sold for ,500 and won 72,715. Dark Star, winner of the 1953 Kentucky Derby, was taken from the ring for ,500. And it is something of a real feather in the cap of this sales organization that Determine, Hasty Road and High Gun were all taken from the Keeneland sales ring. There is no doubt in this writers mind thatmany more stake winners will be sold at Keeneland late in July, for we have seen more promising yearlings during the past week than has been the case for many years. AAA As the sales come closer the breeders are naturally speculating as to the strength of the market compared with that of former years. There has been a steady rise in averages for the past three years, but it is only natural that the men who produce horses are pondering whether there can be another upward swing this year. Despite all talk of "recession" which has not manifested itself he Many Impressive Yearlings in Blue Grass ~Will Market Top That of Year Ago? Fillies Should Be in Demand Again Crafty Admiral Is Promising as Sire in the racing industry, we are of the opinion that this years sales will show an increase ih averages, although it would be mere guesswork on our part to predict the increase. Purse distribution has never been higher than it has been this year and there seems every indication that the same schedule will prevail in 1955. There have never been so many opportunities for a yearling to earn many times the purchase price, regardless what that price might be. A year ago Hasty Road, who cost 3,100, ended the season with earnings of 77,132, the largest sum ever won by a two-year-old in one season anywhere in the world. This year he has considerably enhanced that f igure and is now one of the greatest yearling bargains of all time. While this is naturally the tense season for breeders, we have never known so many who openly predict the market will be a very strong one. Many new buyers are expected to be at the Keeneland sales ring. AAA We doubt if in all the history of sales there has been such a wide variety of colts and fillies by various stallions. There is always talk as to which colt and filly will create the most bidding and bring the highest prices. No man can make any such prediction with certainty for it takes only two bidders to send a youngster to a very high price. Last year, there was a filly who created considerable excitement when she finally entered the ring .and she was by Roman out of the fine mare Boat, in the consignment of Harry B. Scott, Jr. She was purchased by the Dun- treath Farm for 9,000 and topped the filly by Mahmoud out of Durazna and consigned by Leslie Combs, II., who was bought by Park Hill Farms for 0,000. This just shows how the buying public has Changed in recent years regarding fillies who were once a drug on the market. A filly could lead the list again this year, but we are fairly certain that the honors will go to a colt. We say that because during the past week we have seen some of the most impressive colts in both pedigree and conformation that we have looked at in the past 10 years. We will liave more to say about that in a later column. Many will go for high prices, but as in every year there will be others to meet the pocket book of those seeking cheaper yearlings. AAA One of the sidelights of inspecting yearlings here was the opportunity to see many of the stallions who have been tried and completely successful and also the younger ones who have yet to have their first crops go to the races. A good comparison is that of Count Fleet, who stands at the Stoner Creek Stud of Mr. and Mrs. John D. Hertz. Also Crafty Admiral, who is now standing at the Drymon-Metz Farm. After looking at the magnificent group of yearlings to be offered by Mr. and Mrs. Hertz, they brought out the "Triple Crown" winner Count Fleet, who has made his mark in the present decade and is now 14 years of age. Today he is as blood-like as he was when he went to stud and if anything a much handsomer horse than he was three years ago. His yearlings should be very well received by the buying public and in Mondays column we will review his youngsters along with the stallions from many other farms. Those who remember Crafty Admiral as a race horse will be very surprised if they could see him as he is today. He is letting down to Continued on Page Forty-Eight I SIRES AND DAMS By NELSON DUNSTAN Continued from Page Sixty the proportions of a stud and must weigh something like 150 pounds more than he did when retired. We always admired this horse for his gameness and with a full book this year, we are anxiously awaiting to see his colts and fillies when they appear on the race course. Any statement regarding the future of a horse carries little weight, for the only answer is that he must send out winners to survive in the severe competition he must meet here in Kentucky. But it is just our impression that he will make good.
