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„,. . ...... ..,,..... wws-m miuiw Between Races By Oscar Otis Stallion Station Proves Self Success Vast Concentration of Mares Necessity Visit to Forest Retreat of Interest LEXINGTON, Ky., May 10.— A return visit to Lexington before flying out to California provided a chance for a more leisurely tour of Blue Grass farms, and one of of our our first first ports ports of of call call was was Lou Lou „,. . ...... ..,,..... of of our our first first ports ports of of call call was was Lou Lou Dohertys Stallion Station. It came as no surprise to learn that after two years of operation the station and the idea behind it was quite successful, and Dohertys principles have been proved quite sound. We asked the man to comment upon reports from both California and New Jersey that in the West a sort of a Stallion Station had been set up near Chino, Chino, and and that that one one was was under under Chino, Chino, and and that that one one was was under under wws-m miuiw consideration in the Skeeter State. Doherty said. "An adaptation might prove out all right, but as the station is set up here, its success is predicated upon a number of strong stallions and a volume business. Last year we had 437 matings. This year it will run more, and it eventually will level off somewhere between 600 and 700 a year. It takes a considerable volume to make it possible to employ a full, top qualified staff, one of the basic necessities for an operation of this sort. "Only in the Blue Grass area is there a sufficient concentration of mares to make a suitable volume possible. This concentration of mares and stallions la one of the major reasons for the predominance of Kentucky in the production of quality bloodstock." Doherty is acknowledging a self-imposed responsibility to racings public relations by keeping open house throughout the year, and the number of visitors has grown steadily. The Stallion Station has become a popular show place because folks can get something of a grasp of the whole bloodstock industry in a short space of time, not being overwhelmed by a sense of vastness. The man also has no hesitancy in recommending stallions on other farms as perhaps more thoughtful nicks in case the more would seek to warrant on bloodlines. , Dohertys ability to take a detached, long-range view has long been one of his most striking characteristics. Of course, if his recommendations to other stallions turns out well, he correctly figures that next year the man may have a mare which would be quite desirable for one of his own sires. Visit Determined Foaling Place It also was our privilege to make our first tour of Forest Retreat Farm of Dr. Eslie Asbury, a farm of particular interest in the West, because from these acres came Determine, winner of last years Kentucky Derby. Dr. Asbury has, in fact, two different plots, the 500 acres at Forest Retreat, another 400 acres over in Bourbon County, and he rotates his stock between the two. He figures about 15 acres per horse. The home place is more hilly than the farms which are most visited in Fayette County, and Asbury frankly admits the ups and downs has both advantages and disadvantages. The hills provide exceptionally good drainage, but at the same time makes for virtually parasite-free pastures. His soil "build-up" program is one of the most advanced we have ever seen. It is at once scientifically as progressive as tomorrow, yet as basic as the history of conservation itself. Dr. Asbury is in the fortunate position of being able to experiment on a modest scale with some of his theories. For instance, with many of his older and best mares he allows them to remain barren for a season, believing this at times is a sounder policy than burdening the mare with one foal after another. While this is a debatable point, some arguments can be mustered in its favor. A market breeder, the man keeps some of his prospective broodmare fillies to prove up in racing himself. The best recent example is the Ashland winner, Insouciant, who, by tin way, may be seen at Santa Anita next winter. He will not stand a sire at Forest Retreat feeling that if he did he might be tempted .to breed one of his own mares who really did not suit, nut he does own a few shares in syndicated studs, his most valuable one being a bit of Nasrullah. Cohen Pleased With Crafty Admiral Charles Cohen of Miami Beach has spent considerable time in Lexington this spring tabbing the first offspring of his sire, Crafty Admiral, who stands at the farm of Joe Metz. When racing Crafty Admiral, Cohen had no idea of becoming a breeder, but he embraced the idea wholeheartedly when Crafty Admirals racing days were over and purchased some mares for his own account to send to Crafty Admirals court. Four he obtained in Europe, including a Court Martial mare with a Hyperion foal; a Nearco mare, another by Fairway, and the fourth an Irisher named Gold Cup III., who was second high weight of her sex her two-year-old year on the Irish Experimental. "I went into racing for something to do when I retired from the hotel and building business in Miami Beach." observes Cohen, "and I was lucky enough to get Crafty Admiral as my first winner. Anyway. I became sold on the sport, and Im getting just as much pleasure out of seeing the Crafty Admirals arrive as I ever did racing him. Joe Metz assembled a wonderful book for the horse his first year, a book which included 22 mares who were either stake winners or the dams of stake winners, and I am satisfied that Crafty Admiral has had every chance for success with his first crop." As we have observed before, some people take to the breeding industry quite naturally, while others have not the patience to wait. An exhuberant a man as Cohen is, he has managed to reconcile his enthusiasm with waiting and is a good example of the citizen who is an asset to the ranks of producers.
