view raw text
California By Oscar Otis Lowe-Aga Khan Babes to Race in West Idea of Texas Production Farm Fades Naylor Gives Iron Reward Background HOLLYWOOD PARK, Inglewood, Calif., June 21. Ralph Lowe, the Midland, Texas, sportsman who. made turf history of a sort by purchasing the "cream" of the Aga Khans yearling crop, taking his pick, tells us that in all probability, the youngsters will be raced in California at two next year. This is exceptionally good news for West Coast race fans, who are currently enjoying more than somewhat, as the saying goes, the smartest summer racing in all California history. California racing has been replete with name horses, both those who established their reputations in the East plus those who are strictly coast developments. The Lowe yearling acquisitions, now at Crown Crest Farm in Kentucky will be maintained there until about October, when it is planned to ship them to California for preliminary training. Lowe confided that when he purchased the Agas yearlings, he was well aware that "first pick" did not insure that he would wind up with all the top ones, but he said that the risk was a good one. Lowe came upon the Aga deal quite by accident, having commissioned Fasig-Tpiton to buy him a horse which lie had heard was available. This turned out to be a false rumor, but Humphrey Finney countered with a suggestion that maybe a group of the Agas yearlings could be purchased privately. The Agas first offer was the pick of his crop for nine colts, but Lowe refused this, insisting upon some fillies, a clear hint that he eventually had in mind to breed on his own account on a major scale. The agreement finally reached saw Lowes representatives choose six colts and three fillies. "Out of that group, we "might get two or three top. horses," Lowe said, "and if We do, Ill figure the purchase was quite worth wlrile." Either the Blue Grass or Golden State Lowe also told us that he was undecided about quartering his eventually to be production stock on his 40-square mile ranch, located about half way between El Paso and Midland. Less than a year ago, he was quite sold on the idea that the Texas expanse would be entirely suitable for a thoroughbred farm because that particular area of Texas is comparatively high, at least with enough alfitude to escape the long summer heat which people usually, and quite correctly, ascribe to West Texas in general, plus the fact that the ranch encompassed some of the best natural grass land m the whole southwest. But the rainfall has been so far below normal for so long that now he isnt quite so sure. That being the case, the man has a choice between Kentucky and California, and while we are in no position to make a prediction, we would guess that his choice will narrow down to the two areas. . . This drought in West Texas and eastern New Mexico has had far reaching effects upon the thoroughbred production industry in those areas, which, while not as significant nationally as it might be, is making steady progress. There is a widespread feeling in New Mexico that cloud seeding in the Far West, even as far away as Oregon-Washington, is robbing New Mexico-West Texas of its rightful heritage of rainfall, and the issue may wind up in the United States Supreme Court. It is, we think, something of a commentary on the far reaching effects of life when cloud seeding in the Northwest more than 1,500 miles away could be the determining factor as to whether or not a thoroughbred farm should be developed in West Texas. Dam and Foal Almost Lost at Birth W. W. "Tiny" Naylor, who is selling everything in a complete dispersal of broodmares, yearlings, foals, and stallions at his Riverside Farm come Monday, clears up a bit of background on Iron Reward, dam of Swaps, when he says, "Talk about being lucky, but Iron Reward is alive on a 1,000-1 chance because as a foal she was not delivered normally and her dam, Iron Maiden, was torn badly. However, instant and prolonged veterinary care saved both foal and dam. Iron Reward was foaled at my old Orange Blossom Ranch near Chino, which I later sold to Rex Ellsworth. I never raced Iron Reward, selling this filly to Rex when the horse was only 14 months old along with two colts called Water Pere and Snack Bar. Iron Maiden, later sold to "Pie" Johnston, and who later sold her to Calumet Farm, where she foaled, among others, Trentonian, I obtained originally from Louis B. Mayer." Naylor, incidentally, has a strong collection of Bull Lea mares to go into the vendue, fiVe, to be exact. Perhaps his best Bull Lea matron is Bundle, a full sister to Armed. Four mares by Alibhai, exceptionally popular blood in California, as well as five by his good sire, Kings Abbey, also are catalogued. There is also a sprinkling of Menow, Blue Larkspur, Heliopolis, and Fair Trial. While Naylors unavoidable decision to sell at this time is most regrettable, inasmuch as the farm has emerged as one of the top ones in the state, at the same time, it is pleasant to report that the farm itself will be maintained on a commercial basis and available to the many people in California who are finding it good business to board rather than lay out major sums in capital investment for land and development. ! iv 3 r s ai re v j l ,j iifjkc- J r j x ,i 2Jt : n i ifif to ; c on J t J n i rtr m ; r
