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In The Blue Grass I 1 By Hugh J McGuire CTBA Compares Yearlings Sales Results California Body Rates Certain Accolades Breeders Face Visitor Problem Derby Time TimeLEXINGTON LEXINGTON Ky May 2 The California Thor ¬ oughbred Breeders Association is making quite a point through advertisements of comparisions between the results of selected yearlings and those of the Keeneland and Sara ¬ toga sales which are thinly dis ¬ guised as sales No 1 and 2 The California group does not suffer by comparison In fact it leads both the other sales centers in most of the categories that are publicized and California breeders are to be congratulated It is our belief however that the CTBA rates the accolades not so much for its accomplishments in breed ¬ ing which admittedly are considerable but for its realization of the flexibility of statistics The CTBA has proved that it has grown up by its adoption of an art that has been practiced here in the Blue Grass by experts for many years yearsThe The CTBA advertisement shows masterfully that an average yearling bought at Del Mar for less than else ¬ where tops the others in averages of wins or placed at two including stakes average earner per horse per ¬ centage of purchase price earned back and percentage of sales yearlings started at two It finishes between Saratoga and Keeneland in average earnings per win ¬ ner It is all very cosy correct and in the best tradi ¬ tions which naturally prompt a salesman to put his best foot forward Neither is the CTBA to be admon ¬ ished for failure to mention the elementary fact that despite all efforts to reverse the results there are still more mediocre horses bred than good ones Conse ¬ quently favorable percentages must drop in ratio to the number of horses under consideration The CTBA is comparing its 76 yearings with 272 from Saratoga and 344 from Keeneland KeenelandHospitality Hospitality Can Bring Headache HeadacheAt At Derby time even more than at other periods of the year Kentucky breeders are extending invitations to visitors to look over their farms and if the visitor happens to be interested in yearlings the breeder can be induced to display them also Most Blue Grass farms are open to visitors but this hospitality often results in headaches for the farm owners Tourist flock in with cameras and even with picinc baskets They frighten horses to watch them run litter the paddocks with trash and steal for souvenirs anything that can be pried loose including signs that tell them how to behave Some breeders have grown tired of this vandalism and have posted no visitors signs The breeders are well aware that the destruction is not caused by visiting horsemen and such horsemen wish ¬ ing to inspect the farm that does not cater to visitors need only to phone and make an appointment and they will be welcomed welcomedA A project long considered by Mrs Gene Markey of Calumet is about to be fulfilled This is the establish ¬ ment of a cemetery on the farm for the deceased mem ¬ bers of the thoroughbred family that has brought such fame to Calumet A plot is being selected on one of the farms travelled roads to give visitors an opportunity to view the graves which will be arranged and marked in a pattern to honor the sons and daughters of Bull Lea and other greats Special arrangements will be made to show Calumets affiliation with the Kentucky Derby and Citation Bewitch and Armed will be hon ¬ ored fittingly for their leadership in their respective divisions Not to be forgotten is Whirlaway who al ¬ though exported to France has always remained a fa ¬ vorite of Mrs Markey for his role as the farms first Derby winner Admiral Markey concurs wholeheartedly in the plan to add to the sentiment that has long been associated with a great breeding and racing establish ¬ ment and the sport generally Calumets general man ¬ ager Paul Ebelhardt tells us that the burial places of the Calumet greats who have already died have been carefully marked and the bodies will be transferred to tothe the new locations Departed Blue Slwords Made His Mark MarkBlades Blades of Blue Grass Another example of success after death is seen in that the Blue Swords are winning everywhere His son Blue Man has his first foals now and his 1956 book is full The first three mares bred to him at Idle Hour Farm have been pronounced in foal Idle Hour foal score is even with 10 each for the colts and fillies The two imported fillies that John A Bell bought from the Aga Khan as yearlings in 1952 have foals at Jonabell Khanom has a filly by Level Lea and Kampala a colt by Royal Vale Both go to Battlefield who was bred by Bell BellThe The crew of identifiers now on loan here by The Jockey Club will be available to the Breeders Sales Company at sales time Bob Courtney reports the death of his mare New Queen who died foaling a filly by Big Dipper The foal is doing fine Expected to be eagerly sought at the summer sales is the first foal from the good stakes winner How The yearling is a filly by Roman and is consigned by the estate of Her ¬ man B Delman Crown Crest Farm has been heavy with its nominations to early closing stakes in Cali ¬ fornia King Ranch has close Triple Crown affili atons Bold Venture Assault and Middleground won the Kentucky Derby Bold Venture and Assault the Preakness and Assault and Middleeround the Bel
