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SPENDTHRIFT FARM SCENE — Mares and foals grazing at picturesque Spendthrift Farm, 1,700-acre Lexington, Ky., nursery owned by Leslie Combs II. and where Nashua will stand at stud when his racing days are over. Two Major Errors in Handling Of Broodmares Told by Combs Breeding Only to Farms t ► Stallions, Not Replacing Old Matrons in Good Time By HUGH J. McGUIRE LEXINGTON," Ky., May 5.— There is interesting action on several fronts at the Spendthrift Farm of Leslie Combs II with Nashua the cynosure of all eyes in racing, the activities of Combs as chairman of the Kentucky Racing Commission and the crop of yearlings which forms such a prominent part in the operation of any breeding farm. Despite this choice of vital subjects, Combs repeatedly turned the conversation back to the progress that is being made in bringing together at Spendthrift one of the most attractive bands of young broodmares assembled at one nursery. Combs admitted that he felt that this was one of the most important phases of the farms operation and was the result of long planning. Studying breeding procedure everywhere, Combs concluded that there were two major practices in handling broodmares that could result detrimentally to a farm. One of these errors was to breed the mares exclusively to the farms own stallions even though the stallions were of top quality. The result of this practice was an overabundance of home blood. The second weakness was failure to realize early that mares, however, good, come to the end of their careers and must be replaced. When the, good mares of a farm all come to the end of successful production within a short space of time, the farm is left"without a foundation and replacements; are called upon to immediately step into the shoes of established producers. It may be some time before the replacements earn recognition. Myrtle Charm Proves Lesson To combat the possibility of facing either of these situations, Combs is constantly integrating into his broodmare band, young mares with background, until now he has 30 mares with an average age of six years and with only two as old as nine. There is about an equal number of older mares that these youngsters will be prepared to replace. Combs has never sold a filly from Myrtlewood or Miss Dogwod and now numbers 14 of this family among his broodmares. "I did sell Myrtle Charm who is from Crepe Myrtle and this proved a lesson to me," said Combs. "Myrtle Charm is the damof Myrtles Jet. The young Spendthrift mares, listed alphabetically are: Amiga, by Mahmoud — Miss Dogwood; Amour Amour, by Jetj Pilot — Perfect Love; Astro, by Count Fleet — Far Star; Beau Jet, by Jet Pilot — Beau-! way; Bella Figura, by Count Fleet — Miss Dogwood; Convolution, by Case Ace — Ladyj Hamilton; Dame Galante, by Brantome— Paix des Dames; Dear Diane, by Alsab — Say Blue; Domsey, by Roman — Porters "Tea; Dragona, by Bull Lea — Mrytlewood; ■ Ellenwood, by Shannon II. — Miss Dog-1 wood; Faneuil Miss, by Teddys Comet-Crawfish; Grecian Queen, by Heliopolis — Qbania; Harina, by Turkhan — Queen of Simla; Honey Please, by Jet Pilot— Perfect Love; Linden Lane, by Roman — Step-" ► ■ — — wisely; Lotopep, by Menow— Lotdpoise; Lotus Blossom, by The Rhymer— Roman Matron; Lunaria, by Hyperion— Garden Path. Manzana, is by Count Fleet — Durazna; Mirandy Rose, by Princequillo — The Squaw H.; Palta, by Mr. Busher — Amiga; Save Time, by War Admiral — Easy Living; Sequence, by Count Fleet — Miss Dogwood; Sky Blue, by Gig Game— Blue Angel; Strenia, by Admiral Drake — Streamlace; Tonga, by Polynesian — Tirl; Tulle," by War Admiral — Judy-Rae; Turronikar by Windsor Slipper — Hyperionetta, and War Shaft by War Admiral — Carillon. Pointing out the diversification which Combs seeks is that five of the mares are imported and these five are all by different sires. The remaining 25 mares are by no less than 17 top stallions which precludes the possibility of an over-abundance of any particular bloodline. Matings of these mares are decided not only on pedigree but also on particular physical qualities of sire and danu Until recently the breeding stock of the Maine Chance Farm was quartered at Spendthrift - but the removal of these horses to their own new quarters leaves Spendthrift with more acreage. Combs has not filled these pastures with new boarders but has set them aside and reseeded them so that the farms stock can "Be rotated to new grass. Some alfalfa is included with the blue grass and Combs finds that the young liorses thrive on this fresh grass while the older animals also reflect its use in appearance and general health. Actually just now at Spendthrift there are six barns and a like number of adjacent fields without an equine occupant as the new grass is permitted to mature. Earlier in this article we indicated that Combs was so enthusiastic over his broodmare band that it was difficult to get him to talk of anything else. De did learn however, t!iat regardless of reaching Citations money-winning record, Nashua would-be raced through this season and would enter stud next year. It is planned to send 25 mares-to Nashua in his first book and as -there are 30 shares in the horse, it will be necessary to determine by lot, the distribu- , tion of these seasons. Regarding his chairmanship of, the Kentucky Racing Commission, Combs plans to lend his efforts toward national unification of rules. He looks upon his yearling crop as unusually good -and sound with-representation from several top, popular stallions.
