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■,,,,,. mi ,m Ikrav ™ H" ■ H" I In The Blue Grass I By Hugh J. McGuirt Foal Registrations Soar to All-Time High Pleas for Voluntary Control Have Failed Chicago, California Propose Splendid Idea LEXINGTON. Ky.. May 15. — The count of foal registrations with The Jockey Club soared to an all-time high of 9.791 in 1956 as shown in the new 1957 ■,,,,,. mi ,m American American Racing Racing Manual Manual page page American American Racing Racing Manual Manual page page 926 » . In a nation with a free economy, it is difficult to find measures to curtail this mounting production and the rather feeble efforts that have been suggested ran smack into what is considered private enterprise. Every mare retired from racing is useful for just one thing — to be bred — and that is what happens to them. There is no authority to make curtailments curtailments and and pleas pleas for for volun- , ™ H" ■ H" I curtailments curtailments and and pleas pleas for for volun- voluntary control, even through castration of colts, have had little if any effect. Even if the existing procedure foists a great number of nondescript animals into the picture, breeders have the right to produce them and there are just enough cases of useful performers from obscure parents to fan the flame of expectancy. We doubt that The Jockey Club has either the power or the inclination to set up a screening board sin.ilar to that of the Selection Board of the Breeders Sales Company which determines on pedigree which yearlings are eligible for the summer sales. Even if there was a powerful national breeders organization sponsoring the elimination of "manes and tails," it would be helpless to stop breeders who wished to circumvent its aims. In this regard, it was encouraging to note in a recent column by Charles Hatton that "Chicago and California clubs are proposing races for winners." Like Hatton, we lauded Horace Wade for his efforts in this direction at tracks where Wade compiled the condition books. Races for non-winners tend to put a premium on mediocrity, in addition to excluding horses capable of winning. If a horse is to beat only non-winners, into what category are placed those who finish back of him? Only elimination of winners enables such beaten horses to win races. Fewer Races for Non-Winners May Help From a strictly financial viewpoint, one wonders if owners would not secure higher returns from purses won if winners were given more opportunity to race than from the carrying non-winners until elimination gives some of them a chance to win a cheap race. This might be a problem for owners to solve with the aid of racing secretaries. The records indicate that breeders are unlikely to do anything to curtail production. Races for winners would be patronized on ability rather than pedigree. The plea for better purses for better horses has received some recognition. The request for more opportunities for winners is worth consideration. Blades of Blue Grass: Our personal nomination for the hero of the Kentucky Derby goes to owner Ralph Lowe of the beaten Gallant Man. . . . Breeders Sales Company will publish a list of its summer sales yearlings of 1956 along with the names of the then yearlings and the purchasers. Included will be a review of the companys activities in 1956. . . . The recent death of Mrs. Lily Simms in Houston recalled the extensive racing and breeding operation of her late husband. E. F. Simms. who maintained Xalapa Farm. The farms stallion. Xalapa Clown, has stood at Thomas Piatts Brookdale Farm since his retirement. . . . Greentree has an interesting foal in a son of Tom Fool — Piquet. The newcomer is a three-quarter brother to Capot. . . . Planning Preakness trips are Howard Reineman of Crown Crest Farm and Bill Evans and J. B. Faukoner of the Breeders Sales Company. Infantry Proves a Yearling Bargain Add to yearling bargains Sunnyside Stables Infantry, who won the 5,000 added Childrens Hospital Handicap at Bay Meadows on Saturday. The colt is by Phalanx, from the Argentine stakes winner Miss Alesia. and was sold in the fall sales of 1954 by the Elmendorf Farm fo Max Gluck for ,200. Sunnyside Stable is owned by William Welch and Paul Grafe of St. Louis. Miss Alesia is in foal for next year to Turn-to. She has a yearling filly by Cortil at the farm and a two-year-old filly by Blue Swords with the Elmendorf racing stable. Elmendorf owns a half interest with C. V. Whitney in Phalanx and farm manager Bob Green is elated also that Oil Rich, by Phalanx, finished second to Poly-Hi in the recent Rosedale Stakes at Jamaica . . . Joe W. Browns imported Hyperion mare Hastra, dam of the Dixie Handicap winner Akbar Khan, is at Mrs. Jack Howards Rookwood Farm where she has a yearling colt by Brown King, a colt foal by Brownie, and she has been bred to King Ranchs Beau Max. Browns imported mare Merida has a new filly foal .by Gallant Mans sire Migoli.
