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SIRE FACTS FROM FIGURES Native Sires Led in Thirty-eight of Sixty-one Years. Reasons for Use of Imported Stallions What Statistics Show in Long Period. . BY SALVATOR. One of the most Interesting of the many statistical features of the American Racing Manual for 1021 is that entitled "Americas Lending Sires," which appears upon pages 384-337, It comprising a list of the leaders from 18G0 to 1020, inclusive, with appropriate analytical and descriptive data. Without trenching upon or repeating any of this comment or analysis, an Interesting phase of this list of winning sires may be presented. This is a consderation of the light it throws upon the- problem: Which are superior, imported or native-bred sires? Covering, as it does, the period of 1SG0-192O, inclusive, the table accounts for a stretch of sixty-one yehrs, during which the thoroughbred turf of America has experienced its greatest growth and development and its principal results have been attained. IT wo are to "read the future in the past" we should be heedful of what these statistics I have to tell us. It would perhaps clarify the subject if the table itself were to be here reprinted, but as it can be readily referred to in the Manual this is not perhaps necessary and it may be used merely as the point of departure. Analyzing it, therefore, we find that leadership has rested in thirty-eight of the sixty-one years tabulated with Americnn-bred sires; and in twenty-three with Imported ones. The American stallions which figure on the roster are. named in order of their appearance: Revenue, 18G0; Lexington, 1801 to 1S74. inclusive, 1S70 and 1S7S; Virgil, 1885; Longfellow. 1801; Iroquois, 1S02; Himyar, 1S03; nanover, 1605 to 180S, inclusive; Kingston. 1000 and 1010; Sir Dixon, 1001; Hastings, 1002 nnd 1009; Hamburg, 1003; Commando, 1007; Ben Brush, 1000; Broomstick, 1013 to 1015, inclusive; Sweep, 1018; Pair Play, 1020. This makes sixteen different American -bred leaders. The imported stallions which appear, similarly classified, are: Leamington, 1873. 1877, 1870 and 1881: Bonnie Scotland, 1880 and 18S2; Billet, 1883; Glenelg. 1SS4, 1SS0, 1887 and 18S8; Rayon dOr, 1S80; St. Blaise. 1800; Sir Modred. 1804; Albert. 1800; Ben Stroine, 1003; Meddler, 1004 and 1001; Star Shoot, 1011. 1012, 1010, 1017 and 1010. This makes eleven different imported leaders. AMERICAN SIRES HAVE BEST TOTALS. It will be seen, therefore, that the American-bred siircs have the best of it. They lead on four counts. Pirwt, they have led in thirty-eight years, against twenty-three for their rivals; second, sixteen different ones have led, as against but eleven of their rivals; third. one American-bred sire has led for sixteen different seasons Lexington, while no imported one has led for more than five Star Shoot; fourth, in the amount of money won in a single season the American-bred sire Commando leads, with a credit 1007 of 70,345. the largest credit for any imported leader being 22,335, for Meddler, in 1904. These are the principal points to be considered. There is one minor one in which an imported sire scores. In 101G Star Shoots offspring to the number of eighty-seven were winners of 216 different races, which showing excels in numbers that made by any American-bred sire, the nearest approach being the fifty-four winners anil 150 races wou by i the offspring of Hanover in 1S07. These "facts and figures" are singularly interesting and informing because of the perennial discussion of the relative superiority of the two varieties of progenitors. They ought, it might be thought, to appear conclusive. But as a matter of fact they arc not. While the balances are not on their side of the ledger, the advocates cf the inv ported sires bring up a great many contentions in their behalf as explaining their apparent inferiority. The principal one of these offsetting arguments is. of course, the fact that in point of numbers the imported aires have always been surpassed by the- native-bred ones and this, of course, is a cogent one. However, it must also be said that the opportunity of the average imported stallion, at the stud, is much better than tbut of the average American-bred one. There is a prestige, and always has been, connected with the mere fact that a horse is imported, which gives 1dm a place apart in breeding estimation. The difference in this respect between the two classes of horses may be best illustrated by quoting the well-known fact that it is almost impossible for a native stallion, no matter how" well bred, to obtain any patronage of account, unless of celebrity as a performer or of particularly grand individuality. Whereas, as is but too familiar, the number of imported horses without either racing fame or fine individuality to recommend them that have been granted much prominence in American studs is large. Imported weeds flourished here at a great rate in former years. Latterly our breeders have learned their lesson and nowadays an Importation must have pomethlng besides his exotic origin to recommend him or ho will not get far. REASONS FOR STAR SHOOTS SUCCESS. Opportunity means much how much it were difficult correctly to estimate in the career of a stallion. Take, for Instance, the case of Star Shoot, the only imported sire that hns won a place on the list of leaders for the last fourteen years. He would in all probability never have enjoyed such a career had he not been the property of one of the shrewdest and largest breeders in this country. Pew stnllions have ever been more assiduously or astutely "promoted." Undoubtedly Star Shoot was an exceptional sire but undoubtedly his exceptional opportunities and management gave him a big pull in the weights in the breeding handicap in addition to the fact that from the beginning he was of high repute as one of the most bcnutifully bred horses ever imported and an imposing individual as well. It is somewhat astonishing to find, in view of thft claim often mnde, that imported stallions "breed on" better than native-bred ones; that Leamington In the only imported leading sire that ever in turn sired a leader he has two to his credit, Longfellow and Iroquois. On the other hand, three different American-bred stnllionK have not only led the sires themselves, but sired lenders also, these being Hanover nnd Ills son Hnmburg; Hastings and his son Pair Play, and Ben Brush and his two sonw Broomstick and Sweep. The only imported "leading line" that has really "gone on" is that of Bonnie Scotland, and there was a "skip" in it, as Bramble, the son of that horse, that sired Ben Brush, never himself led the sires.
