The Breeding Bureau of the Jockey Club

It Has Done Splendid Work for the Government

HENRY A. BUCK

VANITY FAIR was among the first publications to realize the possibilities of the Breeding Bureau of The Jockey Club as aid to the United States Government, and published several articles upon the subject. That this opinion was justified and that the Breeding Bureau's services in this field during the past year have been appreciated, a highly complimentary letter received from Maj. R. E. Strawbridge of the War Department, was convincing evidence.

This communication is the first official recognition by the Government of the services rendered to it by the Bureau. It was written after a formal request from Hon. Geo. M. Rommel of the Department of Agriculture, that the Breeding Bureau furnish the Government with four thoroughbred stallions to be placed at its Remount Stations already established, or then being established, had been immediately and gladly complied with.

MR. F. K. STURGIS, Chairman of the Breeding Bureau, in replying to this request, said:

"It gives the Breeding Bureau of The Jockey Club the most unqualified pleasure to meet the views of the Bureau of Animal Industry,

Department of Agriculture, in this matter.

"The stallions as stated in the list enclosed will be at once subject to examination by any official nominated by the Department, and if for any reason the stallions named be not satisfactory, other animals will be designated.

"It is with the greatest appreciation that the Stewards of The Jockey Club take note of this action of the Bureau of Animal Industry, and the Stewards recognize the great help it will be to them in widening the scope and range of their present Breeding Bureau, which is doing good work with far-reaching results, but needs broader lines and supporting endorsement.

"In this connection the Stewards take the liberty to call the attention of the Department of Animal Industry to the price at present paid by the Government for animals three years old or over. It is almost impossible to get the farmers to breed their mares, particularly in the Eastern States, unless they can dispose of the progeny for more than $165. The present cost of fodder, oats and labor, are practically prohibitive, and the Breeding Bureau finds its activities sadly hampered by the existing restriction. The price of $225 for a.suitable three-year-old animal would be a wonderful stimulus to breeding along useful lines.

"I beg, on behalf of my fellow Stewards, to place at the entire disposal of your Department all records, data and information possessed bv the Breeding Bureau of The Jockey Club."

THOUGH only four stallions were requested by the Government, the Breeding Bureau at once asked the Army Inspectors to inspect six stallions: Textile, 1908, by Inflexible— Gold Lace; Roly, 1912, by Golden Maxim— Lota wanna; Saratoga, 1912, by Ogden—Unsightly; Fauntleroy, 1907, by Little Saint— Flickamaroo; Monty Fox, 1908, by Cesarion— Metrical; Mac, 1911, by McGee—Little Whit.

The first three had more than creditable turf records, considered an essential qualification as indicative of a sound constitution. Of this lot of six, four were approved by the Inspectors and accepted by the Government. During the year 1918 the following additional stallions were donated to the Government through the Breeding Bureau: Adams Express, 1908, by Adam—Frederica; Light Arms, 1909, by Labrador—Light Shot; O'Sullivan, 1910, by Oddfellow—Rosinante; Achievement, 1913, by Hastings—Achieve; Ed Roche, 1914, by The Commoner—Niaxus; Meditation, 1913, by Peep o'Day—Coy Maid; Duke of Ormonde, 1907, by Orsini—Santa Bella; Square Set, 1914, by Duke of Ormonde— Dora I; Marse Henry, 1913, by Ben Brush— Nun's Cloth.

OTHERS were donated by members of The Jockey Club or by gentlemen interested in racing and by Racing Associations, making thirty-nine stallions acquired by the Government: Danger Rock, 1912, by Rock Sand— Delusion; Ferole, 1909, by Orme—Ferment; Cock o'The Walk, 1910, by Peep o'Day— Ellangowan; Doctor Boots, 1906, by The Commoner—Touch Not; Gunrock, 1914, by Rock Sand—Gunfire; Desmond's Day, 1913, by Desmond—Palmy Days; Kleburne, 1910, by Orlando — Anna Bain; Ed Luce, 1911, by Guiding Star—Belle Strome; Serf Savin, 1912, by St. Savin—Sainvoke; Robert Kay, 1911, by Peep o'Day—Silk Maid; Perkeo, 1905, by Previous— Reina; Shanballymore, 1915, by Charles O'Malley— Galatee; Swing Loose, 1916, by Broom, stick—Courage; Meteorite, 1914, by Star Shoot—Hamburg Belle; Captain John, 1906, by Yellow Tail—Playful; Ashton, 1910, by Electioneer—Francolin; Defense, 1914, by Star Shoot—Dike; Captain Ray, 1914, by Sea King—Katriona; Star Ben, 1913, by Ben Brush—Waldena; Valais, 1913, by Ethelbert —Lady of the Valley; Trial by Jury, 1912, bv Fair Play—Princess Chic; Greek Legend, 1914, by Polymelus — Evadne; Yankee, 1899, by Hanover—Correction; Mohawk 2nd, 1903, by Rockton—La Tosca—St. Blaise; Beach Comber, 1911, by Rock Sand—Fairy Slipper, St. Serf; Lucky Day, 1915, by Peep o'Day — Lucky Wave, Cunard; Sir Huon, 1903, by Falsetto—Iquite, Woodlands.

As will be recognized by any student of thoroughbred blood, many of the above are extremely well bred.

Still other stallions Jhave been donated and are awaiting inspection by Government officials. Among the donors are Major August Belmont, Clarence H. Mackay, Frederick Johnson, John Sanford, George W. Loft, Harry Payne Whitney, F. R. Hitchcock, Major Thomas Hitchcock, F. Ambrose Clark, T. C. McDowell, and, last but not least, the Maryland Jockey Club, which donated five stallions costing $1,000 each after giving the Pimlico Remount Breeding Purse of $2,500 in which their speed and stamina could be tested. The stallions are now in process of distribution from the Front Royal, Va., Remount Station to Fort Reno, Oklahoma; Fort Kehoe, Montana, and other stations now being established by the Government.

IT is generally conceded by experts that the best type of stallion thus far presented for Remount Service is Adams Express by Imp. Adam—Frederica. Full 16 hands in height, in constitution, conformation and action this horse is a perfect specimen of the Remount type and has the added advantage of fine legs and feet as well as a creditable turf record, having won eleven good races, varying in distance from 5 furlongs to 1 mile and an eighth. His most recent appearance in public was at the National Horse Show held at Madison Square Garden, New York, last November, when he won the Thoroughbred Stallion Class. The third prize in this same event was won by Oyama, the property of the State of New York, having been donated to the State Constabulary by the Breeding Bureau. That two former Breeding Bureau stallions should win both the first and third prizes in this event at the greatest horse show of the country is remarkable, but still more remarkable is the fact that one of these stallions was at that time the property of the United States Government, the other the property of New York State.

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The thirty-nine stallions now collected will be bred to mares selected as to type and constitution, and in order to increase the production of horses carrying a percentage of thoroughbred blood,—which implies stamina, speed, intelligence and action,—artificial impregnation will be resorted to. Through this system four hundred mares can be impregnated by a single stallion in one breeding season.

COME of the Breeding Bureau stal^ lions have been sent without charge to owners of large horse breeding farms in the Far West, where they can be bred to the better types of the ordinary mares, and thereby improve the standard of the general purpose horse of that section of the country. It is understood that the United States Government will, as soon as they have a sufficient number of stallions to supply their Remount Stations, pursue the same liberal policy. In addition several thousand selected maret will be sent from Front Royal, Va., to the various Remount Stations and by them to farmers who may become interested in the laudable purpose of improving the general standard of the Western horse up to Government qualifications.

The Breeding Bureau has not only presented to the New York State Constabulary five stallions, but also a number of mares. It is hoped that the New York State Constabulary may attain the high standard set by the Mounted Police of Canada and the Pennsylvania State Constabulary. The latter, under the able command of Col. John C. Groome, stands extremely high both in the character of its members and of its mounts.

A PHASE of the Breeding Bureau work in New York State which has not as yet received due recognition are the operations in the Genesee Valley under the capable co-operation of Mrs. Herbert Wadsworth, President of the Genesee Valley Breeding Bureau. Some of the products of this work were seen at the Avon Fair last September, which was attended by the highest officials of the National Remount Department, who came away enthusiastic over the results shown. The various classes were judged by Captain G. A. Roy, the Army Remount authority of the French High Commission, and Mr. F. Ambrose Clark, to whose patriotic service and excellent judgment the high standard and large number of stallions presented to the Government was largely due.

Through the Bureau's thoroughbred stallions and mares sent to Mrs. Wadsworth at "Ashantee," near Avon, the enthusiastic interest of the Genesee Valley farmers has been aroused, and most encouraging results have already been attained in the improvement of the hunter and general purpose horse of that section of the country.

The Breeding Bureau of The Jockey Club, which has now been in existence thirteen years, finds itself at the close of the year 1918 with twenty-seven stallions in New York State, nine in Maryland, six in Pennsylvania, one in Ohio, and one two-year-old, by Clygod—Helium, the property of the Bureau, being maintained in Kentucky. This statement shows that the Bureau has not taken a purely local or narrow view of its work and opportunities, especially when its service to the United States Government, already described, are brought into consideration. That the Bureau has contributed much toward improving the standard of the Army Remount and general purpose horse of the East there can be no doubt when it is stated that a total of 7,457 mares have been bred to its stallions since its creation in 1905.