SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART IV 281 



Johnstone, originator of the draft harse futurity, and can recognize 

 a stimulus therefrom that ante-dated the war by several seasons. The 

 foundation of draft horse production among cornbelt farmers lies in the 

 futurity, and much of draft developmxent and of evolving ideals finds 

 root in this excitant to cart horse interest. 



THE PERCHERONS. 



Approximately two hundred representatives of the most popular 

 breed of draft horses in France tested their mettle during the fore- 

 noons of the show with a result distinctly encouraging to American 

 breeders both big and little. Longer lines of animals have sought 

 the judge's favor in single classes at previous circuit openers, but 

 never has there been greater uniformity throughout the classes nor a 

 better balance from aged horses down to foals. American Percheron 

 breeders can feel well satisfied wath the first fruits of their enforced 

 separation from the Perche and can cite the full molded forms of 

 170 American-breds as certain refutation of the charge that the 

 American environment lacks some factor necessary for the fulfillment 

 of the hereditary promise. The cornbelt yielded horse after horse that 

 fittingly measured this accomplishment and that would have con- 

 tested the best of the imported animals of other years. 



THE STALLIONS. 



Lagos still reigns among the aged stallions. The Panama-Pacific 

 champion came forw^ard in superb fit, and while successive showings 

 have told their story when he is in action, yet his massive masculinity 

 ultimately gave him preference over the more active Lycee. Majorat, 

 a stablemate of the winner, came third, but he was of a distinctly 

 different stam.p from the two horses above him. The three-year-old 

 class was almost a sweep for the Keota stables, the only intruders in 

 the prize list being the beautifully turned locarno, product of the 

 champions Carnot and lolanthe, in third place, and Koda Besigue, a 

 Crownover horse of well-nigh perfect foreleg, but less finely chiselled 

 at head and neck, in fifth. The Keota rivals in first and second each 

 had admirers, the massive spread of top of Nandou being offset by the 

 stretchy proportions of Keota Insight. However the former found the 

 favor of the judge, A. L. Robison, Jr., Pekin, 111. Awards stood the 

 same among the two-year-olds, although in this case the stretchy frame 

 won. Fairhope is a big brown of exceptional bone and top and a 

 swinging walk that was appreciated from the start. The gray Keota 

 Jalap stood above him for some time, but ultimately waived position 

 to his stablemate. He has a wonderfully matured stamp with a flint- 

 like quality that American breeders are coming to appreciate, while his 

 masculine front and keen edged temperament were most appealing. 

 Massiveness was not his forte as compared to Fairhope, so he failed 

 of the blue. 



IHE STAM.ION FI7TURITT. 



Twenty-two yearlings lined up to contest for fourteen places. Some 

 very exceptional youngsters were assembled, although the type was 



