FOURTEENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART IV. 323 



size, scale and conformation. In two year old classes, there seemed to 

 be some discussion as to whether Matador, a great bodied colt or Legiste, 

 a colt with a wealth of bone, would be placed at the head of the list. The 

 blue finally went to Matador who was brought out in fit form. 



Dunhams, of Wayne, 111., were out with strong animals in all classes, 

 and succeeded in drawing a great many of the blues. McMillan & Son, of 

 Rock Rapids, Iowa; W. S. Corsa, Whitehall, 111., and Truman's Pioneer 

 Stud Farm also sent forward some fine specimens of the breed. 



In female classes, Ilda, from the Dunham stables, won first in the 

 aged mare class; Achsie, from the stables of McMillan & Sons won first 

 in the three-year-old class, and Lyonaise from the Dunham stables won 

 first in the two-year-old class. 



liELGlANS. 



"Not only is this year's showing of Belgians a good one, but it is one 

 of the best held at Iowa for years," declared Prof. W. J. Kennedy, of 

 Ames, Iowa, who tied the ribbons for this popular breed of drafters. 

 There is a reason for the growing favor of the breed as the farmers are 

 discovering their merit as drafters. Good, heavy animals, especially 

 strong in the middle, they represent a decidedly useful type of horse. 

 The Belgians have a tendency to be low in the back, flat in the ribs, and 

 short in the legs, and these defects were somewhat in evidence on the 

 animals led into the ring, although the improvement that has been shown 

 in these respects in recent years has been great. Today the Belgian 

 horse holds its own with any breed on the great open market and not 

 infrequently outsells them all. The futurity classes, about which the in- 

 terest of horsedom at a fair is usually centered, were below the regular 

 classes on the whole, and to this extent the show was disapointing. 

 Governor Major, a brown colt owned by C. W. McDermott, and Miss 

 Rosengift, a bay filly by C. A. Rosenfeld, of Kelley, Iowa, captured the 

 premier futurity stakes and the silver trophies for their respective classes. 

 In all, $490 was divided. One of the strongest open classes was the 

 fillies over two and under three, twenty-one good animals being led 

 before the judge. On the whole, the female classes were somewhat 

 superior to the colts and stallions shown. 



ENGLISH SHIRES. 



The English Shires are rapidly coming to the front, but the showing 

 of Shires at Des Moines was devoid of spectacular features. There were 

 some top notchers in the list, but some poor ones were led before the 

 judge; and several did not get into first money because coarseness had 

 been eliminated at the expense of size and power. Alexander Galbraith, 

 the noted breeder of Clydesdales, tied the ribbons, and he was inclined 

 to discount foreign taint of coarseness. When the futurity classes were 

 led before him he called R. B. Ogilive, secretary of the American Clydes- 

 dale Association, to his assistance. Some of the colts were rather 

 mediocre, although the fillies were a strong class. The young stallion, 

 Tatton Eldorado, owned by L. N. & 0. B. Sizer, of Fisher, 111., and the 

 filly, Pinecrest Primrose, owned by Frank Huston, of Waukee, Iowa, 

 were awarded the futurity stakes and trophies. In point of quality, the 



