which in reality has come. No dream that I might have had 

 more than a half century ago could have conjured up the 

 multitude that on last Decoration Day I saw pass through the 

 gates of the vastest and the best appointed race course in the 

 world. No fancy of the years gone by could have pictured 

 the popularity of the sport which has so entwined itself 

 about the American thoroughbred. A long cry truly from 

 famed old Governor Gary's Lane, where our own Washing- 

 ton of ever blessed memory presided and where he raced his 

 own horse Magnolia, to the great courses which now cater 

 to the scores of thousands who pay their devoirs to our noble 

 horse. 



Nor do I believe that we yet have reached our highest 

 in the sport. It is better conserved to-day, it has a more 

 popular patronage, it is better regulated than ever before. 

 It is difficult to maintain one's poise and listen to the croak- 

 ings of those who allege they fear disaster and already can 

 discern ruin. Racing has had its dark days, as what sport 

 or what man or what nation has not, and it may continue so 

 to have at uncertain periods. But I have been in it a life- 

 time longer than it has been the good fortune of many to 

 enjoy, and I have seen its good name assailed, and its patrons 

 criticised, and attempts made to thwart its progress; but 

 ever and always it has come out of its difficulties better and 

 stronger than it was. 



And it did so because of the love of contest which is 

 characteristic of the American people. The American citizen 

 is essentially a man who glories in struggles for supremacy; 

 whether it be man or horse that battles, his sympathies are 

 at once enlisted and aroused. The red blood that courses in 

 his veins — the blood that has built nations and that has made 

 of empires republics — the blood that to-day dominates the 

 world — is quickened by the sight of contest. It glories in the 

 battles of the thoroughbred, whose blood is uncontaminated 

 and whose life is conquest. Tell me not that the day will 

 ever come when the American citizen will look with either 

 disfavor or indifference on a field of thoroughbreds. Tell 

 me not that there is anywhere a scene so inspiriting as two 

 horses locked in struggle, neither flinching and neither yield- 

 ing, their veins in tension standing out like whipcords on 

 their silken sides, their eyes aflame with interest, their nostrils 



