The American thoroughbred 125 



above the $200,000 mark and little Ben Brush, who is second, with nothing but two and 

 three-year-olds to run for him, has already over $150,000 to his credit, a showing 

 wholly unprecedented for a horse of his age. 



The following figures show the amounts won by the progeny of the ten leading 

 stallions in America from igoi to 1903, both years inclusive : 



WINNING SIRES OF 1901. 



Sir Dixon $165,682 Albert $55,938 



Hanover 163,243 Pt. of Penzance 53,909 



Meddler 93,795 The Bard 53,443 



.Watercress 75,5*2 Candlemas 47>O49 



Esher 60,674 Brutus 45,5O5 



The above figures apply to winnings in America only. If we add in amounts won 

 in England and France, Sir Dixon's amount would be $206,926, Hanover's $184,005 and 

 Watercress $102,519. 



WINNING SIRES OF 1902. 



Hastings $111,855 Ben Strome $ 74,325 



Candlemas 97,250 Hanover 7 I 34 



Sir Dixon 89,800 Handspring 70.570 



St. George 81,535 Golden Garter 68,627 



Lamplighter 78,120 Wadsworth 65,355 



WINNING SIRES OF 1903. 



Ben Strome $105,250 Mirthful $ 84,135 



Lamplighter 94,453 Hastings 83,022 



Star Ruby 94,220 Hamburg 80,470 



Watercress 88,970 Pt. of Penzance 78,283 



Ben Brush 84,145 Atheling 62,465 



It will be seen that in 1901 Sir Dixon and Hanover each had to their credit much 

 larger sums than the premier sires of the next two years after them. Hanover had no 

 two-year-olds to run for him. 



Lexington headed the list for eleven seasons, his biggest showing being in 1870 

 when he had $120,360 to his credit, being more than Hanover had in his best year, 

 with racing prizes worth nearly three times what they were in Lexington's time. But 

 the reader must remember that Lexington had no such competition as had Hanover. He 

 was fortunate in the fact that Leamington stood but two seasons in Kentucky and Bon- 

 nie Scotland only one, being then removed into Illinois and afterwards into Iowa. Had 

 they remained permanently in Kentucky, the premiership of America might have been 

 an entirely different story. 



The year 1904, just now nearing its close, has been a great one for wealthy men 

 who have gone into racing, solely from a love of the sport. At the close of October 

 there were five owners whose stables had won over $100,000 during the season. These 

 were Messrs. H. B. Duryea, James R. Keene, E. R. Thomas, Sydney Paget and New- 

 ton Benmngton; and there were five others whose stables won over $80,000. When we 

 consider that in 1903 the late Hon. William C. W r hitney was the only one to win over 

 $100,000 in purses and stakes; and that no owner reached the $100,000 mark in 1902, this 

 showing is a truly great one, for it will encourage other wealthy men to go into the 

 game and an increase in the prices of well-bred horses will be the logical issue of that 

 movement. It is clear to me that with anything like proper discipline at the tracks, 

 the prices of yearlings sent to the auction block must undergo a material advance, but 



