HIGH-PRICED YEARLINGS.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1660, 16 June 1879, Page 3

HIGH-PRICED YEARLINGS.

A warning voice is raised by the London “Field” against high-priced yearlings. It contends that they are unprofitable investments. In England, in 1876, twenty one yearlings were knocked down for 152.750 dole, which, in the two subsequent years, won races amounting in value to 90,000 dols. The loss sustained by the purchasers, leaving out of consideration interest money and the expenses of training, was 62,750. In 1877, twenty one yearlings were knocked down for 150,000 dols, and the two year-old races won by them in 1878 weie worth about 16,000 dols. Only one of the twenty-one cosily youngsters—Mr Swindell’s Cadogan—is big with promise. The others rank as commonplace. The former favorite for the coming Derby, Peter, was purchased as a yearling for 1750 dols, and the third favorite, Falmouth, was bought at the same ago for 503 dols. The general average of the gilded twenty one, it will be remembered, was a trifle over 7000 dols. each. Since and inclusive of the year 1831 the Derby hasbeen won nineteen times by purchased yearlings, once by a purchased two-year-old, and twentyeight times by yearlings bred by the gentlemen who owned them when they started for the blue riband of the course at Epsom. Of the purchased yearlings, Flying Dutchman, Hermit and Gefton sold for 5000 dols. each, Surplice was included in a lot of ho'ses sold by Lord George Bentinck, Lord Lyon was rented from his breeder, and Voltigeur was knocked down as a two-year-old for 5000 dols. Of the remaining fourteen purchased yearlings, not one, excepting Galopin and Doncaster, cost as much as 2000 dols. Little Wonder sold for 325 dols, and Andover for 500 dols. Musjid brought for his breeder 10 '0 dols, and Macaroni 650 dols. The " Field ” gives a few typical instances of some famous race horses being bought as a foal or a yearling for a few sovereigns heed iessly chucked away In the Autumn of 1842, a miserably puny brown foal, lately weaned from its dam, was led into the ring at Barnby Moor, upon the death of its breeder, Mr Clark, by whom that ancient posting-house and hotel on the old North Road had long been kept. A ripple of laughter ran round the yard when the poor little mite was knocked down to the late Mr Wadlow, of Shifnul, in Shropshire ; but ‘ he laugh loudest who laughs last,’ and Mr Wadlow had no cause to regret his purchase when Sweetmeat was the best thre3-year-old in England, with 40 0 guineas offered for him in vain by Lord George Bentinck.” Clermont, with whom William Treen won the Newmarket and Metropolitan Handicaps in 1847, was purchased for a song, “In the Houghton Meeting of 1845 three or four draggle-tailed wretches of yearlings were led one rainy morning into Mr Tattersall’s ting at Newmarket, and attracted hardly any notice from the few surrounding spectators. Among this neglected group of animals was numbered a high-bred-looking chesnut colt, with badly-twisted ankles, for which, almost without knowing how the animal was bred, Sir William Gregory gave fifteen guineas. This colt ran but once as a two year-old ; but, though deficient in speed, he was found to have the stout Emilius blood in his veins, and had he been so fortunate as to find a dry spring, Clermont would probably have won four great handicaps. The list of cheap and remunerative purchases might be indefinitely extended, commencing with Octavian, the winner of the St. Leger, who was purchased for a “ tenner ” by the Duke of Leeds when the little animal was a foal and following his mother as she worked in the plough, and ending with the dam of Fraulein and Petrarch, who was bought by Mr Qosden for a ‘ pony.’ ” The “ Field" does not believe in a man losing his head in tha auction ring. Neither do we. But as breeding as well as racing is so much of a lottery, it is difficult to restrain those who are figuring for the )big prizes. The success of one man has more influence upon the mass than the failure of fifty men, The majority cherish the hope of grasping fortune as he has done. The American yearlings do not command the great prices they do in England, for the reason that no such valuable engagements can here be made for them; But as the turf is growing in age and strength, the time is not distant when large sums will be paid for what are regarded as the star youngsters. The road is uncertain ; still fortune often favors those who combine judgment with pluck. Harry Bassett sold as a yearling for 315 dols, and he was such a magnificent success that his younger brother was run up to 4700 dols. in the annual sale at Woodburn ; and when we state that Brother to Bassett won 9000 in his three-year-old form, the reader will agree with us that the investment was a good one In 1863, Mr Sanford paid 2000 dols. for. Preakness, then a yearling, and he won with him the Dinner Party Stake at Baltimore, value 19,000 dols. He also won a great many brilliant racas with him, finally sending him to England, and selling him for a good price. The experience of Mr Sanford with the brother of Asteroid, for whom ho paid 7000 dols, and the brother of Norfolk, who cost him 5000 dols, was not so pleasant. Both of these high-priced yearlings were failures on the turf. Dncas, brother of Wanderer, was purchased as a yearling for 3100 dols, and he won 4850 dole, before Mr Lorillard sent him to England. The mention of the Duke of Magenta’s triumphs is enough to make some men wild. He sold as a yearling for 1730 dols, won 10,000 dols. as a two-year-old, and 36,550 dols. as a three-year-old. He was a prize of the first water. For Snartan, as a yearling, 4000 dols. was paid, and he won 2000 dols. as a two-year-old, and 6900 as a three year-old, We [could multiply examples, but do not deem it necessary. The facte, in our opinion, warrant men in paying big prices for yearlings when they are guided by critical knowledge rather than by impulse. Now and then a Harry Bassett may be picked up for a trifle, but in the long run fortune will smile upon the man who attends the annual sales of yearlings with money in his pocket, pluck in his haart, and judgment in his brain, —“ The Turf, Field, and Farm.”