BREEDING HORSES AT THE CAPE.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1722, 27 August 1879, Page 3

BREEDING HORSES AT THE CAPE.

The following pertinent remarks on horsebreeding and racing appeared in the “ Cape Times” of April 19th. Our contemporary says —“ Horse racing is, we fear, generally regarded as a species of gambling against which all proper people should set their faces. Those who so regard race meetings do not understand their object or appreciate their necessity. We remember that in the days of Sir George Grey the breeding of horses at the Cape was regarded of such importance that when Colonel Apperley came here as Remount Agent for India he was received with the utmost hospitality, and he left these shores with quite a public demonstration. At that time it was thought that South Africa might become the horse rearing colony for India, just as it had been for a considerable period the sanitarium for nabobs and other swells of the Bast who came down to breathe in fresh life in the mild yet invigorating climate of the much despised Cape of Good Hope, Those were before the days of the Suez Canal, but it is not to the Canal wo have to attribute our losing the Indian market. We had a long sta-t, but we cantered along easily, while Australia, seeing business ahead, did all she could to make the ru.'.ning And she won, as she deserved to do. for uho had neglected no opportunity. The Cape was veiy much aggrieved at being passed by, and without making an effort to recover lost ground she permitted herself to be distanced. Some few years, hawever, there was a rallying movement ; fresh energy was put into the Turf Club ; the meetings improved year by year ; the object of the Club was understood, and there are now a number of stables in the Cape Colony with splendid stock of thoroughbred animals. There have been entries for our colonial Derby of 1881, already made, and the show of horses next week will establish most conclusively how we are improving our breed of horses. That is the object of these meetings, or wo should not encourage them. Horse breeding may be a source of'great revenue to the colony without India as a market. Our own country in its newborn rapid progressiveness requires more horses than can be supplied ; the drain up country was felt long before the war with the Zulus broke out, and the four or five hundred horses which have been purchased in consequence of this war have almost exhausted the resources of the Western Province in horseflesh. The experience so far would go to show that there is hardly a fear of our overdoing horse breeding in this colony, and all we have to be careful of is that our stock shall be as pure as we can breed. That is what we should aim at, and the meetings at Green Point and elsewhere leave no doubt as to the way we are advancing in the production of a superior class of animal. When those interested re member how effete the South African Club was but a short time back, and how vigorous it is now, they should be stimulated to fresh exertions, As long as the Turf Club can be regarded as the breeders’ test and not the gambler’s opportunity it is sure to prosper ; the rules of fair racing must be adhered to, as it is being adhered to, unflinchingly ; and wo have no hesitation- in saying that the higher the respectability and tone of South African meetings the greater will be the support from those whose support is worth having. Nothing can prosper without sympathy and support. The South African Club has got both at present; it has only to be careful and active, and under its patronage a source of revenue may be gathered in for this colony of no considerable amount. Horses will be required as long as there are men to ride them, and we do not despair of competing even with Australia for the Indian market if we are only just to ourselves. We wish the South African Turf Club every success In its meeting next week; and we are glad to see that no jockey will be permitted to ride who is not respectably dressed. This is a step in the right direction. Straws thrown up show the direction of the wind. The Turf Club is evidently in a good way, and therefore horse-breeders must be.”