Untacked

Untacked Fall 14

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C H R O N O F H O R S E . C O M FA L L 2 014 99 their mounts. Even before he decided to foster talent in young, up-and-coming riders, Maclay had long been a passionate believer in competi- tion. "e horse show is unquestionably the greatest of all educators," he told e New York Times for a story that appeared in its pages on Nov. 26, 1916, following that year's National Horse Show at the Garden. "ose who are intel- ligent and progressive have an opportunity to see what others are producing, and they can learn to avoid not only their own errors, but those of their fellows as well. e horse show, which is now a feature of social life everywhere in the United States and Canada, has done more to develop certain types of horses than any other influence that can be named. is is par- ticularly true of the saddle horse, hunter, and harness horse of every type." And in case anyone was in doubt of Maclay's credentials, the Times writer assured them, "e fact that Mr. Maclay has served as a judge of hunters, saddle, and light harness horses at nearly every show of prominence in the East, and that he has visited and made observations on horse breeding in practically every country in Continental Europe should render him specially competent to pass on horse conditions in the United States." Maclay served as president of the National Horse Show from 1922-1925, where the ASPCA Maclay Finals are still held every November, and as a member of the show committee for 30 years. An avid foxhunter and member of the Millbrook Hunt (N.Y.), he suffered a debilitating knee injury when he was knocked off his horse by a low hanging tree branch while riding to hounds in England, but he later turned to driving hackney and fine harness horses and competed them at the National. His numerous winners were all named with the prefix Kil- PHOTOS COURTESY HOULIHAN LAWRENCE REAL ESTATE learn, after the birthplace of his paternal great- grandfather, a small village in west-central Scotland. Killearn Magic, Killearn Magician and Killearn Jest and Jazz were among his favorites. In addition to horses, Maclay was keenly interested in breeding and showing dogs. He was a dog show judge and bred greyhounds and dalmatians, but the Dandie Dinmont Terrier predominantly captivated his attention, and his Kil- learn Scotty Jim was a champion in 1912. He was fond of the low-slung dog with large, soulful eyes and admired its "hunting ability and faithful nature." "Dandies, of course, were his first love," his wife, Louise, once wrote. "We always had a Dandie in the house." Wealth And Privilege Maclay was born into a distinguished and privileged New York family on June 3, 1871. He was educated at the tony private Charlier Institute, founded by Frenchman Elie Charlier, and "e horse show is unquestionably the greatest of all educators." —ALFRED B. MACLAY

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