G. Ray Bryson’s young stallion High Lea was named grand champion Thoroughbred at the Maryland State Fair at Timonium. Veterinarian Dr. Charles Baker of Montreal, an all-around horseman who judged many of the classes, considered “this slashing fine brown son of Bull Lea the outstanding top.” 

The fair also brought in equitation judges General and Mrs. C.B. Lyman, who did “a great job of judging and discussing each class with the 75 [young] riders who participated in the show.”

Cited as the top feature of the country’s fall racing season for 2-year-old fillies, the 1949 Selima Stakes looked to settle the divisional championship. With three stakes wins each, Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt’s Bed o’ Roses and Robert M. Wood’s High Frequency were strong contenders for the title. William duPont Jr.’s Foxcatcher Farm led the nominations with seven.

Not only did the win by future Hall of Famer Bed o’ Roses solidify her championship, the race showcased two future elite broodmares, War Admiral’s daughters Striking and Busanda, the second and third-place finishers. 

Popular author/artist C.W. Anderson saw the publication of his latest portfolio of sketches, entitled Post Parade. Published by Harper and Brothers, the set of 15 plates, some 12 by 16 inches, sold for $4.
In addition to paddock and stable scenes, among the equine celebrity images “suitable for framing” were Man o’ War, Greyhound, Equipoise and Citation.

The Directors of the National Association of Thoroughbred Clubs met in Lexington, Ky., to lay the groundwork for a “strong and representative breeders organization.” Seventeen men, representing 10 states, attended. Among the guest organizations were the Maryland Horse Breeders Association, Virginia Horsemen’s Association and Virginia Thoroughbred Club.

During the directors’ meeting it was stated that “our biggest and most important problem is to improve the Thoroughbred industry’s legislative and public relations. If this is not done we may not have any other problems to worry about.”