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TOE-CMBS ARE UNDER THE BAN TN ENGLAND. Stewards of the Jockey Club Order that the Blades Are Not to Be Used, At a recent meeting the stewards of the Jockey Club forbid the use of toe-clips on the plates of horses racing- In England. Vigilant, In the London Sportsman, has this to say on the subject: "As the pronouncement of the stewards of the Jockey Club against the use of toe-clips created some excitement, not toksay breeze, I made it my business last week to inquire pretty widely into the subject. I gather that, us a matter of. absolute certainty, the toe-clip pure nnd simple, as developed In America and as used by American trainers in Europe, Is very dangerous indeed, and that one of Lord Harewoods horses was actually killed by being struck Into with such a clip. A. razor-like blade set forward on a shoe or plate must naturally slice whatever the foot wearing that shoe or plate strikes. On the other hand, the clips used in most English stables have been set somewhat back, and are by no means the formidable weapons which the Americans affect. I cannot learn that any harm has been done by these, but the fact that they are not used on the bind plates Is. proof that they are known to be dangerous to their wearer In, case of an overreach. The use of toe-clips has been forbidden In France and Austria-Hungary, and also, I believe, in America; but In all these cases It is the undoubtedly dangerous American toe-clip which has come under the ban. I think the stewards of the Jockey Club must have been under the impression that there was no other variety of toe-clip -which might be, and probably is, quite innocuous. Thus if jockeys were to take to using spurs with medieval rowels an inch long, they would quickly be prohibited from continuing to do so, but that would be no valid reasou why the use of spurs should be forbidden altogether. Following this line of thought, I venture to submit that the stewards were, to say the least, precipitate In wiping out all toe-clips because some are dangerous. "Nevertheless, trainers, so far as I have had the chance to discuss the matter with them, take the change quite philosophically, though it -will mean substantial loss of stock in hand iu some cases. It is pointed, out that a racing-plate can be made to get nearly as good grip of the ground without a clip as with one, and this may be materially assisted by the nails. Of course, when the element of danger is considered, even plates are open to objection. No one will contend that a horse without shoes can do so much harm to another as a horse with shoes can; but there it Is,. Some risk. has to be incurred in racing, and the, horses that can run barefoot on adamantine ground, as Merman always did, are few and far between; at any rate, iu this country. It is lucky for some of Mermans opponents that he used to run without plates. I remember he kicked one of tlicin at the post when starting for his first Cesarewlteh, and again while In the paddock before his second he lashed out at Innocence and caught him bang in the ribs. Plates in such a case would have cut a big gash, but as it was Innocence was comparatively uninjured. Why a placid-tempered animal like Merman should have done these things I fall to understand, but he undoubtedly did them. Ou the whole, therefore, An Owner and Trainer who first wrote to The Sportsman animadverting on the conduct of the stewards in forbidding toe-clips does not appear to have a following, on this question. If, said Blaekwell, they are not to be used In future will, it will be the same for all, and nohody will suffer. That view was expressed also by Mr. Gilpin and many others, and It was also felt that If, as Is hoped, we take a more considerable part than heretofore in sending horses to run on the Continent, It is just as" well thsjtthey should be accustomed to run here In such plates as are not forbidden there." 1
