view raw text
COLIN AND BALLOT AT ASCOT. Both Horses Training in Excellent Form and Almost Sure Starters at the Ascot Meeting. There is no doubt that manv admirers of Colin and Ballot have wondered whv these great race horses or last year in this country have not as yet started ill a race in F.ugland. Due lias to seek no great distance tor the reason. At the outset bath were nominated liberally to the leading spring and early handicaps. When the weights appeared it was found thai the Knglish hamlieappers had with singular unanimity given them crushing imposts as top-weights, making no exception in favor of any Knglish racer whatever. The two Keene cracks are in charge of Sam Darling, a very shrewd and capable trainer who knows .-ill the ins and outs of Knglish racing and turf practices. It Is to his judgment of the situation that is ascriliable the 11011-participalion of Colin and Ballot so far in Knglish racing. It was not thai anyone could take exceptions to the mere pounds assigned Colin and Ballot. They would have been given as jiianv or more in this country. But it was the great advantage given crack handicap horses in the middleweight and lightweight divisions that deterred Darling from starting either of the pair and caused them to be held oyer for racing at Ascot. new is every reason to believe that both horses are 111 rugged health and ready to race. Of course, there is no telling whether they still retain the electric speed that made them so formidable in this Coantry, but those who hope they will triumph in some of tlie hie Knglish events for horses of their age. can rest assured that they are apparently about as tit as they can be made. Ballot was a sound horse when sent broad, but Colin was not and many thought lie could not be trained. But he has taken steady exercise every day since Darling returned from France last February and in company with Ballot went a striding mile and a half in great style recently. As has been several times pointed out in Dally Racing Form, it is almost sure that his debut Mill be in the Cold Cup. Thursday. June 17. This 5s a dash of two miles and a half, and its winning is held to be almost as great a triumph as the winning of an Epsom Derby. The cup Itself is of the value of ,500 and there is 17.500 in specie in addilioii. Colin. Ballot and Ksperanto are nominated and it may be that Ksperanto will lie sent along us Clins helper. while Ballot may be sent after tin- valuable Alexandra Plate on the succeeding •lav. Of course, if bath are started ! in the Cup. neither would then lie raced the long route of the Alexandra Plate.
