view raw text
CLERGYMAN IN PRAISE OF RACING. English Ecclesiastic Declares That the Sport Deserves to Be Encouraged. C. .n, mints of the English press on the determination of King Co-orgo V. to continue the late King Edwards patronage of racing are interesting. The I .oh. toll Times of June l«i sa.vs: ••opening a bazaar yesterday at Barnet Father Bi rnard Vanghan referred to the Ascot meeting. I In- twenty eight races included only live handicaps and not a single selling rac-. Far mole people went to Ascot to sec the human races than the bane races. They went there t« show their own paces and faces. Personally he was in favor of all l-ni. n. -I IM hiding races. Everything that made tor national character ought to he supported and encouraged hy Englishmen. H.- hail heeii blamed by sunt- Nonconformists for having expressed the hope that their sailor king would keep up his late majestys racing stud and would, when circumstances allowed it. lend the encouragement of his presence at our great national s| ort. Since he had spoken it had transpired, much to the gratification of English losers of s|«irt. that his majesty had taken over the late kinds racing stable and stud. Surely all who were interested in the upkeep of English-hied horses ought to fori indebted to George V. for the interest he was showing in what was so intimately the livelihood of quite an important section of the coiiimuuitv. For not otilv were they coiiecrneil alioiit Ihe stamina and strength of the race bane, which could only he tested on the course, but they were still more interested in Ihe stable men and stable l«is. whose occupation would In- gone if these racing stables and breeding grounds were closed. Besides, if the s|xirt was sliorn of royal support, it might i-rv easily deteriorate no| oniv in tin- ipialitv of the breeds of their horses hut in the ipiality of the sport itself. Racing might degi-nerate into a mere pas-Hint- for tie- brethren of the betting ring. "Every line englishman had a trend of the sportsman in his character, and when it was developed on legitimate iines it hclm-d him lo realize himself and gave him that inih-scr!hahlc something in his deportment and character which made for English manliness. 111. ie were dangers, no doubt, attend baj the p-i-liiuo of racing, as there were in playing croquet, but Englishmen should learn to become the anhitects and not the mere creatures of circuin-Maiiec They had to learn how to train their bet-ting instincts in the same way as they trained their batata riding them under control." The Fall Mall Gazette treats the matter thnsly: ■The annoiincemeiit that his majesty intends to continue the breeding ami racing studs hei|uealhed to him by King Edward VII. will 1m- weleoim-d everywhere hut in the ranks of a narrow and mis gilhloil school of ensors. Kacing is a natural and healthy sport, ami one that is indispensable, moreover, to any country that wishes to maintain its brood ot bucwaVna at a high level. It has its iimr-ii danger-., jusi like lea part lee or Men journalism. r.n.l they have to In- resisted lry the same instincts •Thick hav.- to i.ipc with Ihe omnipresent evils of life. But Ihe surest means of lolling the worst elements obtain supremacy in any institution is for reputable people to separate themselves from it in an altitude of self-righteousness: the most certain method of upholding its character is for the leaders wt aadetj to late reel themselves in its affairs and M-t the standard of a high example. His majestys HltMUf of tie- turf will Im- an immeasurable boon 111 Ihe purity ol racing and an encouragement to tin-Im-sI types of sjNii t,uiatiship in all other directions." The London GIoIm- says: "Fopular n tin- kinds decision is. no surpris,. can 1m- felt. Like all sailors his majesty is a true s|M rlsinati. . . . There is. however, no s|M.rt to which I. is majestys personal participation will mean so much as that of racing. and It must Ik- rcmeiiiltcrcd that racing is something more than a s|M.rt. On tin- interest which it arouses we depend f..r the upkeep of our breed of horses. flail ■ f kf riattr ■ 111 -iiough the state leaves this ini-jMirtant matter to private enterprise and the MM magnates abuse the racing men for performing a public service. Tin- decision of the king to maintain a connection with the turf is anoiher example of liis majestys desire to keep in touch with national life."
