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WONDERS OF ARGENTINE RACING. Most people have presumably of late years had their eyes opened to the fact that in Argentina Hie turf is a highly flourishing institution. Mr. Tan met, Mr. Clarence Hailey and other Englishmen who have been to Buenos Ayres. have invariably returned full of enthusiasm over the perfection of every detail connected with racing in that land of silver and gold. 1 recently had placed in my hands a copy of the last annual report of the Argentine Jockey Club, and a few particulars culled therefrom will. I think, interest if they do not astonish some of my it aders. Turning to the balance sheet I find thai the land and bafldiags belonging to the club represent .-555,000, and ,250,000 has been spent on the race coarse. The furniture, objects of art and pictures aceount for no less than 05,000, and the restaurants attached to the race course Stand in the Iwh.Ks at 35,000. It may be remembered that in the interview Clarence Hailey gave me when he returned from Buenos Ayres last Christmas he laid particular stress on the commissariat arrangements, and told aa that even those who patronized the cheapest ring could obtain a splendid luncheon for eighteen peine or two shillings. No doubt it will stagger the managers of our race courses to learn that the Argentine Jockey Club incurs a loss of about .s.ii.immi on their restaurants. A I any rate that was the debit balance last year. With regard to the income, the principal items that go to the making ol a araad total of ,069,060 are: Subscriptions and entry fees, 09,000; general receipts including gate money and the ten per cent, derived from the pari-motael, ,340,000; and fees for entering horses. 67,508. Now, let us see what was done with this vast income. J*he managing committee spent 40,010, am! tie racing committee 65,000. A sum of .-120,000 was distributed in the form of prizes to the winners am! placed horse;;. Municipal taxes absorbed 10,000. Donation* to the amount of 90,. MO SW re distributed among eighty-two societies, and 0,000 was allotted for army remounts. The upkeep of the race track called for the expenditure of 00,000. When all claims had been met there remained a balance of 10,530 to place to capital account. There is a club membership of 1,951. Among the societies to whom grants were made were Che Bosarlo Jockey Club, societies for improving the breeding of horses, agricultural clubs and various sporting and athletic dribs. Asylums, schools, orphanages, sisterhoods, creches, convents, churches, hospitals. liberies, labor exchanges and even the Saltation Army received assistance from the ooffer* of the Jockey Club. Particulars relating to the Stud Rook show that 1.236 foals were registered, as arainst I.15D be previous year. Thoroughbreds Imported numbered 536, viz.. 100 colts and 376 fillies. Export certificates were issued in 14JJ cases. The sale of blood-stock during the year realized a total of . CI.".. 750. on which the Jockey Cluh was en tilled to a commission of one per cent. There were 413 lots sold. The previous year 337 lots made 13,500. Verily, the Argentine is a land overflow lag with milk, honey and bawbees. — Special Commissioner in Sporting Life.
