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AMERICAN TRAINING METHODS IN FRANCE. The Vanderbilt taoroaghbred esiablishmeiit at PoiSSjF, I ranee, is the subject of exhaustive ami mtertaining coma t by Hotsnnr in a late issue of London Sporting Life, extracts from watch appear below: "In the way of general appointments and extraordinary minuteness of detail probably the most re nun liable braining establishment in Bui ope is that atnldtil over i,y W. Kuke at Poissy, Prance. He is private trainer to the American capitalist, w. K. vanderbilt. who for be last season or two has been at the brad of tie- list of winning owners in France. Pining a recent visit to that country I bad the privilege "f looking over hukes place. It is la-tea elv interesting because it is so entirely different to the training p itahlishments 1 have si n hi Bngtand. 1iike is DOtbine if not strikingly original in his ideas. In Mr. vanderbilt lie has a profusely genet 011s and a pleasantly compliant natron. Thus, in planning the details of the place and developing bis thelites I Hike has practically had a free band. Puiasy was originally a race curse. It was sub icipiently acquired by M. Camille Blanc, who biili .some boxes and use. I i is a training establishment. i:enlually tliis was given up and when Mr. Vanderbilt bought it it was 111 a dereUct state. "Poissy Is a lynical old French town, ami is eele lirated a-1 the birthplace of St. Louis, who was st vied Lotlls of loissy. Ha- quondam race COUrSC Where Puke trains is BMSl charmingly situated on the banks of the Seine. It lies in a sort of rap or valley, surrounded by gently rising wooded hills, and is within hail of the beautiful forest ,,f ,st. Germain, ■There there ate soi e. Ilent gallops. The whole district is delightfully picturesque and rural, and Duke has been fortunate enough to secure an Meal training ground. When Mr. Vanderbilt bought the property the old buildings were ruthlessly pulled down, and In their place has arisen a splendid collection of large and lofty boxes, which have been constructed upon the im.t modern hygienic principles. There is an admirable covered ride, n Itich extends the full eh-cuit of the stables. It measures five laps to the mile. In order that he can take up his position at one end of the ride and observe what the hoys are doing when trotting the horses round. the trainer has had cunningly devised mirrors placed in sii-h n position thai he can see exactly what is taking place on both sides of the stables at the same moment ".Mr. Vanderbilt has built himself a pretty bonne within H hort distance id the stables, and he spends most of his time here when in France. No fewer than thirty gardeners are employed and in tin- summer time the Hardens are a feist for the eye and the senses. The race course, where the horses .11 e trained, is aboal a mile and a ipiarter in eircuinfer-etne. Like oilier American trainers. Dnke K an implicit believer in some of the principles which are applied to the preparation of trotters. He has unbounded faith in the time test. The course, which •.mists of excellent turf, is banked up at the turns after the style of the hesi trotting tracks. Duke lias an arrangement which is probably unique so far as the training of rice horses is concerned. He has had erected opposite the winning post a small covered grandstand, with glass sides. Around the track-is lived a signaling apparatus like that used On the railways. By palling a lever In his coign of vantage I lap is released, and ihis is a signal to the boj I to tell them whin they ale going too fast or loo slow, according to the ideas of the trainer, who stands, watch in hand, closely and keenly observant of every movement and incident In the mornings work» "English trainers who have seen theso things hagc regarded them with amused wonderment. However, nothing sin seeds like success, ami Duke can compla ceatly reflect thai his methods, quaint as they may seem to the uninitiated, have spelled nothing hilt business. Everything at loissy has been done on I prodigal scab". The comfort 1 r those employed in the place has been studied to an extent that would astonish even some of the most kindly considerate of owners in this country. George Piatt, who formerly trained Prince Soltykoffs horses at Newmarket, is installed as head man. He has a most charming house, with tin orchard which has recently been planted with scores of trees. An eloquent tribute, by the way to the generosity of Mr. Vanderbilt. There Is a very pretty matte cottage for the stable jockey, if be wishes to nse It. and the accommodation ICC the boys is quite unique. The old maxim that cleanliness is next to godliness is studiously observed. There is a huge bath for the Ik. vs. in which a dozen can bathe at the same time. A recreation room and a billiard table are also provided. "The loissy establishment may be likened to a miniature town. Nothing seems to lie missing, and both Mr. Vanderbill and his trainer lake the closest personal interest in everything appertaining to the establishment. This is a model of order and neatness. I was much interested in a new motor horse ran Which has recently been purchased. This is beatlfally constructed and can travel at the rate of forty miles an hour. There Is a divided coinpart-iii nt for two horses, and the convenience of the automobile must be incalculable, because horses can be easily aud comfortably conveyed to the various French race meetings without the risks attendant upon walking them to the different courses. Palis is a great racing center. There are race courses :;11 around it. Dnke has a big stable of horses under nis charge, and among these are some good looking and well bred two -year-olds. I was particularly struck with a lovely lilly by Maiiitenon First Sight. She has ample size, length aud quality, good bone and altogether she looks destined to make a name for herself. "There is another very charming bay Ally called Sandfly. She is by Maintenon- Sandllake. a mare by Trenton — Sandiway. It will be remembered that Sandiway, which was by Doneaster -tlenicncc. by Newminster, carried the late Duke of Westminsters eiders with distinction. She 1:111 second to The Lambkin for the St. Lager. Most of the horses looked very rough in their coats. The reason of this is easily explained. There are no fewer than thirty paddocks where Duke turns all his horses out during the winter to face the exigencies of the weather, no matter what it may lie. This makes them singularly hardy, and it is significant that there Is seldom any illness in the stable. Of the older animals Rcinliart. a rather plain looking horse, is in the Ascot Gold Cup. His form in France last year was very respectable. He was third in the French Derby and second In the Grand Prize of Paris, beating BronabBO, Charles OMalby and Lenibuig. He subsequently won the valuable Prix Royal Oak at Paris. It is Mr. Vanderbilts intention. I believe, to have hiin trained for Ascot. "Presumably the best three year-old in the Poissy stable is Manfred, which only nattered one defeat last season and that was in his first engagement, when Lord Rurgoyne beat him a head for the Omnium de Deux Ans at Maisons-Lnffitte. He is a big. muscular COlt, and should be seen to advantage in the French classic races this year. He is by Main t non. which was one of the most brilliant horses of his day. After running second to Eider for the French Two Thousand Guineas, Maintenon won Mr. Vanderbilt the French Derby from a big field. Ib-was unplaced to Spearmint in the Grand Prize of Paris, but won the I*rix du President de la Re publique. tiic Prix Monarqiie, the Grand Prize id Deauvillc, the Prix Royal Oak and the Prix du Con-seil Municipal a truly remarkable three year old record. He was by La Sagittaire. n son of the gray I.e Sancy. La Sagittaire was third in the Grand Prize of Paris. Manfred is expected to make a lxihl bid for the French Darby. "Needless to say, Duke Is one of the cleverest men in his profession. He acted as private trainer to the late Sir John Thereby and his son. George Thursby. Prior to that he was associated with Enoch Wishard at a time when American methods and American jockeys were almost overwhelming in tliis country. Haphazard, I turned up the Racing Calendar of 1000 and notice that at Doneaster American owners and trainers were in extraordinary feather. Thus J. A. Drakes Joe Fllman won the Fitzwilliam Stakes, bis Flvlng Greek the Stand Plate, his Pedant the Milton Stakes, his Royal Flush the Cleveland Handicap and his Kings Courier the Doneaster Gap. AH these horses were trained by Wishard. who is now in France acting as head man to one of the American trainers. At the same meeting Dukes Remember Me won the Corporation Selling Handicap and W. C. Whitneys Spectrum t he Doacaster Welter. Lester ReilT. J. Rett and Sloan rode the winners of no fewer than fifteen races among them. Lester Rcilf alone lode seven winners."
