A French View of English Racing, Daily Racing Form, 1911-12-16

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A FRENCH VIEW OF ENGLISH RACING. One of Frances noted turf writers, whose nom do plume is Passaro, has been telling his readers of his experience of English racing, as seen at Newmarket. Passaro lias something to sav about the strict business of racing from the point of view of Newmarket. He dwells on the magnificence of the many courses "you could put a dozen Longchamps on Newmarket without crowding" H one of his comments the bold, broad, galloping straight and the notable absence of turns which arc so common on tho French tracks but he adds: "But if tho course which really represents the scene is iorfect, the other side of the picture is not so alluring. Here at Newmarket we are far from those impressive classic structures, those smilioj paths of our incomparable Longchamps. Hcre,l Mowers, no relief. The useful excludes the agreeable; one feels that the English do not go racing to amuse themselves the equipment of Newmarket leaves no doubt of that." AFrenchman accustomed to the quiet of his own race-course, with the noiseless system of investments at the "pari-mutuel" would easily be staggered by Tattersalls. "In that ring," he states, "reigns shrieking, bustling and bewilderment. It is only the place for the strongest of the strong. Our fair punters would never dare venture there; for it would bo at the risk of losing not only plumes, but hats, curls and every scrap of finery." There Is a little exaggeration in all this, but an English commentator admits that "Tatts" is sometimes a disgrace to a respectable community, for such jostling as goes on among those who rush about the ring would not be tolerated elsewhere. Witli all the recent English "kicking" against starting, it is worthy of note that the French critic was impressed with the "excellence of the starting at Newmarket." He remarks: "The discipline and order which rules among the jockeys when they range themselves under the machine is admirable, and the task of the starter is naturally simplified. The result is that the majority of the starts are irreproachable." Concerning the English jockeys, ho was struck by the way they managed to keep their horses straight in a big field, but he adds that seems to be their chief "occupation" in a race. He mentions that the Franco-American. Garner, was one of the Tew whom he saw "bumping" but lie excuses Garner on the score of seasickness. He attributes the failure of English horses, and frequently the lack of merit shown by English jockeys when riding in France, to the fact that the repeated turns on French courses produce hustling, and both horse and rider have to accustom themselves to circumstances. "It is," lie adds, "therefore impossible to pretend to judge the ability of Englishmen when we see them riding in France." He marvels at the authority of the stewards over jockeys or anybody else, stating that their verdict is accepted as gospel by English race-goers. "Be it the question of a result, the disqualification of a horse, or an infliction of a penalty there is not tho least criticism, the rulings are accepted as dogma. Compare this with our independence of spirit in France." All the same, Passaro is forced to admit that the restraint of a British racing crowd was impressive. Ho instances the hissing of Hornets Beauty, remarking "there was gravity and method in the two adverse manifestations, but neither lasted much longer than thirtv seconds. Our French public would have indulged "themselves much longer." The French crowd sometimes have a way of burning stands and molesting otlicials.


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1910s/drf1911121601/drf1911121601_2_5
Local Identifier: drf1911121601_2_5
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800