An Australian on English Racing, Daily Racing Form, 1912-02-14

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AN AUSTRALIAN ON ENGLISH RACING. J. E. Brewer, who has spent some years training at -Newmarket, bui who relinquished his profession there at the end of last fiat -ra lag ■ asoB to return to Austialia, baa given some interesting impressions of English racing la the corns.- of an interview Cor the "Adelaide Observer." He is uncertain whether he will return to England at a later date, but will in all probability reaaaia in Australia for a year, lu conjunction with It. VVoottou, he has purchased an estate on the Eachian River. New South Wales, and he will s; i. ml a large part of his time looking after its interests, and will not train horses. He went on to Melbourne by the steamer. Question. it regarding the form displayed by Australian riders m England. Brewer remarked that Frank Wootton was still top of the list. "The lad is gaining weight, however," he continued, "and I doubt whether he will be riding for very much longer— probably be will not last much more thau a year. He wsi riding at Sst. 5 lb. when I left. One of the Huxleys has only just arrived in England, and ha.-, i.ot yet had time to do anything. The other brother, however, is a smart boy. and in my opinion the best light-weight in England just now. Stanlev Wootton has given up riding, and is coming out here to station work. Danny Maher. the American boy, is still doing as well as every, aad is not likely to give the business best yet awhile. The question arose as to whether Australian riders, as a whole, held their own with Englishmen. and Brewer was of the opinion that they did. "The Australian boy." he said, "gets twice, or perhaps three times, as much practice when he goes to England, and then he can hold his own. lu tile old country, too, there is far more ehance of gain ing experience owing to the larger number of horses." The returned Australian was emphatic in his esa-demnation of the general attitude of the Australian racing public, and denounced more particularly the habit of calling for each horse to be logged home after a race has been won. "Horses are not butchered in England as they are out bete." he eOBsid ered. "When the race has been won the meplaced horses are eased up. and not flogged along unmercifully. The habit of unnecessarily forcing to a bard finish spoils both horse and rider, and has no good result. In England horses will not ataad Mich treat ment. nor is it demanded. There a man is more likely to be called to account tot using the whip rather than for not doing so. On the courses of the old country one never hears such cries as Fulled his head off. or Tie was running crook. "The Australian generally is too suspicions that the other fellow is not giving him a fair run. He is ever ready to believe that things are not all on the square." and that sort of thing kills raeing. 1 have been at the game now for a long while, and have found that there is very little underhand work done. The stewards are largely to blame for framing rui.-s which demand this thrashing business. A true radag man would never ask for such a thing." Brewer was enthusiastic in his praise of English fair play, and thought the sporting press especially most impartial. Complaints with regard to foul riding were rare, and therefore no drastic rules bad to be fraiied to deal with them. ""Boring and bumping, of coarse, occasionally take place, but that very often is unintentional." When asked whether he had done well recently. Brewer said that last year the twenty-one races won by horses trainee! by him were worth 0,000. and that was about the worst season he had experienced. His best season was about six years ago. when thirty-five races brought in 10,000. Tp to last year he was always either first, third, or fourth on the trainers list. East season ""Dick" Wootton was doing well, and is still scoring many BSCCesaes. ""Training in the old country is very hard worU_ Brewer remarked. "One has to be constantly rushing about the country without a chance to take a rest. The courses are scatter ed all over the place, and a trainer has to be constantly on the move, ordering boxes, teed, and other things, sending away horses, anil superintend bag entries, forfeits, and so forth. Here one is finished up generally at 7 p. ni. There it is about 11 p. m. before everything is quiet. The owners, however, are a splendid lot of men. They put aside a certain amount for their stables, and take their lose, or their gains philosophically. Very few of them bet. for they go into racing for the sport of the thing and not for gain. If their horses do not succeed, they dont blame the trainer nor suspect him. They take it as part of the rST ** "It is quite wrong." continued Brewer, "to ima ine that there is any prejudice in England againsi Australians. When a man goes there he is accepto i on his merits. He is not run after, but if he shows that he has ability he is treated royally. It takes some time perhaps to get into the run Of things, but once one lias a grip of details and get* to know the people it is all right. The English sporting man hi a real gentleman, fair and just to the backbone. " When it was mentioned to Brewer that an agitation had been started iu Victoria to establish a totalisstor he remarked that he thought it would be a good thing if lie machine were brought in. "That won .1 go a long way." he added, "to give the public more confidence in trainers and owners." Brewer is certain that Austrari.i has not the same quality of horse as Kngland. When a few of Am trsllas leading racers were named he thought that in tile old country they would lie somewhat second clas. ""Yon get good breeds out hero sometimes, " he remarked, "hat not the best of any class. The Englishman takes good care sot to let the better quality of stock go out of the country. There is also far more scope in England than here to breed good stuff. You are not prepared to spend enough money to get the topnotch blood, and some fine ani-male are filing to places like Buenos A.vres. in the Argentine. What is wanted in Australia is a better type of mare. Some good strains in stallions are here, but to get the liost from them good mares : are required. Mr. Sol. Green brought a number out. but since then very few others have arrived." Brewer considered that Mr. Hultons Lomond has the best chance of winning the next Derby, an 1 Wootton is his trainer. Th It Cylgad. which be Brewer; had been preparing for Lord Durham, was not believed to be up to Derby form. Next to Lomond he was inclined to favor Mr. Joels two colts. White Star and Absurd. Brewer will in all likelihood establish stables at Caulteld. He has taken out ur horses Budorus, Syce, Brankney, and Powhatan. Eudorus. a handsome animal, able to stand a good handicap up to a Inilc. is owned by Messrs. Clark and Hobinson. but the rest are Brewers property. All are five-year-olds, and have fairly good careers behind them. — London Sporting Life.


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