view raw text
REFORM IN NAMING ENGLISH HORSES HORSESConcerning Concerning a decided measure of reform recently adopted iu England by the Jockey Club London Siiortiiig Lifes editor Augur says in that publi ¬ cation of July 22 Although I have not had an opportunity of referring before to the proceedings at last Wednesdays meeting of the Jockey Club it is not too late for me to express entire approval of the action of the stewards with regard to the duplication of names of celebrated race horses Such duplication has been far too common during recent years aud in spite of an addition made not long ago to Rule 63 which it was thought would have the desired effect has continued perhaps not in an exaggerated form but certainly without receiving any determined check Lord Villiers in submitting the stewards proposals suggested as a basis cer ¬ tain principles of which the members of the Jockey Club expressed their approval with the result that the instructions will be inserted as a preface to the book whiAi published This doubtless is an excellent plan and if the stewards wishes are only faithfully carried into execution will serve the purpose just as effectively as if a hardandfast rule dealing with the subject had been passed passedBriefly Briefly the principle to be observed is that all winners of the five classic races as well as those of the Ascot Gold Cup are to be considered as celebrated horses and that their names cannot be repeated in future either with or without the addi ¬ tion of numerals Certain other horses which have played a prominent part cithrr in racing or as suc ¬ cessful sires or dams may also be brought within the scope of the instructions upon the application of persons interested in them and any such claims will be considered and dealt wjth by the stewards While recognizing that it is impossible to entirely prohibit the adoption of numerals the stewards wish to discourage as far as possible their use aud in future the name of a horse known to be still running will not be allowed to be taken by adding a numeral Thus we are on tho eve of a highly desirable reform and Lord Villiers and his follow stewards are to be as warmly complimented upon their action in this matter as upon the watchful activity they have displayed in other directions dur ¬ ing the present season seasonThe The nse of numerals has always occurred to me as being a particularly clumsy method of avoiding trouble in the selection of a suitable name while frequently there appears to be absolutely no reason for their employment A rase in point which I may quote is that of the steeplechaser Bridge IV Pre ¬ sumably the original Bridge was the Wokingham Stakes winner of 1900 but if ever there was a Bridge II and Bridge III I have forgotten the fact while Mr Francis horse Is surely quite as much entitled to the undisputed use of the name without numerals as is Mr Carrolls threeyearold filly Melody considering that a wellknown brood ¬ mare of the latter name is still Jn existence An ¬ other absurdity which I may mention is that we have tit present in training a Colonial and a Colonial filly a Court Dress and a Court Dress filly as weli ns others whose names escape me for tho moment The two latter although of opposite acres are both juveniles so that it is not difficult to imagine the confusion which will arise if they ever compete in the same race Thanks however to the timely ac ¬ tion of the stewards all such anomalies will in the course of a year or two be completely banished
