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XING GEORGE TO STAY IN RACING Authorized Statement at the Gimcrack Dinner Edward Hultons Pronouncement on Breeding The one hundred and fortysixth annual Gimcrack Dinner was eaten at the Station Hotel in York Eng land Xovemljer i with a notable assemblage of the men who govern English racing in attendance As the owner for the second year in succession of the winner of the Gimcrack Stakes at the York August Meeting it fell to Edward Hnltoii to make the principal address of the meeting but not the jnost important The latter qualification attaches to nn authorized statement by Sir John Thursby in responding to a toast to The Jockey Club when among other things he said saidWhat What we all desire is to see the King taking liiK part in the national sjiort In view of some statements that have been published I have Lord Derbys authority for saying that he has lieen the personal recipient of His Majestys assurance that lie has no intention of iu any way withdrawing from the sport and Indeed means to participate in it in the future as far as his many duties and engage inents may permit him himThis This significant statement was enthusiastically recehcd and effectually disposes of the widely circu ¬ lated and entirely malicious report of an intention on King Georges part to retire from racing No announcement more helpful to racing has ever been made at a Gimcrack dinner notable as they have always been for important utterances of far reaching effect effectMr Mr Hulton departed from l eaten paths in his address and advanced some ideas that will evoke much consideration on the part of breeders iu othir countries as well as of those of England when iie wild wildA A striking feature in modern racing is the grow ¬ ing disfavor of longdistance handicaps not on the part of the public for 1 believe long races ire watched with more interest than any but from own ¬ ers and trainers who find more scope in going for shorter races and less risk of breaking their horses ilowu It has been suggested that more encourage ¬ ment should be given for longdistance races bat valunble prizes do not necessarily product a better entry either in number or class Perhaps if a series if iougdlstauce handicaps of fair value were ar ¬ ranged by concerted action amongst the race coui punles better results would follow followBut But 1 have heard it suggested that tho failing popularity of longdistance racing points to the ileeadenee of the present day race horse We are asked how many horses today could run in several two and threemile heats in one afternoon without cracking up Now I am inclined to think there is a great deal of misconception as to what really took place in those early days It will be found on in ¬ vestigation that very few horses ran more than once In iiie day that although the events were over long distances the pace was bad and in fact there was more dawdling aliont than running except at the finish Froui finishFroui a glance back at the records of 1812 and later It can be seen there was a gradual tendency to cut the distance and increase the pace These heats do not appear to have been timed at all vents none is given Now there can be no doubt 1 think that pace is the deciding factor as to the merit of endurance and therefore I claim the win tents of today are far more strenuous and exacting than the old heats and a champion then would cut a very poor tigurc now nowThe The ideal test of merit is the fast mile and the horse which can succeed at that distance amongst the best class and in the best time is the horse that Is wanted The fast niiler is the horse to breed from As long as this type is produced and It is being produced there is no fear of decadence The most important test is the breeding test After all one of the main objects of racing is ihat the general improvement of horses be secured It will be found that the best stallions have proved th ir speed at about one mile They may of course have subsequently iliown they could stay longer distances as well But no great stallion has lacked speed It is the essential Even though they have won the l est longdlstunce races pure stayers I mean horses of one pace but without speed have never lieen successful stallions stallionsHow How few Cesarewitch horses hare succeeded as sires On the contrary in the Cambridgeshire a very fast run mile many winners have subse ¬ quently become successful at the stud The winners of the Ascot Gold Cup may be divided into two divisions the lirst consisting of very highclass liorses many the best of their year who had already proved their speed such as Cyllene Persimmon
