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DECISION AFFECTING FRENCH RACING. I mentioned last week the action at law which M. O. Smets had taken against the Societe Sportive d Encouragement, claiming the value of a race at Maisons-Lailitte, for which one of his horses had run second, the winner being, according to his counsel, not qualified to run. The decision of the court has now been given against him, the judges having ruled that the local stewards have power to modify rules and regulations when exceptional circumstances render It necessary or advisable. As I previously explained, horses that are intended to run for selling or "claiming" races must be in the paddock a quarter of an hour before the set time of the race, so that the owners of other horses engaged may inspect them aud claim them for the advertised selling price, phis the value of the stake, if they desire to do so. The van bringing M. Vanderbilts Ally, Giherne, to the course, broke down en route and she did not arrive In time for this inspection. Nevertheless, she could have leeu claimed if M. Smets or anyone else had wished to exercise that right. The stewards gave permission for her to run in the race, and ? lie won. The amount of M. Smets. claim was only 730, but a question of principle was at stake, and it has taken two years to get the matter settled. To race course societies and to the various otiieials the judgment is of great importance. It is now maintained that the stewards have the right to modify their own by-laws, aud anyone running a horse in a race submits himself to the authority of the stewards. There have been in the past several disputes of a similar character and that is why thousands of pounds have now been spent over what appeared at first sight a trivial affair; the case in future will be quoted as a precedent and therefore the trouble and money cannot be considered wasted. According to the French Rules of Racing, which are now adjusted so as to control sport over obstacles as well as on the flat, the period between December 15 and February 15, is a "close season," but the race courses at Nice. Cannes, Pau, Bordeaux and Marsailles are specially exempted. No flat races may take place elsewhere after the Friday or the Sunday that falls between November 11 and 15, nor before the Friday or the Sunday that falls between March 11 and IX. Consequently, the Hat race season will terminate with the meeting at St. Cloud on Friday next week. Under ordinary circumstances the jumping season would finish with the meeting at Auteuil on Sunday. December 14. but the Steeplechase Society lias granted an additional date to compensate for the meeting that was annulled in the spring in consequence of frost. The season, therefore, will not finish until Wednesday. December 17, and the conditions of the supplementary program at Auteuil on that date have lust been published. Paris Letter to London Sporting Life.
