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DISCUSSION OF ENGLISH METHODS. ••Australian visitors to England invariably have a deal to say concerning the barefaced manner in which beaten horses are pulled off at the finish of races in that country, and it is beginning to strike n.;. n v Old Country sjiortenien that it is time a change was made in resaeet of this particular point." says the Sydney Referee. The Winning Posts Turf scribe touched upon it in a recent issue, and after lamenting the decadence of horsemanship in England, delivered himself as follows: "But it is not so much lo discuss styles that we revive this time-worn question of race liding as to ask whether It would not In- advisable to alter the etiquette which at present obtains, and permits joek-eya who feel sure they cannot win to ease their horses a long distance from the winning post. In Australia and other countries they have a rule which im.kes it compulsory for every jockey to ride his botae clean out. and thus give the handicappcr every Chance of seeing what each horse can do. The one great objection to such a rule here seems to be that a severe raee. first time out. might injure a highly-sluing two year old to the extent of making him useless f..r fui uro racing. Others there are who contend that every horse requires a race in public belli, being put to top pressure, and some even go so far as to say that horses can only be trained on the race course. The last named expression of opinion is absurd, and we should like to hear what John Porter had to say to anybody giving vent to such Ideas. To say the least, it is a reflect1 B the ability1 of tlie trainers of today. It is certain that here and there a horse crops up that defies all the mtbOdOX ideas of training, but few indeed are they thai cannot be trained right up to ttie last ounce on the home gallops. "At all times there have been men who exploited race horses for the sole purpose of gain, but never was the spirit of oomiuoreialisui so rain pant in the sjK.rt of racing as it is today. Time after time do we see horses run. ridden by second rate JOCkeys and a bit above themselves in COadl-lion, until they have secured a lowly place in the handicap. The preeeat rules do not prohibit such practices, and BO matter how keenly enthusiastic the handicappcr may be about his work, he cannot tell what a horse can do after hi- has bad those few extra gallops, and when Maher is substituted for A. Novice in the saddle. Having the horses ridden clean out in every race would help him somewhat, for if a horse has anv latent merit he will generally show some sij-ns of it if permitted to do so. On Hie other hand, so long as owners and trainers are permitted to give the instructions If you cant win. dont knock him alniiit. a ready-made cloak is at oaee provided with which the unscrupulous can cover their misdeeds. Moreover. the good, honest, straightforward English sportsman who says If you cant win. get as close as you can. is placed at a great disadvantage by reason f his honest ways, and we contend thai the premium should be placed on sport in its true sense and noi "ii dishonesty."
