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AMERICAN AND ENGLISH TIMING. If the time test can be relied upon there are some good horses once more in the States. Less than three weeks ago Mr. Andrew Millers Roamer won the Washington Handicap, of 400 sovereigns added, over the Cambridgeshire distance in 1:49, thus creating a new American record over nine furlongs. Earlier at the meeting, Laurel Maryland, Roamer had been beaten over a mile and 110 yards by Mr. A. Belmonts gelding, Stromboli, and for that race the winner tied with the American record time set up in 1909, at Fort Eric, by Gretna Green, and equalled a few years later by Trap Rock, each of the three occupying 1:43. We have no record in En?land for the latter distance, but in regard to Roamers victory over nine iurlougs his time is nearlv tlirce seconds laster than the record time for the Cambridgeshire set up in 1904 by Ha.cklers Pride, and rivalled two years later by Polyaielus, I.e.. 1:52. It was good going and u fast track at Laurel, which it may be stated is an Important meeting, and among those presnt were Mr. A. Belmont and many other notable American sportsmen. "Clocking" races is effected in scientific fashion in the States, whereas here, in the home and nursery of racing, by no means the; same accuracy obtains, it being left to the discretion of people on the stands at Newmarket, nine furlongs away, as to the exact moment of the start. In the circumstances comparison of English and American times Is of no real value, especially as the majority of the American race courses are dirt tracks aiiU ours all grass. At the same time the American time records go to show that speed Is still well represented In the States and that racing js now quickly recovering from the set-back caused a few years ago by fanatical "anti-gambling" laws, which fora while threatened to kill the American turf. Mr. Belmonts Stromboli is a tliree-vear-old gelding by Fair Play out of St. Prls-cilla. bv Ravon dOr out of St. Pauline, by St. Blaise out of Patience, by Parmesan. St. Prisclllas pedigree is purely Anglo-French, taking her back to our Stnd Book at all points. Fair Play himself is by Hastings out of Fairv Gold, by Bend Or out of Dame Masham, and his sire was got by the American horse Spendthrift grandsire of Kings Courier ont of Cinderella. The latter, like Patience and Fairv Gold, was an English mare. She was bred by Sir W. Throckmorton owner of Avington, etc.. and sold to go to the states In her young days for about 21 guineas. She was by Blue Rnin or Tomahawk. London Sportsman of November 2.
