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* * ROBERT S. SIEVIER, NOTED ENGLISH TURFMAN, ENJOYS AMERICAN RACING AND PLANS TO BRING A STRING OF ENGLISH HORSES HERE TO RACE NEXT SEASON Jl d. New ork. November 11. — Boln-rt S. Sievier. prominent English horseman and turf enthusiast, who is visiting this country, seated himself comfortably in the smoking car prepared for a journey from Baltimore to New York. He had been a visitor to Pimlico to see a days racing on this side of the Atlantic, something lie had anticipated with considerahb desire. Bm degree of satisfaction he had obtained was depicted on his face when he smiled in answering the .juestion: "How did you enjoy the afternoon :* "Splendidly. I was much pleased with the afternoons outing and hope to have many more such enjayal.le days. Of course the racing seemed a bit stiange to me to see the horses running around the circle, as we have so many and varied courses in England, but the folks seem to enjoy the sport here hugely and the patronage indicates its popularity. They tell me Pimlico is one of the oldest courses in this country and while it is not as pretentious as some of our larger institutions in England, it is much more inspiring than some of our country hunt meeting grounds. "Two or three things struck me forcibly. One was the almost perfect starting of the horses and the excellent schooling they must have had to te.ich them to line up and stand in such pciloct alignment. I dont tliiik we have any better starting in England, and possibl - not as good as a whole. But there is one thing I cannot understand and that is the continual jumoing around of those two or three fellows on the track evidently trying to assist the starter by slashing around their long whips and pulling and hauling the horses about. 1 suppose they are neccessary in this country or you would not have them, but to me they seemed strange and almost unnecessary." "We have some extremely bad-acting horses in this country." one of his hearers remarked. "I suppose that is true of every country, but I cant understand a horse being pulled into ixisition by a husky chap with a bridle in one hand and a long whip in the other. 1 think the horse might do liettcr if he were coaxed, or charmed b.v a friendly cluck of the tongue. However, whatever their method, good starts are obtained, and I should surmise good starts and racing luck at the turns have much to do with the results of races around oval tracks. You see. in England, we have mostly straight courses, in fact permission is not granted by the Jockey Club to a mw institution to hold a meeting these days unless there is a mile straight in the prospectus. We believe in races over a straight course when possilde. There is less liability of interference and consequently races are more truly run. as horses getting away a little IKKirly are more apt to recover over a straight course than if they have to make three or four turns." "What do you think of our horses in this country, so far as you know?" "Well. I should say you have some nice horses here if Xtromlmli is any criterion. He must be a good horse to handle the weight he does and carry it at top speed for a mile. I hope to see your liest. Boanier, 1 think he is named, before I go home. They say he is nearly a stone fourteen pounds lietter than Stromboli. This is proof ixisitive he is a good horse, as Stromboli. taking a line through Short Grass, would be alxmt a fair handicap horse in England. You know Short Grass was only a selling plater when Mr. Herz bought him. At least he was running in selling races and had he lieeu entered in handicaps he would have classed with the lighter-weighted division. A line through Short Grass, you pee, would make Stromboli a fair sort of horse and Boamer. I should think, would he placed in what 1 would term the best of the second division of handicap horses or a tritle below our liest. This deduction is made through his races with Stromboli anil the hitters showing with Short Grass." In speaking of the possibilities of Mr. Sieviers iui|iorting a stable of horses to this country for racing pur[«ises he said that it was probable he would have a short string here early next year so as to get them acclimated and to straighten out their sea legs before the opening of the season. "It is not because I lielieve racing will be quiet in England next year. On the contrary, I believe it will lie one hundred per cent, better than it was this year, but I believe it is a good thing for racing and the thoroughbred generally to have an international mix-up of horses. It lends life to the s|x rt and adds additional interest to the amusement. You know 1 shant send any Sceptres over here, but I , think I have horses that will will handicaps and stakes which will stand the voyage. At least I hope so, for it takes money and lots of it to ship horses across the Atlantic in these perilous times." Mr. Sievier did not say whether he would place . his consignment in the hands of an American I trainer or send a trainer with them from England. It seemed to he a question which had not yet entered ! into the project. No doubt he will have many . applicants for the iwsition if he desires to let his horses have American training treatment. There is no room for doubt that American racing , appeals to Mr. Sievier. He was one of the last to leave old Pimlico on Saturday night for a couple of f nights rest in his New York apartments at the , Bitz. but he left a call for himself at 7:.10 Monday morning so that he could get back to the scene of f action in time for the first race on Monday afternoon. ;
