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AS IT IS IN ENGLISH PROSPECTS NOW. Interesting Developments Touching Racing in England Next Year. A meeting of the Jockey Club was held at Newmarket on Wednesday in the First October week October 4. There were present Lord Jersey, Sir John Thursby. Mr. Arthur James stewards, Sir W. Bass, Sir E. Cassel, Sir R. W. B. Jardine, Captain Laing, Mr. J. W. Larnaeh, Lord Lonsdale, Mr. G. D. Smith. Lord Jersey said that, in view of the fact that the present racing season was drawing to a close, the club would, no doubt, wish to be made acquainted with the future prospects. Since he had communicated to them the wishes of His Majestys government at a previous meeting of the club, he had endeavored to keep in touch with the board of trade, so that the stewards might be informed at ouce if there was any probability of increased facilities for racing fixtures being available. He had had an interview with Mr. Runcimau, and some subsequent correspondence with him on the subject. Mr. Runciman had definitely stated that he could not suggest that the stewards should grant any additional fixtures for this season, beyond those at Newmarket, already advertised; but he had received a letter from Mr. Runciman as follows: Board of Trade, Whitehall Gardens, S. W., September 20, 191G. Dear Lord Jersey: With reference to our recent conversation on the question of facilities for racing under Jockey Club Rules during next season, I feel bound to place on record the following facts: 1 That the House of Commons has undoubted misgivings on the queston of the continuance of racing during the Avar, and that this feeling has found expression on seA-eral occasions; 2 That witli the progress of the war the strain upon our railways continues to grow greater, and that it Avill be quite impossible to provide railway facilities for the purpose of race meetings; and, 3 That in view of the great shortage of supplies of petrol, the consumption of petrol for any other than essential purposes is against the national interest. ... ., I appreciate, however, the necessity for the continuance of racing on a restricted scale if the horse-breeding industry in this country is to be maintained The government will, therefore, as at present advised, raise no objection to arrangements being made for holding, in addition to the meetings at Newmarket, a limited number of meetings under Jockey Club Rules during the next season under the same conditions and restrictions as are at present in force, but of course the matter may have to be reconsidered later on. Yours sincerely, Signed Walter Runciman. Lord Jersey said that the stewards would, tkere- fore, in due course, consider the allotting of fixtures for next season. It might interest the club to knoAV that he had supplied Mr. Runciman Avith official figures compiled at the registry office, shoAving the great decrease of horses hoav in training in this country compared Avitli former years, and also the comparative numbers of those Avhich had run in England and Scotland in 1913 being the year before AAar Avas declared, and in IJIO, upto the end of August in each of those two years. The figures published in the Annual Volume of the "Racing Calendar" included horses AAhich had run in Ireland; but, as racing in that country Avas not restricted as in England, he thought it fairer for purposes of comparison to obtain figures dealing only Avith England and Scotland. The most interesting of the figures AA-cre those Avhich showed that on March 1, 1911, the number of horses in training Avas 4.014, and that on March 1, 1915, it had fallen to 2,124, or little more than half. The number of horses which ran, as mentioned aboA-e, up to the end of August in 1913, AA-as 3,000. Up to the same date in 1910 it had fallen to 1,367, or considerably less than half. He was confident that Mr. Runciman fully appreciated the importance of keeping racing alive as the mainstay ot the horse breeding industry in this country, and that ho AAas anxious to encourage it as far as present conditions permitted. He might also mention that lie had called Mr. Runcimans attention to the inconsistency of sanctioning unrecognized meetings, especially in certain localities, Avhile racing under Jockey Club rules Avas suspended elsewhere than at Newmarket, pointing out that the holding of such meetings, Avhich could in no way benefit horse-breeding, very naturally caused considerable feeling and a sense of injustice among those avIio were ndA-ersely affected by present restrictions Avhich they loyally accepted; and that Mr. Runciman had intimated that he proposed to make representations on the matter to the responsible department. Lord Jersey further said that he Avas Avell .ware that many Avhose llA-elihood depended to a great extent on racing had lately had a very hard time OAving to the restrictions under AAhich it AAas now carried oh. He Avished to take that opportunity of assuring them that the Stewards Avere fully cognizant of the situation and Avere ready to extend the list of fixtures as soon as the goA-ernment told them that this could be done Avithout interfering Avith those paramount considerations which alone counted at the present time. He Avished emphatically to state that in. his opinion, and he believed it Avas also the opinion of his colleagues, the real interests of racing could j best be served by endeavoring cheerfully to make I the best of such facilities as might from time to j time become possible. He entirely disagreed witli I those avIio took a despondent view and Avho discovered in the present situation signs and . omens of ca-U portent for the future. He Avas : confident that their fears Avere groundless, and that I Avhen happier days returned racing would again flourish as a national institution under Jockey Club rules in the same Avay that it had done in th past. Sir John Thursby said that on behalf of Mr. Arthur James and himself he associated himself AA-ith CA-erything that had fallen from Lord Jersey, Avith Avhoin they Avere in entire accord. Lord Lonsdale hoped it Avould not be considered presumptuous on his part in rising at the moment, but he did feel he should be only echoing the vieAVs that had been universally expressed in moving a resolution to congratulate the steAvards upon the able diplomacy they had shown during the Avhole of the trouble connected Avith racing during the present Avar. There Avere enormous difficulties, and everyone, he was sure, knoAV aacII enough that the AA-ay in which those difficulties from day to day and from month to month had been, dealt with, AA-ould meet not only AA-ith the approval of the members of the Club, but Avith their deep appreciation, and he thought there ought to be a special note recorded in the minutes of the Club to thank them for the diplomatic Avay in Avhich they had dealt Avith all matters connected AA-ith racing. He begged to move that resolution, and if it Avas .in order he hoped it would be carried. Mr. Larnaeh said he had the greatest pleasure in seconding the resolution. They all kneAV Iioav great the difficulties had been, and he thought the Club ought to thank the steAvards for the excellent Avay in Avhich they had dealth with those difficulties. The resolution AA-as put to the meeting, and carried unanimously. Lord Jersey, on behalf of the stewards, thanked the members present for the confidence they had so kindly expressed. London Sporting Life.
