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STAYERS GIVEN BUT SCANTY CHANCES. The question as whether there are any really good stayers in the country just now Is one which must necessarily be left in abeyance. This state of affairs is neither the fault of our best horses nor their owners, for the simple reason that the old-fashioned long-distance races have completely disappeared on account of the reconstruction of the fixture lists. Last year there was a substitute Gold Cup by this I mean the Ascot Gold Cup in the shape of an event named the Newmarket Gold Cup, at the Second Extra Meeting at headquarters, but Apothecary, who won the eVent in question by a length from Carancho, Snow Marten, and five others, was, according to classic standards, an exceedingly moderate creature. However, that may be, the Newmarket Gold Cup was decided over the two miles Summer Course instead of the half-mile longer journey at Ascot. This year there was no substitute arranged for the Ascot Cup, and thus the long-distance events of the season were the Cesarewitch and Jockey Club Cup, botli decided over the same course and distance two miles and a quarter. Time was when our leading stayers were called upon to travel far longer distances than this, and apart altogether from the Ascot Cup, there were the Alexandra Plate at Ascot and the Goodwood Cup to put to something like a proper test the stamina merits of the supposed best stayers in the country. It is a pity that, with the exception of the Newmarket Gold Cup just referred to, there has been nothing in the shape of a really high-class long-distance race since the war broke out to help us in the diiection of deciding which, if any, of the leading performers is entitled to be regarded as a thorough stayer. It may be that in the unbeaten Hurry On we have a colt which will, if the opportunity presents itself, prove himself to be one of the best horses of modern times. If, however, there are no cup races, or the equivalents to such, again next year, how are we to determine the precise status of Mr. James Buchanans fine colt? During the season just closed he has, for various reasons, been deprived of all chances of measuring strides with Son-in-Law, Poiumern or Nassovian, and unfortunately he will never he able to meet the first-named pair in the future. Nassovian, however, lives to fight another day, and perhaps, therefore, we may see him opposing Hurry On in some important future event. Apparently, though, there is no hope of races over two and a half to three miles being arranged while the Avar lasts, and it will be a distinct hardship if Mr. Buchanans unbeaten colt is deprived of all chance of "making good" his claim as not merely the best of his age, but the finest stayer of his time. It may be contended that so far Hurry On has not been faced with any very difficult task, but it was surely no mean performance to defeat Cla-risslmus. Atlieling, Flaming Fire, and Canyon, as he did literally in a canter for the St. Leger substitute, the September Stakes, especially bearing in mind the singularly easy manner in which Lord Falmouths colt disposed of Silver Tag and Volta in the Champion Stakes afterwards. When Mr. James Buchanans colt came home many lengths in front of Troubadour and King Robert for tho Jockey Club Cup he may not have had a great deal to do, but Troubadour, at least, is a. fine stayer, so that there is prima-facie evidence of Hurry Ons ability to last out the Cesarewitch Course. One hopes, all the same, that the stewards of the Jockey Club will arrange for next season one or two Cup races on the Ascot and Goodwood lines, sc that we may learn the truth regarding the present-day standard of merit so far as stamina is concerned. London Sporting Life.
