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HOPEFUL OUTLOOK FOR FRENCH RACING. Selection Races May Be Held at Chantilly This Year Instead of at Caen. Perhaps the most encouraging news, from the racing point of view, we have recently received, is the statement that there is a possibility of the French "selection" contests taking place at Chantilly this year instead of at Caen. Chantilly. as everyone knows, is not very far from Paris, ami the mere suggestion that racing is likely to be held there next month is in itself matter for congratulation, as it affords the liest possible proof that our Allies share to the full our own con -fldeace that the enemy will ere long be btwaght to his knees. Nowhere outside of the British Isles is tiie necessity of maintaining unimpaired the purity of the thoroughbred horse ami his descendants more thoroughly appreciated than in Frame, and it may be taken for granted that racing there would long ago have been resumed had each a course been in the least practicable. Last year, at Caen, where the "selection" races were decided, only those people directly concerned were permitted to attend, and it appears that the same restrictions are to be enforced iu the eent of the anticipated sanction being forthcoming as regards Chantilly. but it is all to the good that the government of the great republic recognizes the desirability of such important tests being carried out on a track where really reliable results may be counted upon with reasonable certainty. Benefits of Racing in England. Here, in England, we have all along been more fortunately placed, in spite of the determined efforts of the "stay at homes." who look askance at sport in every form, either in war or peace time, and thus "selection" races, of which the Two Thousand and One Thousand Guineas and the Derby, oaks, and St. Leger substitutes are the principal, have been supplemented by numerous others of the most suitable sort for ascertaining which of our horses and mares are the worthiest to be bred from. It is easy to imagine what would have happened had no . Bach tests of merit been available since the war broke out: for instance, we should probably never even have heard of Hurry On. much less of Claris -sinius. Fifinella. Canyon, and others, all of whom without the necessary opportunities to display their excellence, would have remained absolutely unknown quantities. Fortunately, however, the continuity of our classic- contests has beea maintained, even if the actual races, in some instances, have taken place at Newmarket, instead of at Epsom and Doncaster. We know. therefore, beyond doubt, which were the best cults and fillies of their age-last year. and. all going well, equal facilities will be forthcoming this season.
