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RACING IN FRANCE TO BE EXTENDED Flat Racing in September and October and Over Obstacles in November The Spanish Turf. There is certain to be racing after the Bordeaux meeting now; taking place. Tho cabinet is impressed Nvltli the necessity of carrying on, and there are no futile excuses such as those which have been advanced in the home of racing for stopping a sport which is at the same time the natural sequence of the breeding industry. There will be racing on the flat and across country in September and October, while November will probably bring with it an autumn program on the same lines as the gathering formerly held at Auteuil. In the meantime commanders of different depots have been iuithorized when possible to grant furlough to men .vho come under the category of jockeys and trainers, including stablemen, so that they may resume for the time being, their former occupations. The purchases in England made by M. Duret, for many vears stud groom at .Tardy for M. Edmond Blanc, .vere made on the behalf of M. Eknayen, who contemplates breeding and racing in this country. Advices from Caen announce a considerable demand it the moment for horses for military purposes either for cavalry or artillery. Buyers pretend their purchases will be sent to a neutral country such as Spain. We have during the past three years learned to know what our enemies in Germany consider as neutral country and arc anxious to learn whether the horses which the French government have not bought or been unable to commandeer will find their way through Spain to Germany. Good accounts are given of racing in the Peninsula and my esteemed colleague of the "Jockey," M. Raymond Isabel has accepted the position of chief editor to the bantling of the journal with which he lias been for so many years connected in Paris and now published as "El Jockey Espagnol" at San Scbastien. The Spanish Boom. A boom in sport may be anticipated owing to the Grand Prix de Sebastien having been won by a maiden three -year-old filly claiming all the allowances Saca Cliipas, by Val dOr Semiramis, bred by M. Unzue. The dual ownership of the winner of the- Grand Prix is attributed to Count de la Enjerada and de Torre Arias, and two seper-ate versions are given as to the origin of her double barrelled allegiance. Some say that Count de Torre Arias was a frequent visitor to racecourses in France, and as a heavy speculator plunged heavily one day on Semiramis, which belonged to Madame Albert Menler. The mare won, and brought him in a large sum, so that when he heard that there was a filly from that dam in the stud of the Due de Gramont for sale, he bought her for 200 sovereigns. Another story, more probable, says that the Due de Gramont had agreed to give iI. Unzue a certain price for his yearlings sired by Val dOr and foaled by the mares which were still in France at his stud. lie offered to sell the five yearlings foaled in 1915 through the intermediary of the Diic de Santo Mauro to the King of Spain, hut without success, and finally sold them to the Marquis de San Miguel, whose horses were under the care of "Ted" Cunnington. Finally the Marquis do San Miguel took over seven yearlings for a lump sum, and as racing had taken root in Spain the yearlings were lumped together, and the joint holders of the ticket giving the right to daim the lot dcslgnatbd, by chance were lucky enough to get Saca Chisspas as their reward. Most certainly the manner in which racing has become popular in Spain will open up a market for the surplus product; in France. Paris Letter to Loudon Sportsman;
