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RACING ALL OVER THE WIDE WORLD King Alfonsos Effort to Substitute the Sport in Place of Bull Fighting-. . King Alfonso XIII. from his bovhood was an immense admirer of King Edward and followed the proclivities of the English people toward outdoor sport with the keenest interest, for the outdoor life and the sporting life were for him the ideal life. Later Ins majesty married an English, princess and his. Jove of outdoor--portr wenis-to-have grown fii " consequence. His foresight told him that crueltv in any shape could not survive in the twentieth century and that there were elements about the national sport of his countrymen which, hv the standard of modern civilization, would not bear the light of day. Customs which are deep-rooted cannot, however, be changed in a day. and King Al- bull lighting but he had the acumen to realize that in modem conditions of life the people will demand sport and recreation and before destroving " rPcl0iltio" .-mother must have taken its place , 5" these circumstances King Alfonso has decided within three years to throw all the weight of his influence into the promotion of race meet-m!?s r!"1 ,on a and ""easing scale, the -larse l ues of English racing to be followed, the rules of the English Jockey Club to be adopted and, as an incentive, his, majesty himself started and is maintaining a racing establishment on a large scale The fact that this step has been taken is not I have reason to understand, so much that the war has precipitated matters as that it was des red ,1 ugh Spanish circles to watch the development of horse racing In the Argentine, where mauv wealthy hpaniards were investing in high-class bloodstock and supporting racing The overwheliningT.css of these South American ventures, not only from the main standpoint of horse breeding but also from a commercial point of view, acted as an incentive to the Spanish government and, war or o war, Spain would have launched out as she s launching out now, inviting all countries to send the best thoroughbred horses they can produce to meet in rivalry those of her own and of lier nations at San Sebastian or Madrid. Spain thus falls into line with every other country of in, portai.ce n the western world. It is true Japan and China have as yet not promoted horse racing 01 recognized any basis and that Scandinavia has somethin- to learn but with the exception of these, imless Switzerland is included the reference to the whole of the world holds true. Great Britain led the British way and t e Dominions India, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa-followed. Then Jame the twti-nental meetings in France, Gennanv, ,,str Italy.. Belgium, Holland, the United states of 1 America and the states of South Americathe Argentine Brazil and Uruguay. other countries awoke to the importance of racing and breeding! such as Egypt, for instance, and the West Indies -Newfoundland and practically every spot on the earth where. the English language is spoken AU these countries, some of them our friends for the time being, enemies, have one am some I all without a single exception, based their r li es of racing on the rules of racing laid down by the English Jockey Club. London Sportsman.
