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Here and There on the Turf ! Epinards Visit. Haynes and Beary. , French Colts Campaign. Important Autumn Eacing. The receipt of signed contracts for three races which Pierre Wertheimers Epinard is scheduled to run in this country, brings the , projected visit of the French champion out of the realm of possibility into that of probability. , Many things can happen between now . and the tentative date set for Epinards departure . for these shores, but th3 actual signing of the contracts is a distinct step towards ; realization of the venture. Epinard is a ccn-. . ter of attraction just now wherever racing . exists and his visit to this country is bound to exert an enormous stimulus on the sport in th3 United States. The French colt has . been withdrawn frcm the Lincolnshire Handicap, for which he was assigned the crushing impost of 140 pounds, and this fact is a k further indication that his American visit is really a prime consideration with his owner . and trainer. No chances will be taken of ruining his 5 chances for success here by rushing his preparation for the early engagements that have , been made for him in France and England. The colt will undoubtedly meet most of his , engagements in weight-for-agc races in France , and England before starting for this country, but the handicappers have too high an opinion j of his prowess to justify any expectation that j he will start in many handicaps. Epinards one defeat last year occurred in j the Cambridgeshire. In this race he was 3 beaten by Lord Coventrys Verdict, wh.ch was ridden by Michael Beary. Haynes, Epinards American rider, was severely critcized in some quarters for his ride on Epinard in this race, while Verdicts unexpected victory was largely attributed to Bparys jockeyship. All of this tends to lend some color to the reports in English newspapers during recent weeks that trainer Leigh is angling for Bearys services in Epinards English engagements during the coming racing season. Beary has been a Aisitor at Epinards tra:ning quarters in France recently, and, although he did not ride the colt at exercise, it is quite possible that these reports have some foundation. Beary is under contract to Sir Abe Bailey, who races a big stable, and it would be impossible for Mr. Wcrtheimer to obtain first call on his services for this reason. Haynes, whatever mistakes he might have made in the Cambridgeshire, knows Epinard thoroughly by this time, and it is rcasonab!c to suppose that he would do better than a rider who has not ridden the colt before. Horses, like humans, have their peculiarities, their likes and dislikes. A change in riders might do Epinard considerable harm, as he has become thoroughly accustomed to Haynes during the two years of mutual campaigning. ! , , . . ; . . . k . 5 , , , j j j 3 Epinards tasks during the coming campaign will not be easy. The colt has built up a great reputation and its maintenance may not be so easy as some seem to think. In addition to the weights he will be asked to carry he will have to carry the extra burden of that reputation. His performances will be watched with a far more critical eye than will those of his less illustrious rivals. The work of his jockeys and his trainer will be considered much more carefully by the experts than would be the case if the colt were not so widely known and acclaimed. Epinard is a horse and that fact will possibly help him to bear the burdens of bi campaigns better than if he were human. Horse psychology is comparatively simple. The money that he will win can mean little to Epinard. He will not be worrying about success or failure. The spirit of competition he will undoubtedly feel. There seems to be no question that great horses really understand what is asked of them when they find themselves in a hard race. Old Exterminator and Boniface in their historic duels always seemed to sense what was going on when they met. The struggle for supremacy between those two had all the earmarks of a grudge fight. Epinard possibly realizes in his equine way that he is an animal apart from bis fellows. He undoubtedly has something of that pleasant feeling of superiority that is the heritage of the great, horse or human. He cannot grant interviews or do any of the other things that his human counterparts do, but he can go out on a race course and show his heels to the best. The Autumn season of racing is steadily growing in importance. At one time, except for a few important races early in the fall, that time of the year was of comparatively little importance in a racing way. If international racing develops, as it promises to do, the fall season will achieve a prominence in the turf scheme v.hich it has never possessed in the past. There will be the usual interest, of course,-in the big stakes of the spring sea-5 son and the other fixtures of the summer, but all of these will be overshadowed by the international competition that will come later. The Autumn is the logical time for international racing. A French or English horse will have his opportunities to meet his early season engagements abroad, as Epinard is to do, and then can be shipped here in plenty of time to prepare for racing when the fall season opens, The future of international racing greatly depends on the success or failure of Epinards campaign in the United States. If he succeeds where Papyrus failed, it is likely that there will be a challenge for the International Cup next year. If he fails, the future of interna-s tional racing will not be so bright.
