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Here and There on the Turf Track Fire Protection. English Horse Market. Reinstatement of Bobbins. That English Invasion. After he disastrous fire at the Tijuana course, recently, it was suggested in this column that racing associations would do well to offer better protection against such a calamity. When the stables burned at Tijuana there was an inadequate equipment to fight the flames, until the department at San Diego, sixteen miles away, responded. The Kentucky Jockey Club, always quick to make any improvement in its racing property ha; added an inspector to its list of employees. Tim Lanahan, a former chief of the Louisville Fire Department, has been appointed to this important office for Churchill Downs, and his duty will be to see that the stables are properly protected. There will also be a night patrol fcr the same purpose. It is expected that other racing associations will follow this lead of the Kentucky Jcckey Club and that the horses and horsemen will be afforded better protection. From time to time there have been disastrous race track fires, and in almost every instance the property damage was much more lhan it would have cost to have the desired protection, while on other occasions the destruction cf horses brought the lesscs up to man times the cost of adequate protection. It is a wise precaution that has been taken by the Kentucky Jcckey Club at Churchill Downs and it will add greatly to its popiir larity as a winter training ground. Reports of the Newmarket December sales tell another story of the importance of the strong position of the thoroughbred market which always means a healthy condition of the turf. Not in ten years have such crowds attended the sales and the average was exceedingly high for the horses that were offered. This would indicate that England is rapidly coming back from the devastating effects of the World War, when both the horse market and the turf suffered heavily. While there have been years when the American sportsmen and breeders played a more important part, some of the choice offerings will come to this country. Johnson N. Camden made notable purchas3S and Walter J. Salmon, who is a regular patron of the sales, was also a buyer. Other purchases were made presumably for Thomas Fortune Ryan, and George Wingfield, the Nevada breeder, was still another purchaser. Several of these American purchases are of importance to our own thoroughbred industry and it is probable that the importation of brood mares is of equal importance with the purchase of stallions. Mr. Salmin, in addition to his other purchases, bought two steeplechasers, which will bear his colors next year. These are both winners and it is well to know that Mr. Salmon will continue in hat branch of the sport. Wedensday night there will come a big American auction of thoroughbreds in the dispersal of the Xalapa Farm Stud and racing stable. This is to be held in Squadron A Armory, New York, at 7:30 oclock at night and will continue Thursday night. The horses reached New York Monday night and many prospective buyers will have an opportunity for an inspection before the sale. This is a vendue that has brought horsemen from various jjarts, and it is expected that there will be a lively demand for most of the offerings. The horses traveled from Kentucky in a special train of nine cars and the shipment included the stallions, mares, yearlings, foals and some of the horses of racing age that were at the farm. The revocation of the license of jockey Rob-bins at New Orleans for his recent riding of Hayward did not last long. This young man has been restored to good standing when the stewards were satisfied by a subsequent race that the horse and not the rider was to blame for the offense that brought punishment to Robbins. It was on Tuesday that Hayward, with Robbins up, swerved into Foxmore, ridden by McDermott, and threw the pair down. It was for this that the horse was disqualified and Robbins had his license revoked. Saturday Hayward, with W. Harvey in the saddle, won a race at Jefferson Park and just as he had done when Foxmore was thrown down, he swerved badly in the stretch. It was this that exonerated Robbins and fixed the blame on his mount. Fortunately on this occasion Hayward enjoyed a lead sufficient to avoid any fouling. Thus was the punishment passed on to the horse and Hayward was barred from starting by reason of his actions. It is well that the stewards should have taken this action. Naturally Robbins should be restored to good standing when it was discovered that the horse was to blame, but it is of greater importance that the stewards ! barred Hayward fxpiu starting. The horse "that swerves in, as he has been doing in his races, is a serious menace to the other horses and the other riders. There are many rogues among the thoroughbreds and when one is found that is an absolute danger to other horses and other riders it should be expelled, at least until he has been cured of his dangerous traits. While there is no denying the fact that the time is ripe for American sportsmen to make an invasion of the English turf, there is no assurance that this is contemplated. The American thoroughbred has a new importance abroad after the unsuccessful visits of both Papyrus and Epinard, and it is greatly to be desired that our own horses go afield for the glory of the breed. We have so many opportunities for our horses at home that it is something of a sacrifice. Then there is a warranted desire among the followers of the sport to sse our best at home. An invasion is surely to be desired and it is due after the fine sportsmanship of Ben Irish in sending Papyrus and Pierre Wertheimer in sending Epinard. What is most to be desired is an American victory in the Ascot Gold Cup. It is a race that is calculated to try all that is best in the horse and a victory would be of inestimable value in refuting the charge that we cannot breed just as sturdy stayers in this country as can be bred anywhere else. Joseph E. Wideners Altawood shapes up like a colt capable of proving the staying 4qudlties of the American horse in any country and it is not at all unlikely that he may be a starter in the Ascot Gold Cup. The entries for this famous old race close in January. If, as is expected in France, Altawood is raced abroad, it would bs the natural thing for him to go after the Ascot Gold Cuj.
