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- Lanzani Lauds American Turf Standards American horse owners who find difficulty in making their stables pay their way may derive some consolation from the fact that it is considered virtually impossible to break ahead in the operation of a stable in Italy. Others who may have tired of hearing of the superiority of the European horseman, tracks, and operations may be cheered to learn that the secretary of the Italian Thoroughbred Owners Association considers his country woefully backward by comparisons to American standards. This is Giancarlo Lanzani, of Milan, a personable and outspoken young man who is visiting this country in an effort to learn "what others are doing/ Lanzani tells us that in all Italy there are only about 1,000 thoroughbreds of racing age of which about 700 are ready or able to run. Owned by the 200 members of the association, these race for prizes approximating ,200,000 annually, or an average of about ,700. Races are held at Milan, Rome, Naples, Florence, Piza, Torino, a new course this year at Palermo, in Sicily, and a few minor tracks. This involves a great deal of shipping, and racing is held only three days each week and sometimes at night. The patrons are up against a mutuel "take" of 18 per cent, of which 3 per cent is the governments share, while 4 per cent goes to the track for operating expenses. This might appear a small percentage to the track, but in reality is "gravy." Purses are not paid by the track, but come from the remaining 11 per cent less the cost of about one point for the operation of the purse distribution. American horsemen may be surprised to learn, as we were, that the initial nomination fee to stakes is not added to the stake, but is retained by the operating track. -
