RACING IN ENGLAND.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 10997, 21 June 1901, Page 6

RACING IN ENGLAND.

im L. D. NATHAN'S pdPRESSIONS. PUROHASE Of FITZSntONS FOR

NEW ZEALAND

(FBOil ODB o*W.f»__-_S-_-S--5T.)

-London; .May 10.

Lata this afternoon I had the pleasure of meeting Mr Laurence D. Nathan, of Auckland, who, in consequence of a cold, hod been unable to make his appearance in the •Chy until wit-bin the last day or.two. After paying fi visit to Brighton, Mr Nathan had run down to Newmarket for the "Two Thousand Week,"'where he had a most enjoyable time; people, he found, could hardly do enough for him, making him a member of everything in the well-known racing resort worth being, a member of.

At Newmarket, where he found from 1800 to 1900 horses in -training, he revelled in the early morning gallops, and the work done in this vast place. In conversation he told mc he found great improvements in the methods adopted since he w_6 here lost. Then, in order to ascertain which horse was which, one had- to ask the boy leading; now a badge was strapped on the left arm giving the number of the race, and underneath the horss_r"s number on the programme —this, it need hardly be said, being a step towards the practice now in vogue in New Zealand and Australia!, where the numbers are worn on the saddle-cloth.

Another beneficial change is that many of the "sprint" races that once were, have now been stopped, and the distance gradually lengthened; this, of course, being with a view to improving the stamina of the racehor__v and bring him bock to what used to be.

"They have found here." said Mr Nathan, "that the Australian and New Zealand horses -have b_-en going over distances; they liave also found that jockeys were not increasing. So now they have special races for apprentices, and wrthin the last fortnight, an improvement has been -made in the rules Jby which a special allowance of five nc-unds is mads to an appj-entic- if he moke his claim before he weighs in the scenes. This is to encourage the apprentices to ride."

"And as to the mamner cf riding; do you notice any change in that?" "Yes," replied Mr Nathan. "The English apprentices and i_o-s are now • starting to ride after the American fashion—a la Tod Sloan —right up on the wither." "Do you think advantage?" I asked.

"A great advantage," was Mr Nathan's answer. "Our boys ride low down in the saddle. 'Here they are riding with short stirrups and right up on the withers—that is to say, the bulk of the riders."

Asked as to his visiits to racing stables, Mr Nathan informed, mc that he had met Mr Day at a great, sale of .racehorses last week, of which New Zealanders will have heard. At Newmarket, he had looked over thf. Heath Stud Farm, and he saw the celebrated Florizef; 11., at one time raced and owned by tbe Prince of Wales. There were there also Best, Man,-Worchestcr, and others of repute. Here a pleasant afternoon was spent with tho matrons and foals. Then, having been introduced! to Mr H. J. Garrod, manager for Mr H. McCalmont, of Ci-eveley Park, one of tha most famous places in England, Mr Nathan went over the etod farm there; its .dimensions are so Extensive, that in busy times 500 men are employed, and even at the slackest period there are 250. "It is the finest nlace I have ever seen in the world," said Mr 'Nathan.

There, among other things, he saw that aristocrat of the turf, Isinglass, in his -horns box, the "homa" itself being a work of art. Outside is a tab.efc notifying IsingHoes's victories, totalling £57.000 odd; the inside is beautifully finished and electrically •lighted, "a l*ome for a horse that would put tto shame that of many residents of New Zealand." Here, in company with Mr Garrod, he also saw Mr McCalmont's celebrated flocks of Sussex Down and Southdown ewes, rams, and lambs. Foif.owing this came "a visit to Sir Bhmdell Maple's famous' place. Here were some 39 or 40 horses in training. It was after looking over the magnificent grounds and f.tud norses that Mr Nathan determined on a purchase. Of this I had heard bsfore, hut trom Mr Nathan I obtained some additional particulars.

His purchase is the St. Simon horse Fitzsimons. "lihey seemed* to think," said Mr Nathan, "that if Seaton were successful, this horse should be doubly so, mated with the stoutly-bred Musket mares. Willy Waugh, the trainer, whom I also knew, as well as Mr Edward Bird, Sir Blundell Maple's general manager, and Sir Blundell h'm*-elf who assisted mc, came to the conclusion that Fit-ssimons should be a gigantic success fn Auckk-nd'—--I hope ac great _ a success as Bill of Portland was at St. Al.bahs.

Fitzsimons, I anay say, is a fine, upstanding brown horse, .and at the time he was purchased by Mr Nathan he was in training for short-distance races. He has b_en bred over Sir.Blund-11 Maple's private raoecourse, and hi- then owners were positive he could win the first race he started for; this was to be in' a week's time—at Chester. Since then he has, of.course, been scratched for all engagements. He is to,be shipped in plenty of .-.time for the New Zealand season.. With the importation of Cyre-iian, Phcebus Apollo, and last, but not least,: Firtasimoin-*, Auckland breeders should not stand in need of good blood.