RUSSIAN HORSES BARRED

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29398, 28 December 1960, Page 7

RUSSIAN HORSES BARRED

Poet’s Comment On British Decision (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) MOSCOW, December 26. *The Russians burst into verse against British regulations which may bar three Soviet racehorses from entering next year’s Grand National, Britain’s great steeplechase. Moscow Radio reported that the British authorities had found a law forbidding entry of Russian horses, donkeys and mules. The poet, Alexander Bezymensky. commented: No law was ever funnier —or more silly— The Derby’s not to see a Soviet cob or filly Since England’s law says “No” to foreign donk or nag. So such enactments I’ll satirically rag: But then, it’s not an ancient bill their hand does force — It’s ill-disposition and then, of course, Some other reason makes English starters bar the Soviet horse. In councils where laws like this do nass The wisest man himself is but an ass. And furthermore, it should be said. These legal asses were home-bred. The Russians last week entered three crack jumpers for the one hundred and fifteenth running of the Grand National on March 25. A British Ministry of Agriculture spokesman later said there was an order prohibiting the entry of horses, asses and mules from Russia—and other countries. The order was made last September because of a wave of deadly African horse sickness, which ravages parts of the Middle East.