MR L. D. NATHAN IN ENGLAND

Otago Witness, Issue 2467, 26 June 1901, Page 51

MR L. D. NATHAN IN ENGLAND

Late this afternoon (says London correspondent of the New Zealand Herald, writing under date May 10) I had the pleasure of meeting Mr Laurence D. Nathan, of Auckland, who, in consequence of a cold, had been unable to make his appearance in the city uni.il within the last day or two. After paying a 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 amember of everything in the well-known racing report 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 clone in this vast place. In conversation he told me he founxl great improvements in the methods adopted since he was here last. Then, in order to ascertain which hor--was which, one had to ask the b.jv leading; now a badge was rrvried on the arm showing the number of the race in which the horse was to run, and also the horse's number on the programme — this, it need hardly be said, being somewhat similar to the practice in New Zealand and Australia, where the numbers are worn on the saddle cloth. Another benpßcial change ib that many of the "sprint" laces that once weie had now been stopped, the distance being gradually lengthened, this, of couise, beinjr with a vit-w lo improving the stamina of the racehor-e and bring him back to whii ho uted to 1-e "They have found here." »aid Mr Nathan. " that tho Australian and Now Zealand horses have been going ovti distances ; they have also found thai jockey-, here are deteriorating So now they h-ivo special races for apprentices, and -within the last fortnight an improvement ha- been made in the rules, hy which a special allowance oi 51b is made to &a a£pi entice

if he makes his claim before he weighs in the scales. This, is to encourage the apprentices to iklp." " And. as, to the manner of riding, do you notice any change in that? " "Ye«," replied Mr Nathan. " The English apprentice^ and boys are now starting to ride after the American fashion, a la Tod Sloan, right up on the v ither." "Do you think that an advantage?" I asked, wnh a view to informing New Zealand rider? on the matter. " A gieat advantage,' 1 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 i« to «ay. the bulk of lite riders. ' Asked a<= to his visit to racing stables Mr Nathan informed me that he had met Mr Day at a great sale of racehor-es last week, of which New Zealandeis will have heard. At Newmarket he had looked over the Heath Stud farm, and he saw the celebrated Florizel 11, at one time owned by the Prince of Wales. And who shall say the King has not an interest in him yet? There were there also Best Man. Worcester, and other', of repute. Here a pleasant afternoon was spent with the matrons and foals. Then, having , been introduced to Mr H. J. Gerrod, manager ior Mr H. M'Calmont, of Cheveley Park, one of the most famous places in England, Mr Nathan went over the stud farm there; its dimensions are so extensive that m bu«y times 500 men are employed, and even at the slackest period there are 250. "It is the finest place I ha\e ever seen in the woild," said Mr Nathan.

There, among other things, ho o aw that austociv.t of the turf, Isinglass, in his home box, tho "home" itself being a work of art. Outside is a tablet notifying Isinglass's \htories. totalling £57,000 odd: the inside is beautifully finished and electrically lighted, "a- home for a nori=e that would put to shame that of many residents in N<nv Zealand." Fc Rowing this came a visit to Sir Bkmdell Maple's famous place. Here were some 39 oi 40 horses in training. It was after looking over the magnificent grounds and stud hcices that Mr Nathan determined on a purchase. Of thi? I had heard before, but from M; Nathan. I obtained some additional particular. His purchase is the St. Simon horse Fitzsimons, who is now in his fourth y(ar. "They seemed +o thhik," paid Mr Nathan, "that if Seaton Delaval were successful, this horse should be doubly so, mated with the stoutly-bred Musket mare". Willy Waugh, the trainer, whom I also knew Maple's general manager, and Sir Blund?ll as well as Mr Edward Bird, Sir Blundell himself, who assisted us, came to the conclusion that Fitzsimons should be a gigantic success in Auckland — as great a success as Bill of Portland at St. Albany. In these circumstances I decided tc buy him and ship him to Auckland, whithei he will be despatched in a week or two." Fit&simons, I may say, i^> a fine upstanding brown horse, and at the time be was purchased by- Mr Nathan, he was in training for short-distance race?. He had been tried over Sir Blundell Maple's private racecourse, and his then owners were positive he could win his first race ; this was i week before Mr Nathan purchased him. Since then he has, of course, been scratched fcr all engagements. He is to he shipped in plenty of time for the New Zealand season. With the importation of Cyrenian, Phoebus Apollo, and last, but not least, Fitzsimon^, Auckland breeders should not stand in need of good blood.