HORSE-RAGING IN ENGLAND.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 10140, 29 August 1904, Page 4

HORSE-RAGING IN ENGLAND.

AN INTERESTING INTERVIEW

Mi- Humphrey OxCnham, the wellknown Sydney bookmaker, returned last week from London.

In the course of an interview, Mr Oxctilwm niLl that horse racing m Eng land was much the same as m Australia, but there was more of it. People, he said, were under the impression tluat racing m the Old Country was something cleaner and better tlian m Australia," but he did not think it was. Cliques x-uled Uio sport there, and there were cesrtain owners who were treated very well by the ltan-iicappers. Others could run their horses as long as they liked, but never a pound was taken off the weight. It was the sa.me game as m Australia, Bookmaking Mas not so profitable as it was, and, as many of the favorites got home, it was consequently a near thing i'ttween fielder ajid backer.

Speaking of the class of horses m England, Mr Oxeaham said some of the finest ever seen were racing at present. In his opinion, Pretty Polly was the finest mare that was ever foaled. She started twelve times, and won everything m acanter. St. Amant, the Derby winner, was another c'liampion, and of the two-year-olds, Cicero was regarded as the best. The Australian stock liad not come out too well. When he was m England two years ago, Carbine's progeny yave promise of great tilings, but for some unaccountable reason they kid deteriorated. Tlie Trenton stock had certainly done better, but, generally, the racing of Australian stock had not been satisfactory. Some of the New Zealand jumpers had done well, and liad outclassed the English horses at the fences. The winner of the Grand National simply outjumped his field over the big tiinbei' — the- biggest m the world.

Of jockeys and trainers, Mr Oxenham had a lot to tell. He eaid that the American invasion had died out for several reasons, one of which was that "dosing" had been prohibited by the clubs, and the Americans were unable to secure the big advantage they once held. When the Yankees first came to England, they introduced the idea of giving horses a dose, which gave him, increased speed for the time being, and they won many races. Subseqiiently the clubs decided to put the practice down, and the Americans decided to keep away from England. The only jockey of any importance from across the Atlantic who was now riding m England was "Danny" Maher. Tod Sloan was sent back to America, some time ago, after being badly treated by the French Jockey Club. Of the English riders, the best were W. Dane and the Cannons. Some very big stakes were offered m England just now, but they attracted only moderate fields. The Jubilee Stakes was worth £10,000, and was won by a moderate . horse. Several of those who could have carried it off m a canter were scratched. There was as much wagering on a sell ing race m England as there was on a big event m Australia, and there were backers who would put £10,000 on a horse they fancied.