SPORTING.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 80, 25 March 1914, Page 3

SPORTING.

GREAT RACING STABLES. , - When Mr W. K. Vanderbilt transferred his , racing headquarters to France he promised to do the thing handsomely, so far as being a supporter of the French turf is concerned, and he has more than answered expectations. Mr Vanderbilt has never spared expense in his attempt to reach the head of the list among sportsmen in France, and more than once he topped the winning list. Mr Francis ,Foy (of Sydney) visited Mr Vander- ; hilt’s stables during November last, [and in a letter to a Sydney friend [lie says that they are surprising in their proportions. Money is expended in the most lavish manner in keeping 1 the' stables and all that pertains to | them up to the highest pitch of excellence, and though Mr Foy does not state how many boxes are, necessary for the accommodation of horses an idea will be had of the size of the quarters when it is mentioned that in November last there were in these stables 31 two-year-olds and 28 three year old and over. Thus Mr Vanderbilt had 59 horses preparing for action, and that will indicate the extent of that sportsman’s racing operations. These stables are at Chantilly, about 16 miles out from Paris, and associated with them are four of their owner’s private tracks—-one of five furlongs, an'other of six furlongs, and the third of one mile, and the other of a mile and a quarter in extent, so that there is all the material necessary for the. thorough trying oyt of horses in preparation for all descriptions of races. Horse-owners in France and England have much more to contend against in the way of [weather conditions- than those in Australia. Here we complain if the galloping grounds-are a little hard; in dry weather,;: but in the countries named snow and rain often keep horses at home.

With men like Mr Vanderbilt money is no object, they have it “to burn,” and in describing that sportsman’s quarters Mr Foy gays that there is also a half-mile track which is covered in, and therefore,horses are able to lie exercised when under other conditions they would have; to be kept indoors in times of extreme wet weather and heavy snow. Each loose box is 14ft. square, with. about 2ft of straw for bedding, and in tlie coldest times most of the boxes are artificially, cheated. It need scarcely be said. that such' a training establishment, as .this was! not arranged yvithout, s heavy outlay, aml quite £3oi},ooQ .ryas expended ih getting it in order—a, mere trifle to ode' possessing the enormous wealth: of a Vanderbilt. But luck'enters largely. .Ij mi . : " u,,’) -!( • t ’ , , ° into training operations . everywhere;, .even where money is no object, "aiiVl Mr Foy mentions that notwithstandr ing tlie cost entailed in the upkeep of tliesb quarter's elery horse in' the stables in training three months ago .mast, therefore be, a big item.,

RACING PERMITS. ujn o 1 i • 1

£; *\ ■ * . ' I r H| : *>< ■ • ?:• ■ T [Peh Press Association.] March 2-i. ' In reply to a cleputaCon-from- the Pafuatiia Racing Chib, regarding the restoration of the club’s permit, the Hon.F. M. B t> Jip]d out no prospect of the Government itself . tajtjng np,tlie Bill introduced last session by Mr G. Hunter, M.P., provitli'hg;dor.ikh xildrease-in permits, but he thought the House would- put it through.' His own opinion, was that it shbhld.be pktHllimigh" He described the Racing Commission as “The Racehorse Owners’ Fat Stakes Commis.sion.” It was 'a metropolitan commission, and old-established clubs had been wiped’ nut ruthlessly and relentlessly. t

A Sydney cablegram states that Sinapis, Bon Ton, Bon Reve, and AH ■Black have arrived by the Willochra.