THE OLD ORDER AND THE NEW.
In an interesting comparison of horses of the past and those of to-day the Melbourne “Sporting News” says:—Ask any of the veterans in the business, and they will tell you positively that the racehorse in Austra’ia has sadly deteriorated, during the last, say, 30 years or so. They will not even admit that the galloper of the present day is fleeter of foot over short courses than were the old-time fliers of the turf. When confronted with “time records” in opposition to their argument, the “grey-beards” stoutly affirm that it is due to the improvement in the tracks, rather than the increase in speed of the horses . themselves, that the watch tells such, lively stories in these days, when miles are frequently covered under imin 4osec. It is difficult to blame the “o’dtimers” for thus defending their champions so loyally, but while making full allowance for all this, it can at the same time scarcely be conceded that the increase in speed is to be wholly and solely attributed to the better attention now paid the ground, in most p’aces, where races are run. That the faster times are in some measure due to the much improved character of the turf may be true, but it is, to our idea, also certain that the racehorses of the present day are, taking them all round, much speedier than the gallopers of even a quarter of a century ago. This may in some measure be accounted for bv the fact that there is now great encouragement—too much, perhaps—given for the development of mere pace in the thoroughbred, to the exclusion of other and more desirable qualities. “Sprinting” has become so much the fashion that there are now instances of horses going right through their careers on the turf without attempting anything higher than a short dash. A smart sprinter is so valuable in his own particular department that it is scarcely necessary to risk dulling his speed in an attempt to find out whether he also possesses stamina. We have never been in favour of the different clubs giving the sprinter so much opportunity as compared to the chances open to the slayer, and it might be better if there were more races of a distance in every programme submitted. This wou’d at least lead to more horses being tried for stamina, and some of them would surely be found worthy of promotion from what might be called the “squib” ranks.
It is, perhaps, with far more reason that the veterans declare we are now weak in real stayers compared to the times when it was the rule to look upon endurance and courage as the qualities in the galloper best worth rewarding. We may not be quite so badly off in this respect as our experienced critics declare, but it must be candidlv confessed that there would be cause for congratulation if we could exchange some of the brilliant speed that is so abundant here, there and everywhere all over the country for a further supply of real stamina. We are aiming at an “improvement in the breed,” and this may be taken as meaning that it is first and foremost wished to rear stout-hearted, grittv anima l s, capable of covering a distance of ground, rather than the production of mere “fliers” over sprinting courses. True, a share of speed is a necessity in the racehorse, but this is not to say that it should be “cultivated” to the
exclusion of all else. It is easy to see whv there were comparatively speaking, far more stayers in the land in the days that the veterans are so found of boasting about. The reason is, stamina was then considered the thing, while mere speed only came as a secondary consideration. We do not advocate going back to the sometimes cruel system of “heats,” but we do say that at would tend, to an ‘ ‘improvement in the breed” if race programmes were indicated. In an ordinary suburban “bill of fare” there are usually two six-furlongs’ races one over five furlongs, and perhaps another of a mile or a mile and a-quarter, at the disposal of flat racers, and one of these is confined to performers who have won less than in any one stakes. There is not much encouragement here to develop any stamina a galloper may possess, and while this craze for sprinting contiunes it is only to be expected that there will be a scarcit of stayers in the country. To ensure a full supply of horses of the right stamp at all times, we must largely increase the opportunities of the genuine stayers.
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Bibliographic details
New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 947, 30 April 1908, Page 6
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780THE OLD ORDER AND THE NEW. New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 947, 30 April 1908, Page 6
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