The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-11-23

II certainly do. think II gives more
asst to the spirit and much batter speed.
In fact, the character Of horses which were
run long distances many years ago were
entirely different from the racers We have
today. Ny hunters, large and powerful
animals. are the class Of horses which were
used 70 run four-mile heats. But the pacs
Is 20 fast now that no animal can be bred
that Is capable of running the long dis
tances ct the terrific speed that is witnessed
on every race course. We run . few long
distance races. but the length Of the course
determines the pace and long distances do
not show the speed. :
rs racing here going backwards or inn
provingf"
'.There is entirely too much Of it. After
the season begins racing goes on in some
part of England almost continuously. The
result is we do not get the best possible re-
suits out of the horses, than if we had only
few prominent meetings during the year
and every energy was bent towards getting
the very best conditions Of the turf. So
many meetings mean the introduction OF
inferior horses into most Of them. that may
or may not be run upon their merits.
few great meetings. and . few fine courses
would be far better for the turf than these
many inferior ones.
''You have seen many Derbys run. I sup
posef'
II went to the FIRST Derby. in 1910. and
have seen with some rare exceptions
every one from that day to this. There is
much sameness in all these contests, and
there are other meetings which / prefer TO
Derby day. had quite novel expert
ence going down there this year. TWAS to
be my ffty-ffth or sixth journey to the
famous race course, and did not like the
uncertainty Of either getting down or back
in the crowded trains. So concluded
that would ride down on horseback.
had splendid mount, and thought to
make q pleasant day of the journey by
circling around through Richmond park,
which made the distance longer, but gave
me . delightful route. But as / had
pleasant companions did not mind. We
reached the course in good time, saw the
wonderful crowd and the race. We then
started homeward and pulled rein at my
house in London early in the evening. hav-
ing covered forty-four miles on horseback,
after having had pleasant day in cele-
hrating my half century experiences with
the Derby, even if was drenched to the
skin by brisk shower which overlook Us
on our way home"
what was the most exciting event you
ever saw at the Derby2
"There mas been much sameness in them
all. The horse that wins is usually so sure
. winner that there is no chance for great
excitement. which usually comes only with
close finishes. Do you know that since
the establishment Of the Der
by in 1852, there has been run only two
dead heats. One was in 1928, between
Cadland and The Colonel. The other was
in 1884, between Harvester and st. Gatian,
now one of the greatest stations in Eng
land. The race was . very exciting one
and the finish set the crowd crazy. Har-
vester was . hot tavorite and immense
sums Of money were laid upon him to win.
Sch . thing Is his being defeated was not
seriously considered, and until St Gatian
went to work ct him within short distance
of the finish, it was supposed that
he had the race practically to himself if h
stood sound, which was doubtful But as
Mr.. Hammond's horse began to gain on
him at every stride after his Jockey began
riding him. it became plain to everyone
that there was to be Furnishing finish.
Both were very game horses, and not far
from home st. Gatian had worked himself
up inch by inch until he was head and
head with the favorite. Both jockeys were
riding like demons, and the many thou
sand people who were looking on became
half frantic with the excitement Of the
contest So intense had been the interest,
that when the horses finished, probably
not dozen people besides the judges knew
the actual result of the race. The relief
from the strain of the finish was so CRATE
full, the crowd accepted the verdict with
composure. In this instance the stakes
we're divided instead of being run of. as in
1928.
"That was tho most exciting Derby day
ever saw, and it is fair to presume that
very few young people or old who were
there will ever look upon another like it.
As it was tfty-six years from the first dead
heat for this famous event to tho second, it
is fair to presume that IL will be many
years from 1854 before another tie is re-
corded between the great horses who will
contest for future honors."
"Are there many fine horses now in the
studf"
"Yes, great many. ! think some of
the finest sires We have ever had are now
getting colts. St. Simon, belonging to the
Duke of Portland. is great horse; so is
St Gatan, of whom l was just speaking.
Barcaldine, the property of Lady SIAM
ford, is splendid animal, and so is GAO
pin, the property of Henry Chaplin.
our minister of agriculture. Mr.. Chaplin
also owns that famous old horse, Hermit,
who won the Derby in 1867 in a snow
storm. He got some great colts, and some
of his blood has found its way to the United
States, believe. Hampton, belonging to
the Earl of Eismere. Is good one and so
is Isonomy. The Duke OF Westminster
has sold his great horse Ormonde, who won
the Derby and st. Leger both in 1885. He
is Q wonderful animal, and was purchased
by people from South America
l have heard that a movement is
being made to buy him back and keep him
in England. These horses and blood that
flows in their veins are interesting objects
to all those interested in breeding for the
turf, and sooner or later their get will exer-
else greater or less influence upon the
new generation of horses that will contest
in the United States. where hear the turf
conditions are improving so rapidly.
do you like the running on the turf or
on soft track. as in American"
There is nothing Like the turf. A horse
has some chance to get q foothold. Rum
ming in the soft sand an animal is bound to
slip more or less and to lose entirely that
frmness of touch that he has on the turf.
Then, again, the ground becomes fast and
holding, retarding horses with q long