The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-09-13
WOMEN AND RACING

law is an excellent thing. Again. w. c.
Whitney has been unlucky on the turf
the present season, while his son. Harry
Payne Whitney. has been exceptionally
fortunate. There is the natural desire
TO get even.
The unique point in the Mr.. Roslyn
racing firm is that IL was confessedly
organized to rival the racing stable or
the respective husbands of Mr.. Roslyn
namely, Messrs. Whitney and Duryea
who run a racing stable in their own
name. One of their thoroughbreds,
Irish Lad, a two-year-old, has won lit
tie short of $4,000 this season, 1t Is
said. and IL was hearing Irish Lad dim
ned into their ears morning, noon and
night and being told snubbingly and
patroniZingly that women knew moth
ing of horses that put the ladies on
their mettle, especially with w. c.
Whitney to back them. TO start string
of horses of their own.
At any rate they start in to win
under favorable auspices, Each has
money enough in her own right to do as
she pleases. Mrs. Duryea herself is
practical and enthusiastic horsewoman.
Before her marriage she was Miss Win
chester and a member OF the New York
society hunting set. Finally, the man
whom the ladies have engaged to edu-
cate their colts, Mr.. John T.. Madden,
has the name of being the best horse
trainer in America. When one of the
respective husbands of Mr.. Roslyn asks
questions concerning the new firm and
it's prospects. he is referred to Mr.. Mad
den.
II is amusing to note that Mrs. Harry
Payne Whitney, noted among the New
York exclusive society set for her devo-
ton TO her young husband, becomes by
this move his deadly rival on the turf
and their friends are wishing luck to
the women's stable.
With three thoroughbreds-two two
year-olds and one yearling-all lately
purchased, the ladies entered for the
autumn races. on the whole, they are
to be congratulated. 1t is better to
spend time and money on that noble
animal. the horse, than on the mere
narrow little social rivalries and ex-
travagances into which fashionable la
dies are thrust. often against their will.
for after ALL social conserva tisms hold
them in narrow limits. IL is much bet
ter To compete i'm horses than i'm clothes
and shows and small social distinctions.
IL Is n distinct step up and out. If now
the ladies shall presently under the
tuition Of Father Whitney establish n
breeding as we'll as racing stable and
produce splendid horses. IL will be still
better. They have leisure and they
have the money IL may be worth
while 10 note that at the horse shows
Of the present season an unusually
large number Of the prize winners have
been women.
While American women are only be-
ginning 10 invade the turf here. femi-
nine owners Of racing stables are no
novelty at all i'm Europe. Even I'm
! France, where women care so much
more for clothes than they do for
horses. the Vicomtesse d'Harcourt Is
one OF the most noted turf winners.
Mr.. Roslyn Is not even an innovator In
the field OF rivalry between racing hus-
bands and wives on two occasions
\ the winner Of the Austrian Derby at
! Vienna was woman-Prlncess of
Montcnegra-an both times her horses
defeated her husbands.
England. however. has had more rae
/ ing women than any other nation. and
almost without exception they have
been ladies of high rank. even To- duch-
esses. The most famous one OF the past
was her grace Of Montrose. known far
and vide as the sporting duchess. Her