The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-17
DANNY MAHER on RACEHORSES.
Thinks English Are From IA { o n Pounds
Better Than American.

In the latest issue Of the TdtIer to hand
from across the water Danny Maher, the
American jockey. compares the American
and English racehorses and awards the palm
to the British. His opinion is that the best
American horse is from fourteen to twenty
one pounds behind the best English. Maher
says:
There was a time many years ago when
l was under the impression that the racing
in America was the finest in the world. Since,
however. / have been riding in England l
have quite changed my views on this subject.
and indeed when 1 say that without a shadow
OF doubt both English racehorses and race
courses are absolutely top hole / feel that I
am on safe ground. Still, absurd though it
seems. l have met quite a big bunch OF race
goers who hold the opinion that England is
behind the times In racing as In everything
else This seems to me utterly absurd. In
the first place. the majority Of English race
as for Newmarket-well. l never want TO ride
on q finer course, and am also quite certain
that never shall. The great expanse Of
tion. and to those who love racing out of sheer
enthusiasm for the sport there Is something
truly inspiring about the course at New
Again, when comparing English race
horses with American. the, latter, i think. do
rare occasions in the land OF the Stars and
Stripes are such fine specimens Of the thor
spearmintSto say nothing Of equine won.
ders such as Pretty Polly-all of which are
anything from IL to Fl pounds in front of
the best American horses. By the way, talk
ing Of Spearmint, / must indorse the opinion
Of Bernard Dillon, who rode the son of Car
when he says hat Spearmint is the gamest
horse he has ever ridden. As many people
will no doubt remember. / rode Major Eus-
tace Loder's colt in the Derby. and a long
way from home l formed the opinion that l
was. up, on something extra good Spear
mint. like nearly all the Carbines, Is a fine
slayer and is, moreover, the gamest Of the
game. and l shall not forget for many a long
day the way he shook on the challenge OF
Picton some distance from the finish.
i have seen it stated in several newspapers
that American jockeys hold but a poor opin-
ion OF the English methods OF racing. Now /
should like to contradict this widely circu-
lated statement. for as a matter OF fact l
have never met an American Jockey who has
ton that he has received from both the racing
and non-racing British public. There are
one or two other countries / could speak OF
In which a foreign Jockey does not always
meet with fair play, but in England every
and indeed when / first came over here mani
jockeys-Morny Cannon for nstance-went
out OF their way to make me feel at home.
IL IL on that account that though America is
my real home i shall always feel that England
Is a very capable understudy.
"Anti-gambIers may decry racing and all
other forms OF sport. narrow minded people
may-tO use an expressive slang expression
give racegoers the icy, Arctic glance. but
all the same l shall always regard English
breathed' and. English racing az the finest in
the world, Americans may be very cute.
but at racing they cannot teach the English
anything they do not know already"