The Washington times., 1906-12-18
UTTERLY ABSURD.
SAYS D. MAHER
JOllieS EngliShmen About
Charge That They Are
Behind the Times.
AMERICANS CAN'T FOOL 'EM
Yanks May Know Some Things, But
Britishers Know It AII-Horses
Much Better.

In the latest issue of the Taller 10
hand from across the water Danny
Maher. the American jockey. compares
the American and English racehorses
ana awards the palm To ~" British.
His opinion is that the best American
horse is from fourteen 10 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 ia
the world. Since. however / have been
riding i'm England 1 have quite changed
my views on this subject, and indeed
when I say that without "a shadow OF
doubt both English racehorses and race
courses are absolutely top hole l feel
that 1 am on safe ground. StH. absurd
though it seems, / 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.
Horses and Tracks Better.
In ghe first place, the majority of
English race, courses are in every re-
specJ up 10 date. and as for Newmarket
well. 4 never want To- ride ou "a finer
course and ] am also quite certain
that ] never shall The great eXpause
OF green turf there is always In perfect
condition. and To- those who love racing
out of sheer enthusiasm for the sport
there is something truly inspiring about
the course al Newmarket
Again, when comparing English race
horses with American. The latter. 1
Think do not come OuL any too we'll
Tor only ON very rare occasions I'm Jle
land OF the Stars and Stripes are such
Tine specimens OF the JhoTuuglbr
Spearmiut-ta say nothing of the
equine wonders such as Pretty Polly
all Of which are anything from fourteen
10 IWeuty-ouc pounds in front UL the
best American horses.
SPearmint a Wonder
by the way. talking of Spearmlnr. /
must iudorse the opinion of Bernard
Dillon, who rode the son OF Carbiue ln
the Grand PriN i'm France this year.
when he says that Spearmiut is the
gamesJ horse he has ever ridden As
many people viii no doubt remember
i rode Major Euslace LOder.s colt in
the Derby, and "A long way from home
/ formed the opinion tLat / was up on
something extra good SpearmiuI. like
nearly an the CarbmeS, is fine slayer.
and is, moreover, the gamest of the
game. and I shall not forget for many
"a long day the way he shook of the
challenge of Plctou some distance from
the finish.
"I. have seen II stated i'm several news
papers that American jockeys hold but
a poor opinion of the English methods
of racing Now ] should like To- con
tradiCt IliS widely circulated state
ment. for as a. matter uf fact j have
never met au American jockey who has
not been absolutely delighted with the
reception that he has received from both
the racing and uou-racius British pub
Ac.
American Jockeys Well Treated.
There are one or TWO other countries
! could speak of in which a foreign
jockey does not always meet with fair
play. but I'm England every stranger is
treated with the greatest courtesy and
indeed when 1 first came over here
many jockeys-Loruy Cannon for in
stance--went ouJ of their way 10 make
me feel ar home III is ON that account