Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-14
RACING POPULAR NTF1E MIKADOS LAND

!, to the lowest weight scale; are strong, in
telligent, alert and absolutely fearless. OF
their honesty, that, of course, Is something
the outsider cannot judge. But in getting
away from the post and helping their
mounts they are without rival. They have
adopted the American style, too, and ride
we'll forward.
Wherever there is gambling there will
doubtless be schemes to beat the gamblers.
The railbirds are largely in evidence In all
the tracks of the orient Armed with Amer
lean stop watches, they watch the try-Outs
and clock the lt)rses until they get q
pretty fair line on their abilities. They are
the peer of our Checkers" they say, for
no outsider has ever run or won that the
ciockers did not know what they did before
the race. What do they do with this in
formation? That's difficult question to
answer. There are no tips sold on the
grounds, or anywhere else for that mat
ter, but 1t Is we'll known that in some
quarters inside information" is obtainable
Although bookmaking would be well
coined, no one has ever made a book on a
race in Japan. The old Paris mutuals are
used, and this with the lottery system"
are the only means provided for the bet
tors. In both cases the club receives 10
per cent of the total receipts. The lottery
system is popular among the Chinese. 1t
consists OF many pools on the race, differ
ing from the mutuals in this respect Each
pool has fifty tickets of s. each. AS soon
as one pool is filled it is closed and an
other opened. Then the numbers are placed
In a wheel, and man draws one out That
number entities the holder to chance on
the horse which starts with the correspond
ing number When there are but five horses
In a race but five tickets have a chance
even, and only one of these can win But
the prize is big and this brings the live
Hest sort of speculation.
The Gentlemen Jockeys.
Each track boasts a list of gentleman
jockeys, and they are gentlemen in every
sense of the term. The most popular of
these In Yokohama Is Capt. Lederer, con-
nected with the British embassy at Toxic
He is an ardent horseman and his colors
are always in evidence. Mr.. Diedrick Of
the German consulate is another popular
gentleman Jockey and is counted a fine
rider.
Among the Japanese jockeys Kobiyash
stands shoulders above them ALL He is to
the Japanese what Miller is to the Ameri-
can racegoers. His name translated into
English means "a small forest" Koby-
ashf proved a loyal son of japan for he
responded to the first call to arms. and
made an enviable reputation as a soldier
Takahashf, meaning high bridge, is another
of the famous Japanese jockeys, and his
mounts are always supported. The Japa-
nese coined word for Jockey as soon
as they understood the word. 1t is "nori-
yaku.' horse race is called kaba.
Horses for the most part have common
names and many bear the names of horses
which have run themselves into fame in
this country. There were a Queen of
Hearts, Hanover and Regent among
the entries one day. There are some
however. which bear such Japanese names
as Dekimasu. meaning can do and
Dekimasho, meaning maybe can do"
Everything about the race tracks Is prop
erly done. The officials wear red coats, and
the starter is respondent in chamois knick-
erbockers high hat and red coat with vel
vet trimmings.
The horses sent away to a flying
start and it is rare indeed that any one
is disqualified. although 1t is apparent that
the best horses oftentimes is not permitted
to win.
The Emperor's Cup.
the emperors cup. and when the day ar
rives the emperor himself, or at least some
member of the royal family, Is present
That is the day of days in Yokohama, and
everything is decorated with japanese flags.
Upon one occasion. so the story goes, the
emperor selected the horse he thought
would win the race named for him. 1t came
in third Promptly the race was run over,
for when the emperor thinks a thing it
must surely come to pass This time the
horse was second. That was not sufficient,
they said and the emperor directed the
race run over. This time, 1t IL said, the
other contestants held back and simply
'shooed' the other horse in. 1t was a
great race all agreed after it was run.
H. V. ].