Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-14

AS the cry They're off, was reverber-
ating in the grand stand at Benning the
| Japanese in Yokohama were saying the
same thing in their expression, Nina
kdkate u-uk,' which, properly translated,
| means "All run
Horse racing in Japan sprang into popu-
| larity when it was introduced a few years
ago. Imperial sanction was given 1t al
most Immediately when the emperor him
self donated handsome cup for annual
competition.
All forms of gambling are interdicted in
Japan, and the same old argument was
utilized when horse racing started-that
You cannot have horse race without
betting" 1t proved potent as some OF
the decisions of our courts. Although the
government of Japan frowns upon gambling
in every form, 1t gets judicously blind
twice each year and permits speculation
at the races. And what advantage the
people do take of this privilege? No one
who has not seen the wild scramble of
the people-men, women and cmldren-to
exercise the gambling instinct can appre-
ciate the picture. Every one bets, and it Is
d common sight to see women with babies
strapped to their backs pushing their way
to the betting stand to make wager.
The Chinese, however are the real
gamblers of Japan. There is quite
and they are the plungers of the track.
They bet thousands, and win or lose with
the nonchalance so peculiar to the race.
Two meetings are held each year in
Japan, as they are here in Washington,
one in the spring, the other in the fall.
Each meeting lasts three days; two days
of continuous racing, then a rest for sew
eral days and then the finals, at which the
principal event Of the meeting is decided.
The race track at Yokohama is located
suburban NpPiSNii C.
turesquely situated on Missippi bay and in
view of Fujiyama. the great sacred noun
tain of Japan. A club OF Anglo Saxons
control the track under the name of Nip
pom Race Club. Nippon is the Japanese
name for their empire. The club pays
large dividends, and donates a large pro-
portion of its receipts to Japanese charity,
which no doubt helps to soothe the con-
science of the law.
Although the club has controlled the
track for several years. it was not until
quite recently that it obtained title to the
property. 1t was bought from the Beg
gar Syndicate" for large sum of money
This 'Beggar Syndicate, the residents of
Yokohama will tell you, is a guild of pro-
fessional beggars, who turn in each day
to the common fund the contributions of
the benevolent people of Yokohama.
Race Days Are Holidays.
Racing in Japan has received such uni
versal recognition that all business is sus-
pended on race days and every one has a
holiday. The principal business houses fig
ure ahead so that race days cannot inter-
fere with the sailings of the big liners, and
the club accommodatingly fixes things 1t
is great social function. too, and the Chi
nese tailors are kept busy for weeks prior
to the meeting. making smart clothes In
deed the dressing at the races everywhere
in the far east compares favorably with
that seen on the more pretentiouS tracks
of the United States
No one save q member of the club may
ism to a large degree. although some queer
the veteran horseman. The primary OBJ
ject of the association is to improve the
breed of horses. This, however, is not even
attempted, for the contests are largely be-
tween China ponies. whose pedigrees are
unknown and unsought. But these doughty
little animals provide some excitement and
carry their heavy imDosts with becoming
ease. The weight scale is high. 1t has
to be, for there are many gentleman
jockeys and these will suffer no inconven-
fences In getting into shape. Each meeting
tralians, they dub the horses which re-
semble our "platers." These usually fur
nish good sport.
All races are by subscription. Several
months before the racing season opens a
commissioner is sent to Hongkong for a
consignment of ponies. Hongkong is the
great market, although China ponies are
found most anywhere in China They are
rugged beast. closely built with legs
framed for strength. Throughout China
they the beast of burden. and are ca