The Washington herald., 1907-10-13

lieve that the tI-millionaire owner
may fare better in 1908 than he has Jared
in 1907. His Maintenon and Prestige,
which were the talk of all racing France
last year by reason OF the victories they
won under Ransch's guidance, are out
Of racing completely for the present.
It makes little financial difference, how
ever, either TO Vanderbilt or Blanc
whether they make money on the tracks
or not Blanc's pockets are kept full to
repletion, quite independent Of his win
nings or losses as a racing man, by the
constant stream Of money from the ut
termost parts Of the earth that flows
to him by way OF the great gambling re-
sort, where, as the French say:
NOR gagne observation-disclosures gagne
quiequefols. mais Blanc gagne toujours"
which means that Blanc wins some
times, red sometimes, but white (Blanc)
wins all the time.
No Danger of Bankruptcy.
The race course at Sheepshead Bay,
largely owned by Vanderbilt, and his
New. York Central Railroad trains-un-
less the Interstate Commerce Commission
shall get after them too hard-"win all
the time" and will keep his pockets full,
no matter what happens In France, 50
that he need not care the snap Of his An
ger whether his horses win on the French
turf or not. At the most his racing losses
cannot possibly be big enough to en-
barass him financially. since like Keene.
Harry Payne Whitney, and August Bel
mont. 'at home." he never bets TO any
extent worth mentioning. But it is said
that he does care lot-that he Is pretty
sore over the failure of his stable 10 cut
much ice this year
It should be understood. however. that
Vanderbilt stands very high as a racing
man In France. Notwithstanding his rath-
er poor luck this season. There was
time, before his horses began to win.
when Frenchmen refused to take him
any more seriously than they take most
Americans. whether rich or otherwise,
but now '1t is different" His costly
breeding farm has not turned out any
great horses as yet, but his Prestige car
Ties an unbeaten certificate. despite his
breakdown, aid had beaten the best
French horses before being withdrawn
because Of lameness.
Winners in His String.
The last time Prestige ran, in 1906. he
was so much OF a favorite that there
was no betting against him, and the
money wagered upon him at the booths
was returned after the race was over.
Vanderbilt's MalntenOn has the distinc-
ton Of having won the largest amount
Of stake money won by any one colt
since racing began IN France-g5G. 900
francs. or S190000 last year as a three
ye2r-old. and this season as a feur-year-
old. He began this season in fine form.
winning the Prix Eugene Adam-50. 900
francs-and several other events, but
then went lame.
Neither Of these fine stations has lost
his 4pzalue, however. Both have been sent
10 the Vanderbilt breeding farm at Vile
Don, where Il Is hoped they will beget
colts and hilies worthy Of their sires that
shall win innumeTable races for the only
vanderbilt turf devOtee Willie X ." has
spent much money at Villebon. maintain
ing 100 high-bred brood mares there.
In France, as in America. Willie K. 9"
/ has the name of getting more real fun
out Of racing than any other rich man
alive, and OF taking defeat with the same
smile with which he welcomes victory.
It Isn't supposed that he knows as much
about horses as the men he hires, and it
Is true that he is vastly better at rail-
roadlng-which he hates-than at horse
manship, which he admires so much. But
he knows how TO select good horsemen
as well as expert railroad men. and. per-
haps, one day he may realize his ambi-
/ ton TO stand al the head Of the French
turf He is the only American. probably.
Who could be a member Of the French
| Jockey Club If he chose, which he
/ doesn't
/ lCopyright. 1907. by Dexter Marsbaul