The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-07
'BritiSherS Are
 Not GiUing Odds On Papyrus Bets

LONDON. Oct. s.-Betting Is sporting proposition with the British racing public, which, to judge by the number of people who patronize the bookmakers, embraces almost the en- tire populace of the British Isles. But when their money Is being risked, the British have the sagacity to temper their sportsmanship with business acumen. This accounts for the fact that Papyrus, although the best of the British three-year-old horses. Is not @ favorite in the bet ting of his homeland. The odds have tended to shorten in the last few days under the influence of com parative reports from the United States indicating that Zev now chosen not appear to be the superior of PRpyruA
 Tho bookmakers made the odds and the bookmakers conduct their affairs with an idea to business first They have made Papyrus the short-ender. Nothing resembling patriotic senti- ment influences their quotations. They are not concerned with the pre- paration of a national alibi for Papy- rus in the event of his defeat. They regard him as the best of a rather bad lot of British three-year- this season and there are some of them who would make him the shorten der in match race with the British lilly Tranquil, 8 huge, muscular anil nal that beat Papyrus in the St. Legers-
 On a fast track, Papyru5 ran far behind the record in winning this years English derby at the Downs. His time for the approximate mile- and -one-half was 2:38. The record, set in 1920 by Captain Cuttle. is 2;34, A. Steve Donoghue, who rode Captain Cutie home in front of all | previous records and all opposition on that occasion, is the same schauf- feur who nudged Papyrus home ahead this year 80 by the fairest of all pos sible comparisons, Papyrus falls far short of the speed Of the best British derby winner. In the mile-and-one- half Chester Vase, last May, a date which. might be considered . little early in the year for the best form to | be shown, Papyrus took 2:42 to go around. He ran the mile-and-a- quarter distance in the Duke of York stakes in 2:14 and was second to Craig Eleyer, but won the race when the latter was disqualified for crowding. His weight on deck in the derby was | 126; in the Chester Ill and in the Duke of York stakes, 13s.
 Zev, at the long distance, appears to be a little faster than Papyrus, reckoning only the elapsed time, for he went one mile and five eighth to win the Lawrence realization in 2:44 S-5. However, Zev was running on his native dirt tracks which are considered much faster than the roller-coaster, grassy routes of in England. Britons do not place such strong reliance on the time of a race as the Americans, time Is fallible factor in British racing, varying greatly according to the track. Some British tracks, being more hilly than others or covered with slower turf, are reckoned to be 15 seconds slower l than others.
 Considering Papyrus to be no world beater in the first place. and to be under several handicaps in the second place. the prospects look none too bright in Britain. However, the British will bet If enc odds are right and if Papyrus can be had at a fairly long price when he goes to the bir- Tier, a vast amount of wealth is sure to change hands in the British Isles on the night of october 20.