แ
SUPPLEMENT TO THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH."
TIMING HORSE RACES.
HONGKONG, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24TH, 1881.
English race-horse. Sir Francis Doyle's theories are like his so-called facts not worth serious consideration; his arguments have been worn threadbare by dozens of enthusiasts of the same way of thinking during the past twenty years. Although we do not intend going deeply into the question of the relative merits of the racehorse of to-day and that of eighty years ago, for the reasons stated above, there is a sufficiently strong sporting feeling among us to jastify a few cursory statements being adduced, for the purpose of reassuring roaders who may be induced on the strength of the Mercury's "tip" to believe that the decline of our thoroughbreds is really in fait accompli.
readers to look at the paintings of Matchem. Flying Childers, Bay Bolton, Diomed, Hambletonian, or any of the celebrated cracks of auld langsync, short, cobby-looking nags of the hunter stamp, and compare them with Irry Hall's pictures of West Australian, Blair Athol, Blue Gown, Doncaster, Achievement, Marie Stuart, Petrarch, and the many other celebrities of living memory. The horses of to-day are just as much superior to their forefathers on the racecourse, as they are in size and general beauty.
Our worthy contemporary the Shanghai Mercury has recently been expatiating on the above subject, al though we must admit with hardly that amount of practical common- sense, which we might have expected from such a recognised authority on racing matters. We gather from our contemporary's remarks that timing horse races was a practice much more in vogue. in England during the end of the last, and the beginning of the prosent, contury than is the case at present. We gravely question this assertion, in fact we will go even farther and say that timing races in Eugland is com- paratively a modern innovation. There are certainly sonic old records In asserting with some confidence in existence of performances achieved that the English race-horse of to-day at the end of the last century, but is incomparably superior to his pre- they are totally unreliable. We may decessor of more than a century ago, quote one instance which will serve not only in beauty of form and out- as a sample of the rest. On March line, but in speed and stamina, we 25th, 1799, at Nowmarket, Hamble- are merely reiterating the views and tonian and Diomed, the two best opinions of the greatest of our turf horses of the time, ran their cele-authorities. We would ask our brated match over the Beacon Course (4 miles 1 furlong 143 yards) for 3,000 guincas, the former winning, after a tremendous struggle, in the last stride by a short neck. The time published for this race was 8 minutes 25 seconds, but a great many people asserted that this was incorrect, and that the actual time was 7 minutes 30 seconds, a differ- ence of no less than 55 seconds. And similar discrepancies occur in numorous other cases which could be quoted. Flying Childers was an exceptionally good horse, but his re- puted mile inside a minute is simply We have had occasion to express ridiculous. The St. Logor was first our opinion that timing race-horses timed in 1810, and then we have no is a thoroughly unreliable test, a record until eight years afterwards, delusion and snare in fact. We and it was not until 1833 that timing know from practical experience that became a regular institution in con- such is the case. The Shanghai nection with the classic race at Don- Mercury sporting authority believes caster. The first Derby timed was in the time test, and doubtless to his ia 1816, when Pyrrhus the First won own satisfaction has good reasons the Blue Riband for John Gully, for the belief, at all events so far as M.P., ex-champion of the P.R.; and China ponies are concerned.
How the time for the Oaks was first placed ever in basing his arguments on time on record the same year, Mendicant, performances, which the above ex- also the property of Mr. Gully, co-tract shows our contemporary has vering the distance in 2 minutes 53 done, we think the timos quoted should have been carefully verified, as they are not merely misleading, but, in at least one instance, grossly inaccurate. The Mercury writer states that a strong contrast may be drawn between Mulatto who won the Doncaster Cup 2 miles 5 furlongs and 14 yards, in 1827 in 4 minutes. 12 seconds, and Robert the Devil, who Sir Francis is of opinion that they yds. last year in 4 minutes 10 seconds. won the Cesarewitch, 2 miles 2 fur. 48 lish racehorse has soon hits heat day; we think he proves his case. A strong con- trast may be drawn between Mulatto, who won the Doncaster Cap in 1827 (2 miles 5 furlongs 14 yards), in 4m. 12s., and Ro- bort the Dovil, who won the Cesarewitch in 1880, 2 miles 2 furlongs 19 yards in
seconds.
Our contemporary's observations appear to have been elicited by an article in the Fortnightly Review, written for the purpose of proving the deterioration of the English race horse by Sir Francis Doyle. The Mercury.comments on the article as follows:-
4m. 409. Sir F. II. Doyle erroneously
ealls it 2 miles 240 yards. Robert tho Devil, a three-year-old, carried 8st, Glbs., a heavy weight for a three-year-old, and there were 20 horses behind him. A
China pony can do nearly as fast as that
carrying a heavier weight. Tajmahal ran two milos in 4mm, 23s. in the Sycoe Stakes at the Autumn Meeting in 1880, carrying 10st. 11lb.; he could probably have done
the Cesarewitch distance in 5 min. At the weight-for-inches scale in vogue horo, an English racehorse would have to carry two stone more than Tajmahal, or fifty por ocht, more than Robert the Devil carried. In 1818 Blacklock galloped the first two miles of a race in 3m. 37. In 1810 Octavian won a two mile race in 3di. 308. Four mile races were the fashion in the early part of the century. The fastest on record was Filhodaputa's vic-
tory in the Richmond Cup of 1816, which ho won in seven minutes, after having lost two hundred yards by bolting off the course,
To deal with Sir Francis Doyle's assertions and arguments from a scientific standpoint for the clientèle of a newspaper published in China would be simply absurd. Not onc in a hundred could be expected to have any interest in, or practical ex- perience, of a subject which is only understood by men who have devoted yours to its study from every possible aspect, and who have, moreover, had an extensive personal experience of that noblest of living animals, the
|
on, which is extremely doubtful, as Mulatto was a four-year-old and carried only 8st. 3lb. It is not too. daughter of Highborn and Fortress, much to say that the splendid
who through Chippendale may be estimated at least seven lbs. below Robert the Devil's form, outside her allowance for sex, could have given Mulatto a stone and-a-half and an casy beating. Sir Francis Doyle and our Shanghai contemporary were rather unfortunate in this attempt to "contrast" the form of long ago with that of the present day.
comparison was an error of judg- ment.
For Sale.
JUST RECEIVED.
SELECTED ASSORTMENT.
VISITING CARDS.
Apply to
DE SOUZA & Co.
It is difficult to compare our pro- the beginning of the present century A OF MENU CARDS; SEAT-CARDS, sent racehorse with those of the last, or
by the time test alone, as the old fashioned custom of running long distances has long since been wisely abolished. Racing authorities now-. a-days think it is far better for horses to race two miles, or even under that distance at their best pace than to trot and canter three miles and WASHERMAN'S BOOKS, for a half, and gallop the last half mile as was the ancient custom; and we cordially agree with their views.
The Mercury asserts that in 1810 Octavian won a two mile race in 3 min. 30 secs; that Blacklock gal loped the first two miles of a race in 1818 in 3 min. 37 secs., and that Filho da Puta won the Richmond Cup of 1815, over four miles, in seven minutes, after losing two hun- dred yards by bolting off the course. The whole of these records are un- reliable, but with the exception of the last-named, anyone of a dozen horses which could be named would easily beat the performances of either Octavian or Blacklock. Last year Teviotdale won the Ascot Cup over two miles of a most trying course in 3 min. 38 seconds, and he merely cantered for the last half mile; Mycene won the Northumberland Plate (2 miles) in 3 min. 35 seconds; Bay Archer the Brighton Cup (2 miles) in 3 min. 313 seconds; Antient Pistol the Shrewsbury Cup (2 miles) in 3 min. 26 seconds, and Prestonpans the Liverpool Cup (1 miles) in 2 min, 37 seconds. These are only handicap performances, and it is really hard to say how much weight would be required to bring either of the horses named above on a level with Robert the Devil, Bend Or, Dresden China, Chippendale, and other great racing cracks.
The Mercury further states that, a China pony, carrying the regulation weight-for-inches, could run the Cesarewitch distance in nearly as fast time as Robert the Devil, and he quotes Tajmahal's two miles in the Sycee Stakes at Shanghai last Autumn in 4 min. 28 seconds, as a proof of his assertion. Tajmamal is a wonderfully good pony, in fact for a distance one of the best race ponies ever seen in China, but any attempt to compare an animal of that de- scription with Robert the Devil is childishly absurd. The late Admiral Rous used to say that weight would bring a race-horse and a donkey together, and of course that is the true principle of handicapping, but no reasonable amount of weight would fairly handicap the son of Bertram and Cast Off and the China pony Tajmahal. Leaving the winner out of the question altogether, there is not one of the score of horses that finished behind the "Devil" in last year's Cesarwitch, that could not be relied upon to concede Tajmahal at least four stone over that distance, and then bent him easily. There is not a selling plater in England, sound on his limbs, that could not give from thirty to fifty pounds away to the best China pony that ever looked through a bridle over any racing distance. No mm with any
The American horse Lexington practical notions of racing would ran 4 miles in a match against Le- attempt to controvert this. A China compte in 1855, in 7 min. 23} pony, no matter how good or game seconds, and with a running start he might be, could never go fast accomplished the distance in 7 min. enough at any part of a race to make 19 seconds which is the best per a racehorse gallop at his best pace. formance of the kind we have seen In a race, the rider of the horse would recorded. In 1859 Artless and Gas- simply canter alongside his short-pard ran a dead heat for the Cesare- striding opponent, and win as he witch at Newmarket (2 miles, 2 fur. liked at the finish. This is what 28 yds) in 3 minutes 58 seconds, racing men call the difference of class. which is the fastest time that race The celebrated Prince Charlie was the handsomest horse we ever saw, and at any distance up to mile he never met his equal. This horse was a bad roaror, yet his class brought him home second in the St. Leger yards, in 1872. With second rate ovor one mile six furlongs and 132 To commence with, the Cosarewitch horses Prince Charlie would have course is exactly 2 miles, 2 furlongs, won over any distance, as they never and 28 yards in length, so that our could have forced him into his fastest contemporary in trying to correct Sir pace, and he would merely have had F. Doyle makes a stupid blunder to wait, and make use of his superior himself. In the second place Robert speed at the finish. We are the the Dovil, 3 years old, carrying Sst. owner of one or two China ponics Gibs,, the heaviest weight ever borne
not altogether unknown to fame, and to victory by a three-year-old in this we also possess a big chestnut race, covered the distance in 4 mi- Australian horse, about as ugly a nutes 19 3-5ths seconds, and not 4 specimen of his class as could well min. 10 seconds, as stated in the be met with. The ponies alluded to Mercury. But for the sake of argu- have won races, and are likely enough ment, leaving the incorrectness of to win again; but so far as speed is our contemporary's figures out of the concerned they are totally unable at question altogether, we would ask their best pace to get the horse out how can the respective performances of a quiet cantor, and saving a of Mulatto and Robert the Devil be breakdown it would be the same fairly contrasted? We have no au- from one hundred yards up to twenty thentic record of Mulatto's perform miles. When we point out that in ance, nor in making his comparison 1857 Skirmisher, Gemma di Vorgy does our critic state what weight the Saunterer, and Polestar were all horse carried. Then, again, whore is placed in the Ascot Cup, over two the sense or utility of trying to com- miles and a half of the most trying pare times made on different courses, course in England in 4 minutes 29 under such widely different circum-seconds, or one second longer than stances? Why was a comparison not Tajmahal's celebrated two miles at instituted between Mulatto and a Shanghai, we ought to hear no more recent performer over the samo of any comparisons between China course? The Doncaster Cup is still run for annually on the Friday of the St. Leger week. The course is still 2 miles, 5 furlongs, 14 yards, and a mure called Dresden China won this race last year carrying 9st. in 4 minutes 5 seconds. This makes Mulatto's performance look remark- ably small, even conceding that the 4 minutes 12 seconds can be relied
ponies
and English racehorses. West Australian and Kingston covered the Ascot Cup distance in 1851 in 4 minutes 27 seconds, which means half a mile start and a three lengths beating of Tajmahal's two miles in 4 minutes 28 seconds. These figures are authentic, and should satisfy the racing writer of the Mercury that his attempted
has ever been won iu...
FOR SALE.
the uso of Ladies and Gentle- mon.-Prico 50 cents.
DE SOUZA & Co. Hongkong, 28th June, 1881.
FOR SALE.
NGLO.CHINESE CALENDAR
FOR 1881. NEATLY PRINTED ON CARD BOARD. PRICE: 10 cents.
De Souza & Co.
FOR SALE.
Price.
Mercantilo Directory of the World, in 3 volumes, com- prising the Continental, Fo- reign and British Portions $25.00 Grammatica Nacional de Aulo-
to
Laws of Lawn Tennis Manual da Historia Sagrada Select Phrases in the Canton
Language First Book of Reading Los-
Sous: Part I
Part II
Dr. James Butler's Catechism Topography of China
Resumo da Lingua Fraucoza, Coordenados por J. F. de Gonven
Evidence of the Affinity of tho
Polynesians and American Indians with the Chinese and other nations of Asia Guia do Christão The Devout of the Seven Do- lours of our Blessed Lady by the Rev. Antonio Pereira, S. J., Translatod by Rev. W. Palgrave, S.J... Introducção a Lingua Ingleza,
com um Diccionario de Vo. cabulos
Ball Room Guide .......
Grammation da lingua Ingleza Encyclopedia Elementar Descripção do Imporio da Chi-
na, precedida de algamas noticias sobre os Conventos de S. Francisco e do Sta. Cla- ra em Macao: excerpto do Vergel de Plantas e Flores da provincia da Madro de Dous dos capuchos reforma- dos, composto polo Padre Mestre Fr. Jacinto de Deus. Lente de Theologia, Primei- ro Padre da mesma Proviu- cia, ex-Commissario Geral e Deputado do Santo Officio da Inquisição do Goa na In- dia Oriontal
In a future article we may have something more to say on the im- mediate question of timing horse- races; in the meantime we must content ourselves with having shown Shanghai Mercury are quite at sea that Sir Francis Doyle and the
in their notions about the English racehorse. Frank Butler used to say that West Australian was the best horse he ever rode, and that he won all his races without ever being asked the question. The Flying Dutchman, Voltigeur, and Tedding ton, were also great horses, but we are strongly inclined to believe chat. Blair Athol, Blue Gown, Cremorne, The Student of Jesus Christ Doncaster, Marie Stuart Isonomy, Bend Or, and Robert the Devil could have given weight and a beating to each and all of the boastel heroes of the olden time.
FOR SALE CHEAP.
BOWLING ALLEYS.
ITH BALLS, PINS, &c.,
Complete.
W
and wore laid down about a year ago The Alleys are 79 feet in length, at a cost of over $600. They have seldom beou played on, and are in splendid condition.
Will be sold a bargain.
Apply to
R. FRASER-SMITH,
Club Clanibors, Hongkong, 1st July, 1881.
FOR SALE.
A TABLE
Showing the mean time of Rising and Sotting of the San calculated for the Latitudo of Hongkong or any other Latitudo if required.
PRICE:--20 conts.
DE BOUZA &. Co..
Os Dez Dias do S. Francisco Xavier où devoção de Dez Sexta Feiras, offerecida aos devotos do Grande Aposto- lo do Oriente por J. F. Gou-
Voa
by Rov. Antonio Pereira, S.J.,
O Jardim d'Alma:
Stitch ...
Half-bound........
Calf......
Hongkong, 15th June, 1881.
0.75 0,50 0.40
0.50
0.50 1,00 0.25
1.00
0.20
1.00 1.00
0.20
0.60
1.00 0.50 1.00
2.00
0.20
0.50
0.25
0.40
0.50
DE SOUZA & Co.
NOTICE.
and Bookbinders, lately conducted The Business of General Printers
by the late Mr. J. J. da Silva e Souza under the style of
DE SOUZA & Co., will henceforth be carried on under the same style by the undersigned, as Lessecs of the Goodwill, Machin- ery, Plant, &c., belonging to the said Printing Office.
J. J. DE SOUZA. H. LUBECK. Hongkong, 15th June, 1881.
Printed and Published by Robort Fraser-Smith, at No. 15, Wellington Strect, in the City of Victoria, Hong- kong