463 



Though hockey is largely played in several European countries it was excluded from the 

 Olympic Games at Stockholm. To repair the omission. a tournament was held at Hamburg 

 in October 1912, but this was only partially successful; as but four teams took part in it. An 

 English team found strong opponents in a German te&m but defeated it^ besides easily 

 accounting for an Austrian contingent. In 1911 Engldnd beat Wales (7-0), "Scotland (5-0), 

 France (4-0) and drew with Ireland (2-2). In 1912 England beat Wales' (6-3), Ireland (10-3) 

 and France (9-1), but lost to Scotland (1-2). Though Scotland defeated England for the 

 first time, Ireland beat Scotland (i-o)' and Wales drew with Scotland (2-2). Cambridge 

 won the University match in 1911 (4-1) but lost in 1912 (1-3). 



'Ice Hockey, so popular in Canada, is increasingly played on the Continent of Europe. 

 In 1909-10 a team composed of Canadians at Oxford took part in a tournament at Les Avants, 

 and they have since made an annual tour through Europe during the Christmas vacation, 

 visiting Belgium, Germany, Bohemia, Austria, Switzerland, France. On their last tour 

 they noticed a vast improvement in the standard of play. In December 191 1 and December 

 1912 Cambridge teams beat Oxford teams at Mijrren by 2-0 and I-o respectively. Inter- 

 national tournaments are frequently held at Swiss winter resorts, but the contesting teams 

 are rarely representative. 



Horse Racing. 



.] The most important changes which have occurred in connection with international 

 turf matters of late are the suppression of racing in nearly every part of the United 

 States (see under " United States " below), and the extraordinary rise in the value of 

 blood stock in the Argentine Republic. Doubtless there was room for improvement as 

 regards the great meetings formerly held in the Northern States of America; and it is 

 generally thought that some of the laws forbidding the meetings may be rescinded at an 

 early date. Meantime there has been a fall in the value of thoroughbred stock in the 

 United States, and valuable English and French stallions which had been sent to Ameri- 

 ca at big prices not many years ago have now been brought back to Europe ; while a fair 

 number of American bred yearlings are also imported to England and sold by auction 

 at Newmarket every year. The breeding industry in the United States is quickly dy- 

 ing out, but would be even more quickly resumed if racing were once more legalised. 

 In the Argentine Republic four-figure yearlings are even more common than they are 

 at Doncaster; and yet in September 1912 Messrs. Tattersall sold by auction, at the 

 annual Doncaster sales, yearlings of the value of 110,000. In every part of Europe 

 the value of the highest class of stallions has enormously increased; and now the posses- 

 sor of a really great performer can always be sure of 30,000 and more if he desires to sell. 

 In other respects the English turf is pursuing the even tenour of its way. Every year 

 there are more runners, and more money to be run for; and, though it is only occasional- 

 ly that horses of the very highest class are forthcoming, it is probable that the average 

 standard of excellence is thoroughly maintained. On the continent of Europe, and 

 especially in France, Germany, and Austria, the thoroughbred flourishes, and racing 

 becomes more popular everywhere; but whereas in France there is every encouragement 

 for the long distance runner, the tendency in England is towards the development of 

 speed, and important long distance races are by no means numerous. 



The form of the most prominent horses on the English turf during the season of 1911 was 

 more consistent than in 1912. In the first place, Sunstar, by Sundridge-Doris, held his own 

 against the best of the three-year-olds; and it is probable that he would have won the three 

 leading events of the year but for breaking down after taking the Epsom Derby. He 

 carried off the honours in the Two Thousand Guineas and the most important race of the 

 year at Epsom, after which he was sent to the stud, much to the regret of his owner, who was 

 justified in the hope that the colt would win the so-called "triple crown." In consequence 

 of Sunstar's inability to compete in the St..Leger, this race at Doncaster was deprived of 

 much of its usual interest, and Mr. T. Pilkington's Prince Palatine, by Persimmon-Lady 

 Lightfoot, won easily from what was undoubtedly a mediocre field of opponents. A note- 

 worthy incident in connection with the leading three-year-olds of 1911 was that Stedfast, 

 the second in the Epsom Derby, and Prince Palatine, the winner of the Doncaster St. Leger, 

 should have provided some of the most interesting racing of 1912. As a matter of fact, the 

 meetings of Stedfast and Prince Palatine were the leading features of the season; and it was 

 a moot point which was the better four-year-old. The exciting racing provided by these two 

 horses was very welcome, especially as the three-year-olds in 1912 ran in so inconsistent a 

 manner that in no case was any outstanding merit shown. Tagalie, a grey filly by Cyllene- 

 Tagale, after securing the first place in the One Thousand Guineas, won the Epsom Derby, 



