2 20 THE MERRY GEE-GEE 



transferred from the flat to steeplechaslng 

 are far better added to the list, and so 

 would be a good many flat-racers I know 

 of. Joe Cannon is one trainer I can 

 mention as a disciple of this doctrine. 

 Nearly all the sons and grandsons of 

 Hermit show a natural adaptability to 

 jump and sire jumpers of note. Natural 

 jumpers are generally placid-tempered 

 horses, and minus the excitability of the 

 St. Simons, for instance. 



Nothing can possibly be more irritat- 

 ing to young thoroughbreds than our 

 system of starting ; and, with great defer- 

 ence to the ability of Mr. Arthur Coventry, 

 I, for one, am a great believer in the 

 starting-gate, and hope it will be uni- 

 versal here shortly. Surely the new 

 rules of the Jockey Club promoting long- 

 distance racing must have a beneficial 

 effect In fostering chasers by encouraging 



