AND OTHER SKETCHES 19 



worth of racing property in the Republic. The turf 

 enjoys legal rights here which should be thoroughly 

 appreciated by those who control our racing associations. 

 If they act wisely and judiciously the present satisfac- 

 tory condition may not be altered, but any slackness on 

 their part would bring about a speedy repeal of the 

 privileges they now enjoy. 



The patronage extended to the running turf just now 

 in Canada is of the most liberal, and those who have 

 money invested in such enterprises must be reaping a 

 return far beyond what is derivable from the profits of 

 any ordinary business. Under these circumstances the 

 Clubs can afford to adopt every means necessary to 

 properl}^ safeguard the interests of their patrons and 

 the Clubs which neglect to do their duty in this respect 

 are unworthy of public patronage. 



Those who argue that the stoppage of racing in the 

 United States has been of great benefit to the Canadian 

 turf, are simply superficial observers whose opinions are 

 of little value. Instead of benefitting us, I am of the 

 opinion the reverse is the case. True, it has sent over a 

 number of owners to race here who did not previously 

 come north of the border line, but as a rule they have 

 been of a class requiring a heap of watching to check- 

 mate them. Their horses are in and outers according to 

 stable orders and the public, or at least that portion of 

 it who are foolish enough to speculate upon the per- 

 formances of animals controlled by such a class of 

 owners, are brightly illustrating the trite saying that 

 "fools and their money are soon parted." 



These foreigners come here on the hunt for Canadian 

 coin, i^ractically driven out of their own country through 

 lack of employment for their horses. They welcome this 

 as a veritable haven of refuge. They may be sports, 

 they certainly are not sportsmen. They have no respect 

 for our turf laws and consequently make no effort to- 

 wards loyally supporting the rulings of those in author- 

 ity. So long as they think they can escape detection and 

 consequent personal disqualification they will take long 



