THE POSITION OF THE TURF 5 



Press stand what is making running on straight courses 

 until the horses are within half a mile of the post. Then 

 the light varies very much, and sometimes in the finest 

 weather the sun blurs the colours to such an extent that 

 all the light jackets look white and all the dark ones black. 

 When the light is really bad, three or four light jackets of 

 varied colour will all look alike a quarter of a mile away, 

 and when, as occasionally happens, the mud is thrown up, 

 many of the colours become quite indistinguishable. Man- 

 chester is much the worst place the reporter has to contend 

 with, owing to the frequency of fog, and it often happens 

 that nothing can be seen of the races until the field are 

 close upon the stands. On these occasions the jockeys have 

 to be relied upon for the description, and I ought not to 

 omit to state that, although it is no part of their duty to 

 supply such information, it is always given with the greatest 

 willingness and with some intelligence. Between the racing 

 Press and the jockeys the very best of feeling prevails in all 

 parts of the country. 



The Press have a most able coadjutor in the Telegraph 

 Department. The General Post Office have for some years 

 past sent about a special corps of turf telegraphists, who 

 are familiar with the work, and who follow the meetings 

 week after week, just as the Pressmen or any section of 

 the racing community do. These men are all experts in 

 their work, and to them the public are largely indebted 

 for the evening paper reports, all of which are wired direct 

 from the course. 



It is undoubtedly the case that the number of race- 

 goers of every description is constantly increasing, but it is 

 by no means so certain that the sport is in a particularly 

 healthy state, and it is also probable that there are too 

 many meetings. The increase in the number of runners is 

 very small indeed (from 1897 to 1898 there was a slight 

 falling off), and public breeders of late years, with a few 

 exceptions, have either realised the smallest of profits, or 

 have sold at a loss. There is a strong tendency to increase 

 the stud fees of stallions who have sired a few winners, and 

 it is the custom to start good winners on their stud life at 



