The returns of the Pari-Mutuel aystem of betting in France for the past six years make interesting reading. A leading French statesman says "To speak of racing without betting is pure hypocrisy," and it woald be well if our own Government saw things in the same light. From 1891 to 1907 th Matnel receipts rose from fra. 4,100,000 to frs. 12,860,000, and out of the Government share no less than frs. 3,600,000 was devoted to charity and the improvement of irrigation, In addition breeders and owners hare received frs. 1,500,000 in various pre-miurus and grants since the Pari-Matnel system was introduced into France seventeen sears ago, while the value of the Grand Prix has risen from frs.4,000 to frs. 12,000 as a consequence of the prosperity of the French racing authorities, due in a great measure to the percentage out of the manuel machines.
ITEMS, 8. H. Darling, who recently migrated from Yatesbury in Wilts to Newmarket, was operated on for appendix cities Inst Sunday and is progressing favourably. Monitor is going on nicely in his Lincolnshire Handicap preparation, and if the event is again to go to France, then M. Ephrassi's candidate i very likely to be the agency. Royal Range, for which an offer of frs. 7, 000 was refused when the colt was fancied for Derby honours, is now looked on as an arch-rogue and he could not win a 66 sous steeplechase at Leicester this week.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.