Having obtained their course and set about building a grandstand, it is characteristic to find that the promoters only then turned their attention to the actual matter of racing. So far as we have been able to gather, few if any of them have any detailed knowledge of the conduct of a race meetin; Actually, at the moment, th no body of rules in existence there are no stewards, and the organization is very much in the air, Strenuous efforts are being made to obtain the support of responsible foreigners to assist conducting the club, oF company, Dut,' so far, foreign support has been difficult to' obtain. The pro moters recognize that they are not likely to receive any support from the Shanghai Race Club, but apparently they will be satisfied they get support can from Kiangwan. Up to the pr has not been officially any case, we understand that every effort will be made to complete: arrangements for the opening meeting at the new course early the New Yenr—not _necessa China New Year, since it is not! proposed to run in competition with Kiangwan.
The position will certainly be} 4 delicate one if the Chinese are left to their own devices in the matter of conducting meetings without expert and reliable people to undertake duties which can only satisfactorily be formed by experienced racing men, There is] algo the question of _pari-mutuel control, which must needs be in the hands of some person absolutely trustworthy in order to secure and retain public confidence. We are not suggesting that the business. cannot perfectly well be conducted without foreign control, or at least assistance, but experience elsewhere suggests that the proposition certainly is open to some little, doubt. Those who have had experience of the old Chinese racecourse at Hankow, in its heyday before the International Recreation.
Club was formed there, may be inclined to agree. One cannot be too optimistic about the position Yanztszepoo in view of the suggestion which actually has been put forward that possibly the pari mutuel may be placed in the hands of @ certain number of owners and!
Jockeys! The position would be fraught with some risk unless these gentlemen were most carefully selected.
Sunday Racing The question arises, does Shanzhai need any more races than ts present liberal allowance of 32 days in the year? The suggestion has been put forward that the new company is being "started in the interest of the Kiangwan owners, who have only 18 days' racing a year, against 32 days' racing open to Shanghai Race Club members, who are able to race their ponies both at Kiangwan and Shanghi But it is obvious that there is nothing to prevent - Kiangwan its programme if owners really want more racing. In view, of the amount of public money expended on racing, we think the present, annual programme ample for the needs, if needs they can be of racing enthusiasts, and certainly we do not think there can be any real demand among! genuine sportsmen for the Sunday racing which the Yangtszepoo Com any proposes to introduce.
'With support from' Shanghail withheld, and that of Kiangwan at} present doubtful, the syndicate making arrangements to provide ers in the event of both the existing clubs holding aloof. have at present some 50. ponies here, and it is understood that] these will be purchased and run by members of the syndicate if] they are not disposed of to private purchasers. Should the necessity arise, other ponies will be brought down from Hankow and Tientsin, together with jockeys to ride them if there is a scarcity of local riders.
On the whole, the scheme is one that we cannot recommend. for public support. It is purely a commercial affair, as is shown by: the fact that a number of those actively interested have only the! most elementary knowledge of racing, and as matters seem at present, operations at Yangtszepoo cannot tend to the benefit of genuine racing sport. Everything will depend upon the men who control the concern. If they come mand public confidence all may be: well, but in any case we think there is no room in. Shanghai for 1 third race course.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.