It has been rumoured that the Tientsin Race Club will abolish the "B" Class, or crossbred, events in the Autunm meeting, thus creating further futile ' legislation: against evolution. Such an act will be not only unprogressive but will also be a step backwards, and retrograde movement ever yet met with success. If the owners had control of breeding of ponies, they might be able to ensure a con: stant supply of "thoroughbreds," but they do not, and it is a good thing for the country that they cannot control breeding: Racing, fan the sport of Kings and gentle: men the world over, has ever been for the development of horseflesh; in fact, in all sports and athletics [the betterment of the game and its contributory factors is paramount with all true sportsmen.
We writs this with the knowtion, the small owner may or may not be impelled by the gain motive. He may or may not have visions of annexing large suis of money through the prowess of his Mongol steed, but he usually figures upon getting his money back.
This, of course, is the theory of amateur racing. In practice it otherwise. The big owners—the Taipan class—make all the money there is to be made, and usually make it at the expense of the small owner. It cannot be otherwise with men who can afford to call in their head mafoos and say, "Mafoo, here's ten thousand dollars, go Kalgan side more far catchee me four five fast pony—see?" "Pure China pony or crossbreed, it makes no difference, the rich amateur has the advantage all the time, except in rare and accidental cases. One of the exceptions that proves the: rule is the famous of Shanghai. It's the Morris, ledge that the majority of amateur voeing men in China will disapprove our contentions, but we still believe, that when they can be convinced that their attitude is contrary to the dictates of sportsmanship and common sense; and that when they begin to see it in this light they will be the first to stand up, even at a pecuniary loss, for the development of horseflesh. We have too much faith in their sporting natures to believe otherwise.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.