The Shanghai racing season still a month or so away but for enthusiasts who are weary await-the first saddling bell the London publishers have come along just. at the right time with this story: of the Epsom Derby. As might, be expected from an author-owner and trainer, the book rings true throughout and if the harsh critic might suggest that certain incidents are very highly coloured there is always the retort, truer probably. on the Turf than in'any other walk of life, that truth is stranger than fiction. But apart from the thrill ling, spicy chapters of "Trainer and Temptress" there is much in the book that will make a very strong: appeal to all lovers of racing, There are pages descriptive of the trai ing work on the Downs, of the rivalry between different' stables, of the loyalty of employes to their charges, and of the wonderful scenery' of the centre of English racing.
The racing story is one which invariably finds a huge cireulation—the success of Nat Gould proved this beyond question; and the authors int tance should be similarly well rewarded. For they! have produced a book which is well worth reading. One wonders, though, what would have happened had the authors collaborated volume of true stories of English racing such as. only men with the ide" Knowledge possessed by owners, trainers, ete, could give us, Even in our own small circle in Shanghai here, a few of our: owner-jockeys could probably give us books of rbihiniscences which would startle not a few. There is, of course, in "Trainer and Temp: tress" the usual attempts to nobble the Derby -eandidate—no less than. a couple of thousand honest Brad-erys, Passing hands in this eon-following:—"Came, Saturdaj—Settling day., Petok nibbled his pen" and examined. nis pass book 20,040 fu the bank==#6,000 fete Hey Baundtra "and To apout Bick horses" he groaned.
"there were some. mugs, on Epsom Downs on Derby Day, he thought a8 Wager of" these wag Pater Todd, the mug. who. trained" "the "winner" and didn't back it, fag, the' second and hig ait" to" wins!
We all know the moral.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.