To the Editor of the "Mobrh-Cwhg Daly News Sty—in the issue of the "N.-C.D.N." of February 3, "Thk SQUIRE" en deavour to elucidate the alphabetical classification of our local ponies in their relation to "hunting." In his article he informs us that one class was "bigger and faster" than the other, by which we presume they were better for racing purposes. However, regardless of this superiority he states their "racing gradually faded out."
Do not these statements indicate a lack of enterprise and suggest an opposition to progress on the part of those who insist that, because the so-called China pony has served us so well in the past, when something more like a horse is obtainable its use should be vetoed?
Your contributor then goes on to say "Even though the racing (of the superior class) had been discontinued there was such a demand for them that prices soared." Although the demand is admitted, the supply is denied. And why?
The answer is, apparently, because a certain section of the racing and riding community still prefers the somewhat hairy-heeled Mongolian to an animal which has advanced considerably beyond it in the evolution of the horse. As long as this sentiment is permitted to control racing affairs here dealers will not bring down the better class of pony for fear of their rejection for racing purposes and the consequent great reduction in their selling value.
Thus, despite our enormous expenditure for buildings, on valuable land, to accommodate the Race Club, its administration, its stands and its stables, are both the members and the public obliged to continue to race and to go racing to see, the lowest grade of horse-flesh raced anywhere in the world?
And as to price, this will drop to the level of that for the commoner class immediately the racing market is thrown open to dealers for competitive supply; which is entirely out of the question under ruling conditions.
Racing, in the homes of the thoroughbred. is for the encouragement of the improvement of the breed, which in turn results in better racing. Why then should we not endeavour to keep step, even if in a modest way, by improving our racing by using the better breed which is available and which is used so sucessfully for racing purposes in all the other principal racing centres of this part of the Far Hast?
A nod is just as good as a wink to a blind horse, and, by this token, would it not be wiser for us to get a move on in the right direction be-ore we are beaten to it?
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.