Aug. 22.
At the risk of somewhat labour ing a -subject—though the importance of some of its aspects: must be the best possible excuse—reference is again made to the proposed operations of the Shanghai Trotting Club, which has announced its intention of commencing next Saturday evening on the Chinese Jockey Club Course at Yangtszepoo. The position of the Club in question is worthy of some consideration. It would appear from the statements which have been issued to the Press that a body known as the Metropolitan Sporting Association has been formed for the purpose of managing the sporting events which take place on the Yangtszepoo Cour: The stalement is to the following effect, in one contemporary:— also announced by the Shanghai Trotting Club that while the meeting will be held on. the Yanglszepoo course, the Shanghai Trotting Club is an organization apart from. the Chinese Jockey, Club, although both come under the management of the Metropolitan Sporting Association, The constitution of that Associ tion is not at prose it Is apparent that system is being created in connection with the two subsidiary bodies as formed, the subject "of such pointed comment in the case of the dog racing establishments which were closed down in 1931. Whatever complexion as a club the combination of owners of the dogs racing might have assumed, it was clear that the management was vested in a company which sought in the main to make its income from the returns on the betting tendant upon the races. the case of the Shanghai Trotting Club it might very well be: that the gentlemen who are to become the sporting owners of the horses which have been imported: may have formed a club for sports sake, but it is doubtful in the extreme: whether the Metropolitan Sporting Association can claim stich redeeming quality for themselves, While it is possible that the status of the Chinese Jockey Club under this arrangement might requite the attention of other racing bodies in Shanghai, it is not matter of immediate concern so} far as this journal is concerned. It is suggested here, that no matter by what camouflage the affair is tricked onl, the fact remains that the importation 6f these horses is for the purpose of professional gambling. The arrival of Austral-in riders, who it is to be presum-are not amateurs, men well Known in Australia, with each "a clean sheet on the "records of the Australian Associations"—a matter! which is observed with considerable appreciation in Shanghai—adds corroboration to the contention that the proposed trotting is professionalism pure and simple, the only amateur interest which it is possible to perceive being in the status of those who may or may not be Induced to take an interest, in the horses which are to appear. There fs still some mystery as to certain proposed items in the programme on Saturday night, for it is stated that a number of riding be included in each pro-'On what horses? The erses imported for the purpose of trotting, or some other animals whose identities have not yet been disclosed? And who will ride! them? 'The gentlemen who have recently arrived from Australia, or local amateurs? It will be a matter for considerable surprise if local amateurs do take part, and, if they. don't, the programme may' be said to comprise professional trotting. and equally professional racing. Let there be no mistake about the contention which is here raised. Shanghai has managed to keep the racing. of horse-flesh free from professionalism in the past, but it is impossible to escape the conclusion that this present venture is designed to introduce into} Shanghai, and that at a time.when it should definitely not be done.
Too much emphasis cannot be laid upon the fact that every point which attracted criticism in the case of the now defunct greyhound racing undertakings may be leveled against this new venture. That being so there is every justification, for contending that if Chinese, permission has not yet been obtained for opening this new gambling venture, it should not be granted. In that the good faith of the Chinese authorities is submitted to very real and searching test. If the agitation against the Stadium and Luna Park was a genuine agitation, if the reasons advanced in support of the demand for their suppression were indeed valid. then, they are just as cogent now, and should lead to the refusal of any application for permission to Operate these trolling contests on, the Yangtszepoo Course. There.
obviously, be no paltering. with the matter; there can be only one solution to the problem which thus posed, and if permission is ranted it becomes plain that the evils of gambling against which such protes{'was raised three years Jago were a matter of temporary conviction which has vanished in. the glorious summer sun of a new method of exploiting the gambling propensities of the people who were in s0 great a need of protec~ tion against themselves so short a while since. It would appear un= believable that this could be the case. During the last few years there has been growing admira~ tion for the manner in which the affairs of the Chinese areas of Shanghai have been administered by the authorities. Tt has led to an. increasing confidence which is dally more apparent, but if the Metro politan Sporting Association, or the /Shanghai Trotting Club succeed in getting away with what they ap-Parently propose to do, then a severe blow will have been dealt to the esteem in which the local [Chinese authorities are being held.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.