Mr. J. A. Hayes on the sporting page makes out a very good case for the cross-bred, and it is to be hoped that his arguments will be duly weighed by those who have to make decisions as to the future of racing in Shanghai. That the sport has fallen on evil times is apparent to anyone who attends race meetings. There have been may reasons advanced for that, not the least important of which was said to have been the introduction by the Chinese government of the State Lotteries. The racing man, however, will point to the success of racing in other parts of China and will argue that it is due to the use of superior mounts, and that Shanghai by holding fast to the China pony is spoiling its own chances of rehabilitating its diminishing racing fortunes. If Mr. Hayes is correct in his assertion, that it is possible to secure a large and continuous supply of cross-breds, then it would seem that, in the interests of racing, they should be used. The argument that the animals are too costly does not appear to hold water. It is contended that they can be obtained at reasonable prices directly the discrimination against them is removed and the market thrown open to their sale. That is a contention, coming from such an authority as Mr. Hayes, which should deserve the most careful consideration, especially, if, as it is also argued, improvement in racing would result. The mind goes back to those days, not so very far away, when crowded stands were the feature of every race-meeting, whether in Shanghai or at Kiangwan, and, if those healthy conditions can be again brought racing medium, then lovers of racing will hope that decisions made some years ago will be reversed in the! interests of the cross-bred. "Whether it will prove as successful as it is hoped remains to be seen, but certainly, on the showing of Mr. Hayes, the experiment is well worth the trying, especially when supported by such able argument.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.