I snafu never know why I find it impossible to take the slightest interest in horse-racing, writes a British columnist. I have no moral views about it. In fact, I have no views about at all. I just don't care what's running, who's riding or what (or who) wins.
I have been to only one race-meeting in my life. That was in Hollywood. I tried to think excuses, but when people in Hollywood decide to take you somewhere you go whether you like it or not. I hadn't the courage to tell hem the plain truth because if you tell a acting man that you are not interested in rac-ug he won't believe you.
At this time of the year I suffer more than usual from racing men who won't believe my simple story.
They either want to give me a tip, or they want to get a tip from me. Sometimes they whisper the name of a horse in my ear, and expect me to look pleased and grateiul. The least they expect is some intelligent conversation about it. And when I reply, quite ruthfully, "I have never heard of the animal, and' I didn't even know there was a race being čun today," they think I am just being silly snooty.
If you are connected in any way with newspapers it is generally assumed that you have inside information about horses. Therefore it is quite common for me to be asked what I know or the 2.30 or the 3.30, or whatever race result bothering them at the moment, When I reply "I know nothing whatever about it," their suspicions are aroused and their appel tites for tips sharpened.
They think I am meanly withholding information which would make their fortunes.
Please don't think that because I'm not fearfully fond of racing I'm not fearfully fond of horses. a I'm so fearfully fond of them that-I would like to see them all retired tomorrow, burying their noses in the lush grass or hanging their foolish faces over hedges.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.