PHILOSOPHY OF THE TURF

Hokitika Guardian, 16 January 1929, Page 2

PHILOSOPHY OF THE TURF

LORI) DKWAH’S EPIGRAMS. LONDON, Nor. 20. After dealing at length with Hie subject. of the totalisator in his remark able speech at tlio historic C.imracl: Dinner, Lord’ Dewax proceeded to philosophise generally on the joys and sorrows o£; tlie turf. • ‘Bloodstock 'breedi iig js irresist ihly attractive,” said Lord Dewar, “I know of no greater joy, no higher human felicity than watching the young ion! gambolling by the side, ol its, dam in tiie paddock, 'ton anxiously "ait to see il, as a yearling, it is growing in the right dimensions, and you endeavour to trace a trait ol some torbear in it. Then you will be told your soil is wrong and that you will never breed a winner. Blood will tell : breed is stronger than pasture. “if vow have a sire that has never Avon classic honours,” lie said, ‘‘.you will he reminded that such sires have ruined more studs than anything else, and the quickest way out of that trouble is to shout the animal. I lone been told that by an export: in the presence of and within hearing of my horse Abbot’s Trace. Horses are such agreeable friends that they ask no questions, they pass no criticism. To console the horse I then said, Don’t worry. • As Disraeli said in the House of Commons, day will come when you will hear me.’ He gave three nods of approval. “Aly apology for referring to ibis matter is that I have to thank the son of that horse for the honoured position I find myself in now. “Someone stated recently,” lie said, “that gambling was immoral because it was getting money for nothing. J. shall make a confession; confessions may he good tor the soul, hut had lot the reputation. The last hot I had was on my own horse in the Dcrbv in that case i gave money for nothing. An owner could not he classed as a gambler by having a small bet on his own horse in the Derby, because I know ho could get absolution from the Elders of the Scottish Presbyterian Kirk. ’1 hey consider that no sin. “A Scotch lady asked her minister. ‘"Would it he si-sin if I felt pleased if a gentleman called, me pretty?’ Ihe Minister looked, up and down at the somewhat homely-looking example ol womanhood, and said, ‘No sin could he imputed to you, but .a grave responsibility would rest with the gentleman.’

UNCERTAINTY THE ONLY CERTAINTY. “In racing you should lx; horn under the astrological sign that indicates great hopefulness. "When I fit’st started hope sprang buoyant. The

first horse T over h;ul won for me the first time out,- the Hyde Park Plate, over 80 years ago. 1 then imagined j I lmd tie' following year's Derby salot |y in my porker, but no; lor years I my experience was a record of racing j catastrophes, ( otiusel said to a wituess in coui't.-’Did you see the catastrophe ?’ 'l’ho witness replied: ‘I ant the catastrophe.’ “X never had to go to the expense dr engaging delect ives to sleep with auv of my horses. ’ said Lord Dewar. “On the turf, to him tljal hath shall he given the experience of losing. litirkv is tile man who does not believe in'!tick if you wait for a stroke of good fortune, you may wait until you get a stroke of paralysis. ‘‘Nothing is certain in racing except its uncertainty and there is nothing so uncertain as a ‘sure thing.' When yen hear a man say ‘Accidents will happen,’ you may he pretty certain |,e has hoi'H doing something ho ought not to have done. Why is it that- some husbands tremble when the wife says in a soft voice. ‘I want to say something to you:-’ No wife pan endure a gambling husband unless he is a steady winner. Pacing is made up of unlucky happenings. “Cast vour bread on the blood stock sides, and you will he pretty lucky if you ever see it again.” lie said. “Nobody really values a thing till somebody eagerly trying to dive into something that somebody else is Iraniieally striving to scramble out of. Cheap blood stock is much too cheap. A GREAT RE3POXSIMIIJTY. “Disappointment,” said Lord Dcaai “is the offspring of expectation. A our two year-old may he a hbro. and, as a three-year-old a zero. On the turf nothing so rapidly recedes as success. “In racing stables the trainer gi\os the horse a carrot at the end of the ( ] iiv that is more than some owners get at the end of' the season. “It is a wise horse that knows its own starting price and it s a wise owner that knows more than the racing prophets. Owners.,’ lie said, "like telling their friends all about the chances of their lmrse in a race, hut it is a. great responsibility, lor when you give a- tip it is like lending money: it is better for both parties to a range some constructive policy of protection against loss friendship. It is blessed to give than to lend, and it costs about thesame. If you want to know the value of money, try to borrow nine.”