Wairarapa Daily Times. [ESTABLISHED 1878.] TUESDAY, MARCH 13, 1894. THE RACING MANIA.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4668, 13 March 1894, Page 2

Wairarapa Daily Times. [ESTABLISHED 1878.] TUESDAY, MARCH 13, 1894. THE RACING MANIA.

The will of the Melbourne jookey, MoGowan, who was recently killed by a fall in Borne race, is of public interest on more ;ban one account, Firat.it shows Hint he'was -like Fred. Aroher, the famous English jookey—a careful and saving man. This Bhould commend itself to all sensilile men and affords a striking contrast to many of those connebted with the turf, "Lightly come, lightly go,'! seems to be their motto, and many a time we find a man in reoeipt of a handsome income leaving a wife and family in poor oiroumstances, necessitating public or private relief. Such cases are, of course, not peculiar to the racing ccmmunity, but stem more common with, all sporting men who are " hard livers for the most partand Bomewhat reckless as a rule "j though it is but fair to the racing community to add that a genuine appeal for relief never falls on heedless ears. But the system is not commendable, and the prudence and foresight of Mr MacGowan might well be imitated. Secondly, the deceased jookey must have been a shrewd investor, for how many Melbourne bankers, dootors, architects or lawyers could realise £6,000 at the present moment ? But what a light this amount throws on t the. mad passion of the Australian public for horse racing. Here is a man who cannot be said to be engaged in a very noble and elevating occupation: and yet earning an income for whioh a Cabinet Minister would be grateful, and received by the public with an applauße [ and favour which a prima donna might envy. This racing mania is ■ not confined to Australia, but seems peculiar to the Anglo-Saxon race 1 throughout the world. In New : Zealand, with a race meeting on a I average for every day in the week, we have tha same thing, In India, South Africa and wherever a few Englinhmen gather together, there will be the racecourse, the church and the publichouse, In the Old Country it is the same—only more bo. At a raoe meeting are gathered together orowned ' heads, princes, dukes, earls, cabinet | ' ministers, and monied magnates, and • a great many more of lesser degree, to l say'nothing of the vast crowds that I always attend big- event. ..That ' , it is the love oi sport, pure and simple, ' that- attracts all these classes and conditions of men is difficult to ; believe,, ; If it were so the abolition of , betting should not affect the attendance, yet how many races could be held if betting were abolished? Doubtless the open ajr jmj, pretty surroundings which are generally to be fonnd,accountfor tbepresence of a few, the desire to see and be seen may ao-< count fora proportion of the fashionable world, to see some good racing is the reason for the presence of some, but. the great' bulk are there for the gamble,v/hiph i.g,abpye.boa.rd,.anc can'be enjoyed without fear of polioi interference.. That gambling is pro' hibited and yet openly, engaged it without the slightest check is one o those delightful anomalies for wbicl the British raoe are famous, and cause surprise and the'accusation of hypo grigy from the ■ intelligent foreigner There bai been and-is rou'ph agitatioi against the liquor.traffio but all com petent ototvers deolare that drunken new' Is steadily;;' decreasing:aa< gambling is the growing.vice of Jh present .generation.,..: Drinking; ha decreased principally beoause, it ha fallen out of fashion, and if gamblin and betting areio 'fell into disreput it must'be from'a'disapproving publi opmiop,'whioh, 'at-;prM"ent,:Beeni unlikely; to' P»^J^v^| ;^i^