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Show HORSE RACING TO MODERNIZESPAIN Thoroughbreds to Supersede Bull Fighters at San Sebastian Sebas-tian Radical Steps Taken. San Sebastian, Spain, July 22 (Correspondence of Tho Associated Press). Bull fighters and their partisans parti-sans look askance at a luxurious new establishment just completed here, where thoroughbred horses will soon begin racing on a Bcale hitherto unknown un-known in Spain. The race course has all modern improvements im-provements and with grandstandB that rival those of Longohampa.and, t Auteull near Paris. Alfonso XIII has not only sanctioned the enterprise but has given it vogue by acquiring a stable of thoroughbreds himself; some of his horses may make their debuts at the meeting which opens July 2 and will continue until October 1. The more emotional and more conservative con-servative see In the King's encourage-, ment of horse racing the prelude to a radical step In the modernizing of Spain the eventual abandonment of the bull fight out of regard for the sentiments of visitors from countries where it is not looked upon as sport. Others see in it simply a timely and enterprising project in the Spanish effort to encourage touring on the peninsula, Spain has shown a remarkable burst of energy since the war began, with King AJfonso setting the example. He has accorded special facilities to companies com-panies and capitalists Tor the building of Hotels at favorable points, such as Seville, Cadiz 'and Algeciras. The city of Barcelona Isj organizing a systematic movement with a view to attracting American visitors to that part of the Mediterranean coast. Financial aid to hotels and other encouragement en-couragement to promoters of improvements improve-ments in coast resorts are to be given, and it is Intended to do everything necessary to create a popular winter retreat on the Spanish coast from where cruises may be made to the Balearic Islands. The extension of horse racing heretofore here-tofore absolutely neglected in Spain is a part of this movement and does not at all mean that bull fighting will be superseded by it. The national sport will go on as long as there are crowds to witness It, probably. It all depends on what taste the Spaniards develop for the horses. The idea is to profit from the paralysis paraly-sis of racing In Franco and Belgium to draw to Spain's great sea resort the big-spending owners of thoroughbreds thorough-breds and the free livers that follow racing wherever it is. A twenty thousand dollar stake for the opening day indicates the earnestness earnest-ness of the enterprise. Among the stableB represented are three American owners, W. K. Vander-bllt Vander-bllt with 30 of the 60 horses he has In training at Saint Louis de Poissy, Jefferson Davis Cohn with about the same number, and T. P. Thorne with a dozen or so. Only ten French owners own-ers are represented. |