The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-07-30

III IduSC.
GoodwoOd and Saratoga.
Two events of great interest to the sporting
world took place yesterday-the race for the
Goodwood Cup in England and the Cup Race
at Saratoga. Both events brought together
large and fashionable assemblages, and in the
case of the American race such an enthusiastic
gathering as is seldom seen on a similar occa-
sion. All evidence points to a growing taste
among our people for the excitement and
pleasure that are to be derived from the noble
sport OF horse racing, and that it is no mere
amateurish apiug or the customs of foreign
country is shown by the remarkable results
obtained. The great increase OF favor with
which racing is regarded is due mainly to the
successful efforts made to improve our stock
OF horses. The progress made in this direc-
ton is fattering to the intelligence OF our
chief stud keepers and gives promise that at
no distant period the American horse will out
strip all competitors in speed and bottom.
Already great strides have been made in this
direction, and though it is difficult to make
exact comparisons of the performances of
European horses with our own on account OF
the different conditions under which the races
are run, yet so tar as can be judged the per-
formances of our American horses compare
favorably with the best results obtained in
Europe. One feature of our system is the
effort to obtain speed and bottom combined.
We do not weight our two-year-old racers as
heavily as the English do theirs, and the re-
suits obtained go to prove our system the
sounder OF the two The strain on young
horses caused by the English system of heavy
weights is seen in the large number of two
year-olds that break down. Few English
horses indeed are worth anything when they
have passed through the strain put on them
in the two and three-year-old period.
This result is mainly due to the custom of
making. two-year-oids carry heavy weight
custom based on the theory that horses of this
age require men to ride them. No doubt this
idea is sound from the mere horsemanship
point of view, but its certain tendency is to
break down horses by over-taxing their i'm
mature strength. The heavy purses offered
to o-year-olds stimulates the breeding of
good stock by enabling stud keepers to utilize
their stock without too much delay, and is,
therefore, not without a strong element of
good The race for the Goodwood Cup yes
terday was won by Lord Aiesbury's Aven-
turiere, and the time made on the English
course does not compare tavorably with the
performance of Sprlngbok and Preakness at
Saratoga. The Epghsh horse made two
miles and a half in minutes IL
seconds, which would not be considered
fast running on an American course. The
same cup was last year won BY Doncaster in
minutes SGT seconds, carrying 129 lbs,
while this years winner carried only 119 lbs.
Two American horses-Springbok and Freak
ness-each carrying la lbs. over two miles
and quarter, made yesterday much better
time than was made by the English winner of
the Goodwood Cup. In the difficult matter Of
handicapping the rival horses great judgment
was shown, and after NECK and neck race
the judges were unable to decide which horse
was the victor. The race was therefore de-
clared dead heat, the horses having run
two miles and quarter in minutes
SGT seconds-the best time on record.
Harry Bassett made the nearest approach to
this time in 1872, when the race occupied
3 minutes SO seconds. We have a right to
feel considerable satisfaction with the result
of yesterdays racing. 1t furnishes conclusive
evidence that with continued attention to the
breeding of American horses we may count
upon possessing a stock that for speed and
bottom will be able to hold its own against
all competitors.