Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-04-15
THE SPORTING WORLD.
Approach of the Season Of 1885.
What it Promises.
CHICAGO, April 10, 1886.

domain of American sports presented
brighter outlook than it does at the
present time; and before another thirty
days shall have passed, many of the
greatest athletic and sporting organiza-
tions of the country will have taken
the field, and the track for another
season of outdoor sports. The first OF
these will be the crack base ball teams
of the country, and it is safe to say
there is not one lad in one hundred. in
either country or city, whose heart
does not pulsate trife more rapidly,
and whose eye does not glisten with
expectant pleasure at the crack of the
bat and ball, and the accompanying
cry of the umpire. The great games
of last year between the New York
and Chicago teams raised degree of
enthusiasm over the national game
never before known; and the sight of
10000 people in attendance at the
games between these two crack clubs
in the Chicago grounds last Fourth of
July was unprecedented in the history
of base ball. With each year, since
the formation of the National League
in 1876, the game of base ball has
steadily grown in purity of character,
In popular favor, in point of creditable
management, and respectable patron
age, until to-day it is termed the
National Game of America; with
every claim to the title.
THETURF
Second only to base ball in Ameri-
can sports is horse racing, and of this
the great racing organizations and
State Fair Associations will give us
our full share during the coming sea-
son. Commencing with the 28th of
this month at Nashville the spring
season will commence in earnest. The
circuit really begins at Mobile, Ala,
April Is, and goes from there to New
Orleans April "a, but it is not until
the bell taps at Nashville and Memphis
that the great cracks of the West will
scare for start. At Memphis at the
present time the great stables of Corri-
gan, Green B. Morris, Gray & Co.,
and others are training for the coming
events. Last years favorites upon
the running track will, with few
exceptions, appear again this year as
candidates for future honors. The
great Freeland and Miss Woodford will
in all probability come together again
during the coming season in a mile
and quarter race for big money,
$4,000 or perhaps $4,000 side 1t
now looks as though this meeting
would take place at st. Louis, and
should it do so the eyes Of the racing
world will, for the time being, be
turned toward the named city. Mod
esty Ten Queen, of the Western Turf,
and the great favorite at Washington
Park last season, is largely entered at
the coming meetings, and it is said, is
in prime condition. Pearl Jennings is
not spoken SO well of, while Lizzie
Dryer is avowedly lame, but may
come through in proper form. Favor
and Bersan, of the Morris stables, are
said to be as fine as silk, and ready for
anything, while Joe Cotton, of the
Williams stables, was the winner of
last years. Kentucky Derby is being
spoken of highly by all horsemen as
dangerous in whatever events he may
enter this year Of course the great
Kentucky Derby, which takes place at
Louisville during the spring meeting
there, May IA to 25, is attracting at
tention everywhere, Already the
greatest flyers of the prescribed age
in the country, West, South, and Cali
tOrnia, are entered, and the event will
doubtless prove the grandest racing
carnival of the year The favorites in
the betting for this great event thus
far are: Mr.. Cassidy's Longlight,
Messrs. Chinn and Morgan's Ten
Thousand, and Mr.. Green Morris Con
Cregan, the books having been closed
on all three. Down East every prep
aration is being made for the opening
of the season there, and race tracks
are being put in condition, and horses
trained for the coming racing events.
AQUATIC.
Affairs in the aquatic world also
promise much for this year. The great
race between John Teemer and Jake
Gaudaur, for the single scull champ
ionship and stakes of $1,000 a side,
will take place at ST. Louis June l;
and Hanlon, Ross, Gaudaur, Lee, Tee
mer, and all of the great professionals
are expected to meet in grand contest
at Oak Point, n. Y. on Decoration
Day.
ATHLETIC.
Football, Lacrosse, Lawn Tennis,
Sprinting and general athletics, are
already commencing to enjoy a boom,
which it is said will be greater than in
any season heretofore known. In
Chicago during the past winter, there
have been greater number of athletic
events with the glove and in wrestling,
L.