Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-02
A Valuable Guide.

A day or two ago l received from Goodwin
Bros. their annual Turf Guide" for 1889. 1t
is indeed a valuable book for those at all inter-
ested in turf affairs. The number of horses,
events and record dealt with is to say the
least, extremely surprising. There is also
within its backs the rules of betting, and these
rules, Judging from the queries l weekly re-
ceive ought 10 be very useful indeed to many
people. But particularly, the Guide" points
out with no unerring hand the rapid
growth of horseracing in America. Every
year 1 see these figures these statistics, of the
American turf becoming larger, and more and
more complex. venture to say 10 or Is years
ago few people would ever dream OF horse
racing becoming such a wealthy business it
is to-day in America. We now have racing
from Christmas Day until Christmas Day with
out Intermission, save srow blocKades or Sum-
day intervene. Every year the number of
thoroughbreds is not only becoming exceedingly
larger. utwhat is more satisfactory, very much
better in quality. With these facts before us 1t
seems safe to say that in comparatively short
time America, as In manv other things, will be
absolutely first in turf affairs.
O'Connor's Departure.
The departure of William o'Connor for
Australia has caused considerable aquatic
talk during the week. 1t has particularly re-
vived the discussion about the championship
and the old arguments have been to great
extent rehashed. However, don't change my
opinion on the matter. From the first 1 have
held that O'Connor is in the right. and it now
appears to ME that should Stansbury and
O'ConnoT row a match in Australia they will
have infinitely more claim to put the title in
the issue than all the regattas that may be
rowed here or any place else. 1 fail to see any
reason at all for saying that the question of
the title to the worlds championship can be
decided either at a Boston regatta or any other
even if O'Connor was to start in it. Now that
he won't start the matter becomes absolutely
conclusive. But what want to point out here
is the great probability of very great race
between OConnor and Stansbury, and per-
haps others. 1t would be oolish to anticipate
any results at present. but it is worth ones
while, think, to remember that the Austral-
ians are in remarkable form Just now. For
a long time they have been winning everything
before them. and this shows that there is a
remarkable stock of athletes growing up
on the other side of the globe. Hanlan gives
us to understand that O'Connor will havc a
losing trip but Hanlan is doubtless a little
angry. If that statement of his is no more re-
liable than that he can defeat OConnor, we
need pay no attention to it. don't hesitate to
say that either Gaudaur or Teemer can defeat
Hanlan, and O'Connor is certainly superior
man to either of the two first named. How
ever, if Stansbury should defeat O'Connor the
effort will be discouraging to American profess
sional aquatics. Defeat Kills interest as rule
just as defeat knocked the life out of English
sculling and just at a time when the Britishers
thought they would be always in the van. The
present stock of rowers cannot last much
longer, and the question is: Where are the
young ones? 1t is a long time since we had a
promising debutante in professional sculling,
and most assuredly if the Australians defeat
OConuer we will hear very little from the old
timers in this country