The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-12-07
ATHLETICS.
Benefits of Cinder Track =
Amateur Athletics.
English,

Benefits of Cinder Track - English
Amateur Athletics.
The inclement weather has Temporarily
caused cessation in outdoor athletics The
amateurs will not be baked by the elements,
however, and, rs matter of course, their
practice spins will be within doors until
such time as the cinderS are in condition to
exercise upon One good advantage of a elm
der track Is that it requires only short
time to be in condition again, so to speak,
after storm; but on the other hand, a
clay track that is once deluged by a heavy
downpOur will need a week of sunny weather
before it is in proper condition.
Owing TO business matters which Will take
up all OF his time for months to come. Z.
A. RiX, Vice-President OF the Olympic Club,
has rendered his resignation to the Direc-
tors.
Oid-time athletes or those who have
stepped aside to allow the younger genera
ton to take an active part in amateur ath-
etics have intimated that the Intense club
rivalry that has existed between various
athletic organizations in the East is causing
harm 90 amateur athletic sport. They claim
that young men who are developed spend
more time competing at games than they
should. In England for some years athletic
sports, although growing greatly in favor
with the masses, have, SO far as social
standing is concerned, been ON the wane.
The officers of the Amateur Athletic Asso-
NltNltll VI ditdb III Cidilll W huOW lub
reason of the better elements failure to
participate, but they also claim that it is al
most impossible TO 0Ilng about change of
the existing state of aft airs.
a gentleman who recently returned from
England, and who is strong supporter of
amateur athletics, said to a New York re-
porter few days ago that the young men
of England, who compete day alter day.
make it a practice to have such cOmpeti-
tion benefit them pecuniarlly. The English
amateur bets on himself with as little inn
puDIty as would be shown by veteran fire.
Quenter of horse-raceS. Book-makers make
the rounds of athletic club games Just as in
the case of horSe-raee here, and the init
macy existing between these agents and
many OF the athletic clubs is so well known
that It Is seldom commented on.
Ernest Ihorp OF the Brooklyn Heights
Athletic Club returned recently from a
three months bicycle tour through En-
gland. lie gave the New York Suns repre-
sentative some inside facts of the open way
betting was carried on at the Englis h games
lie says that IN the manufacturing towns
the betting element completely overwhelmS
the respectable patrons, but that in London
and the vicinity betting is not carried on
openly. AT meeting in Manchester he
remembers being greeted as soon
as he entered the gate with sign which
strictly prohibited open betting asking that
the spectators cooperate in helping the man.
agement to enforce the rule. The idea was
mat tHo friends could make q bet with each
other, but that no shouting of odds or offer
ing to bet anybody and anything on any
race should be allowed. Inside the Enclosure
were several booths or book-makers' stands,
each one being occupied by several sporting
men.
The booths were surrounded by young
men, some running around with their coat
worn over their athletic dress, and Others IN
regular dress who did not intend to compete
1 he officials and the officers of the club Civ
ing the games seemed to pay no attention to
the book-makers, and their vocation was
pursued as though it were business that
betitted the sport. Mr.. Thorp says that he
attended several games which we're as free
from the lower element as any he has seen
III tilIS country, but he admits that the huge
proportion Of amateur athletic games in
England is freQuented by class
which very few clubs in this country,
he lmasines. would tolerate. Imagine"
lie said, injecting fifty or seventy-five ath-
letcs in New York City, and finding them
two days later competing in Boston. and
two days after that at Hartford, and prob
ably week after at Albany, and then the
next day or two at Philadelphia. What
would be thought of it here? Amateur
athletic contests are far more numerous in
England than in America, and the tempta-
tlans for an athlete to give up a settled bust
ness and roam around the country living on
what he can get cut of the games in Eng and
are lar greater than here"