The morning call., 1892-12-25
COLONIAL SPORTS.
The Reasons Why They
Have Lost Interest.
Gamblers and booksellers Caused
the Ruin of all Pastimes
Excepting Cricket.

A few years ago Australia was looked
upon as being the great sporting center of
the old and new world.
1t claimed the champion osrsmen and
athletes. and so far as horseracing WAS con-
cerned il ranked far in the lead of all its
rivals.
Thousands of dollars were wagered on
the turf and so great was the interest
attached TO all kinds Of outdoor sports that
when horse race, boat race or a cricket
match was announced the business people
Of the city near which the event was to take
place would close their doors and repair to
the place where the contest was TO take
place.
Although sporting matters in the colonies
have received a severe setback there is yet
considerable interest attached to some
pastimes.
Crieket-the national game-is well pat
ronized because the gamblers we're unable to
approach the cricketers in the same man.
Ter as they did jockeys, oarsmen, sprinters
and pugilisis.
Dan Creedon and Tom Tracey, the reeog-
nlZed champion pugilists Of the middle and
light weight classes, arrived ON Thursday
on the steamer Alameda under engagement
10 the Pacific Athletic Club Creedoa, who
IS already matched TO fight Williams of Salt
Lake, was astonished to learn of the prncely
purses American clubs have been giving
for istic contests between men of estab-
lished records.
why, it seems to me-" said a country
man of Creedon's, that 1t is only recently
the boom IN sporting reached America. With
the exception of pugilism, Australians are of
the opinion that the United States is a dead
letter; that ls, so far as general sporting is
concerned. l am pleased TO see, however,
that we have been mistaken in our ideas.
=
tralian sporting matters has'died away?
We'll, that question is easily answered.
1T was the gamblers or b0Okies, as they
are called there, who knocked it out. The
hlppodrOmes became so frequent Oh the
turf and track that the people WHO
supported the pastimes became utterly dis
gusted with the manner in which affairs
were conducted, and the result was they re-
NAMED away from the places of amuse-
ment. When the peoples support was gone
the pastimes in which the gamblers took a
prominent part faded away like a dream,
until finally ali interest was lost in contests
that lew years ago would have attracted
thousands of spectators. Australia must
now play second fiddle to the United States
so far as its sporting is concerned"
According 10 Tracy, the lightweight
puglllst who Is looking for meeting with
George Dawson, pugilism in Australia has
fallen into the same rut as other sports
which the men who should support have
killed.
"A goo purse, which is $1,000 in Amer;-
can money, is at the present time considered
a princely sum for champion pugilists to
fight for said Tracy. I'm fact It is seldom
that this amount of money is offered.
Il well remember the time when Fitz-
simmons and Hall fought on the turf for a
few pounds which they were glad to get. ]
understand that these men have been
offered recently the regal sum o. $40, 900 by
an American club. What lucky dogs they
/ VI 6Oh fubt in
if l was guaranteed that amount at The end
of the twelve months"