Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-04-17

! you Newspaper writers, as it is the equal at
least of any other sport, and just as pop
ular"
What our correspondent SAYS nay be true
to the letter. 1 AM not in frame of mind
to dispute what he tells us, but it must be
known to bicycle riders themselves that the
lack of news in newspapers concerning them
| is almost entirely due to themselves If
they were a little more energetic in news
giving and might say in sport-making, there
might be more reason to complain. While
bicycling is a sport, there is little or no
sporting news in it if riders simply get no
further than indulcing in easy road exer-
else for their health's sake.
But we'll keep track of the wheelmen, and
in the meantime would be pleased to find
them trying to arrange a series of local con-
tests. Out of such large number of riders
there ought to be some good and promising
material, and it is only public competition
| that proves to us the sterling material I
remember very we'll when the famous George
Waller was refused an entry in the historic
six-day bicycle race at Islington Park
Waller was not known to the public,
and, his entry was declined because the
promoters thought he was not class
enough. After considerable higgling and
dickering he was allowed to start and he
won the contest, which was remarkable for
the desperate struggle between he and
Terront, the French champion. The fame
Of Waller was then established. By all
| means public competition should be en-
couraged and clubs should be organized.
English Football Champions
A correspondent writes me asking to have
THE DISPATCH publish the picture of the
champion football team of England. OF
course, he forwards to this Office the II pic
lures. The request is little too much, I
am sorry to say, because of the great de-
mands on space. Judging from their pic
lures the champions are a fine looking lot of
young men, and certainly they have proven
themselves splendid team of players
But there is one noteworthy feature of
the English championship football contest
this year, and that is the increased interest
regarding it in this country. Until this
year one hardly ever heard tell of the EN-
glish Cup" contest in the United States, but
this year almost all the daily papers have
noticed it. All lovers of football now
know of the West Bromwich Albion team,
the champions of the year, and while we
hear them talked of we seldom hear the
name of the Blackburn Rovers mentioned,
although they have won the cup five times
This fact is simply because this is the first
est in international football
OF course, this augurs well for football
here next fall; indeed, so we'll does it
brighten the prospect that I will be greatly
surprised if football is not far away and
ahead next fall of anything like what it
has been in the past. Already teams are
being selected for next fall, and we may ex-
rect to see better Rugby and better assoca-
tion rlaylng before next New Years Day
comes
1t is to be hoped that the little difference
among the local association players will be
smoothed over before long, and that the
teams will be kept intact. They are too
good lot to be broken up.
Opening of the Running Season.
1t is not stretching ones Imagination to
say that the running season mas fairly COM
menced. We have had one Derby run for,
viz: the Tennessee event, although its |
prestige is not of much brilliancv. Still 1t |
is a Derby, and Memphis patrons of the |
races will doubtless think much of it. But |
the Derby in question has apparently not
introduced to us any young wonder, as good |
authorities argue that the winner. Tom |
Elliott, is only of mediocre class. The truth
is that owners of irst-class 3-year-olds no |
longer have anything like a strong desire 10
enter them in Southern Derbys because
there is so little money in them. There is
more money in comparatively small East /
ern stake, hence the poor class of Southern 4
Derby runners.
But whatever the opening of the season
NAV mean in the South, there are sure indi-
cations of a busy season in the East. Ad-
vices from the East state that speculation on
the big handicaps never wac so brisk at this
time of year. and manv bookmakers have |
declared their books 'full." This indicates
prosperity in horse racing, and the pros
poets of continued prosperity are probably
better now than before because the public
is much better protected.
Longstreet, as we all know, is being
backed very heavily for the Brooklyn, and
there are the best accounts of him. To be
sure, when horses price gets down to the
short price of to l in handicap race.
such as the Brooklyn is, there must be a
very large amount of money on the horse.
And often this makes the horse shakv."
1t has done it on very many occasions.
Often 1 have watched the public plunge"
on horse SO much to the disgust of the
owners that the public woke up to find
very badly left. 1t is this early
plunging that prompts the suspicious feel
ing about Longstreet. He is a good horse,
that is true; but to 1, at the present stage,
is very dear figure, and it may be costly TO
many people.
Just What Is Wanted.
Once more we are told that Pittsburgers
are to have a frst-class cinder path. This
time it is to be made in Recreation Park.
hope the news is true. Very often we have
been fooled on this very same question, but
[ am assured that there is to be good
rack made right away. Already readers of
his paper know that the Allegheny Ath-
etic Association has leased Recreation
Park, and it is as result of that leasing
that we are to have the track
Now cinder path or track is Just what is
needed in this city; track on which foot
races and bicycle races could take place for
one good track could be made suitable for
in getting track laid down
they will be worthy the kind words of all
lovers of outdoor sports in this vicinity. l
understand that the Three AS are going to
10 many things at Recreation Park, but if
they do anything it ought to be the laying
of the track.
There is no city in the United States
where track contests are better patronized
han in Pittsburg. And we have the talent,
both amateur and professional. Were
here good track and correctly measured,
VIC would have more runners than we have
ever had and we would have a much better
lass of bicycle riders than we have seen
lere.
Peter Priddy tells me that he expects the
lew track at Recreation Park to be ready
or the race between himself and Jordan.
# this can be done it will be great thing
or the park and also for the race. Of
course, the proposed race is to be three I
niles, but it has always been difficult to
ret long distances correctly measured in our
PARKS. / am inclined to think that as far