New-York tribune., 1895-09-06
SpOPTSUEN AND "SPORTS."

As the dates set for the cup races draw near
interest in every detail concerning the yachts be-
comes intense The movements Of the boats are
watched and chroniclcd as eagerly as the com
ings and goings Of king every stroke of work
done on them is studied and discussed. Even the
personal dongs Of their owners and captains
are widely exploited. Apart from all these
things. the betting on the result commands at
tention Perhaps 1t would not be too much to
say that in many quarters 1t commands most
attention The rates OF odds offered ana de-
manded. and the amounts Of bets effected, are
announced hourly, as though they were the iiuctn-
ations and transactions Of the Stock Exchange.
Thousands are predicting the result of the races,
not from any intelligent comparison OF the
yachts and their performances. but simply from
the betting Money talks they say, and since
the betting odds are In favor OF the Defender
the Defender will surely win
More than that. 1t Is observed that Lord Dun
raven and his friends are not betting, ana mat
fact is commented on unfayoraby. II Is con
srued TO mean. first, that they have no conn
dcnce in the success Of the Nalkyrie, and sec
ond that they are not true sportsmen. They
may be estlmable gentlemen. They may be
clever yachismen But they are not up to the
American standard Of real sporsmanshp. II
they were. they would back their opinions and
their boat with their money. They would bet.
and bet heavily. For what do fine lines. ana
broad smooth sails, and skilful steering. ana
the record Of speed made and races won ana
all other such things put together, count for as
arguments by the side Of those simple but con
ylncng words "What'll you betT'
We should be sorry TO believe these quoted
views 10 be those Of genuine American sports
men TO our mind It II not 10 the dlscrcdit of
Lord Dnnravcns or any ones sportsmnnshlp
that hc does not bet. II Il decidedly 10 iis 0n1
lo hls credit These cup races are not gam
bling gnmc They are not n money making spec
ulnilon They nrc contest In ynchl building
and yacht.saIllng There N no pccunlnry profit
lo be won; nothing but The honor Of victory, ana
lhc right 10 hold the cup until The other side shall
win II back again. That seems 10 be the view
Lord Dnnrnycn takes Of the ease, lie has come
over here. not to gamble, not to make money,
but 10 race his yacht for the glory OF the sport
and for the honor Of the British flag.
II would be humlating TO think that his
American competitors took less dlgnl6ed view,
and we do not believe they do. II Is not neccs-
sary TO east the slightest reflection upon those
who do make bets upon the result of the races.
They are merely exercising their right. SO long
AS the betting is nothing but an incident Of the
contest their sporsmanshp Is not TO be I'M
pcached But If. as is unhapply sometimes in
timated. betting were the chief thing. and the
real end TO which the races were but means. then
the true spirit of sporsmanshlp would be lost.
The contestants would no longer be real sports
men. but sports" The contest would he de-
graded TO either gambling or money making;
and neither gambling nor money making Is
snort. The distinction between sportsmen and
sports" should be as carefully observed as that
bctwccn gentlemen and gents