New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-09-23
TALK ABOUT TURF AFFAIRS.
SUPREMACY OF AMERICAN sPoRTsMEN.
..-rppAY's GRATIFYING RACING AT GRAvEsEND
THE TURF CLUB AND ITS OBJECTS.

,se cricket is the only game left to the Britons
~ crow over. The highly nervous and energetic
..,ican athletes do not take kindly to sport
80, requires nearly 4 week to play single game.
. ~ the Brtons may proudly boast that
IT. hrawny muscular gladators excel the word
~ cricket and skttles The London press contend
o., the athletes tina; were wofuy defeated at the
.,.r,a,tan Field Saturday were no, the repre-
,.,,ve athletes OF the Tight Little Isle" beyond
-. Goa IL might be well to remark that the
ue Croker horses were not representative Ameri-
= ,orses but even the sturdiest Briton dares
~, aeny that Iroquois and Foxhall were fair speci-
-. Of the thoroughbred any more than ,he can
- that the Defender Is ra Their a good sort OF a
yacht.
when II is taken into consideration that athletic
,.,nnr is an essential part of most Engishmens
.apcaton and that all classes are inclined to sport
:, some sort the clean sweep Saturday is a
,,-ious victory for the comparatively small frac
,,on of Americans who go in for athletic sports
7, Is extremely amusing TO read the challenges
,,.t frequently appear in the English sporting
,.rers There are all sorts of contests for cham
pionships
challenges are issued almost daily by Brtons
-ho desire to gain fame Challenges for anything.
,ron match to eat tripe against time TO a yacht
-.ce can be found In the columns OF the English
sporting papers
The leading English pastime is horse-racing
x.arlv every wealthy Englishman. whether peer
IT.
Tho advocates and believers in healthy outdoor
snor,s in England are united. The Sporting
League is one OF the strongest organizations in
that country. The League is so powerful that the
pnarisees who desire suppress everybody and
everything that gives health and pleasure have
hsan driven 10 the wall Leading advocates OF all
Kinds Of outdoor sports in this country desire to
organize a branch OF the Sporting League In this
eitv II is high time that the vast army OF cyclists,
the Leading athletic clubs as we'll as the racing
and trotting associations. united to protect all
classes OF legitimate sport and to secure good roads
and commons parks where health-glv.ng out
door sports could be INDUCED in 10y the great army
a, young men who live by their daily toll More
over the Sporting League would surely aid in re-
leying sports from the objectionable features that
have evoked adverse comment from the press ana
condemnation from the public.
THE GRAVESEND MEETING.
The racing at Gravesend saturday was ex-
reme'y gratifying to the spectators. and caused
many persons who remained home to regret the /.
last opportunity OF witnessing hrs,-cass sport IN
each OF the six races The magnificent contest for
,he Oriental Handicap the only theme talked
about by The horscmen yesterday. II was a grand
race that will long be remembered by everybody
who witnessed the struggle. Captions critics con-
denim Grfn's riding Henry OF Navarro. His de-
feat or Saturday does not deprive him OF the cham
ponshp honors Any intelligent horseman who
cooly and calmly considers the great on
Saturday Is sure 10 give credit to Heniy OF Navarro
for the grand showing he made In the race II
would be folly for Griffin to have attempted 10
make the pace with Henry OF Navarro Every inch
Of the race bitterly contested sng.e glance
Of the fractional time OF the race. which was faster
A; tho various distances than any other race run
since The meeting began. should convince intelligent
critics that Griffin rode a nawless race. Every
Jockey that has ever ridden Henry OF Navarro has
been numerically scored for unskAful riding Henry
Of Navarro has always been asked to undertake la
borious nerve-straning tasks. lie Is horse OF In
domitable courage. and tries to the last ounce
When all out and fully extended, he does not quit
bu, attempts the impossible. and this causes him to
twerve in spite of his Jockey. Dogeett. Perkins
and Griffin have been praised and afterward con-
-rnned for their horsemanshio In riding and plac-
g Henry OF Navarro In races. The next time he |
Starts II might silence some OF the criticisms IL a
strong. vigorous, sklfu Jockey like Taral had the
mount on Henry of Navarro.
Chords victory on Saturday clean-cut and
decisive II proved beyond scintilla Of doubt that
the is not in America that can give him seven
pounds at a mile and a quarter. Sir Excess sur
prsed many OF the spectators by his brilliant race
or Saturday.
COMMENT on HANDICAPP1NG.
There was lot OF talk about handcaps after the
race Some horse-owners believe that there is more
or less animus evinced and favoritism shown by
the handcapper Nobody believes that the hand |
cspper Is biased either for against any particu-
lar owner II Is certain however. that some OF the
recent handlcaps have been weird and mysterious
How II IS possible for any Handicapped to decide
upon the weight of any horse that has never raced
with his weight up Is beyond the comprehension Of
many horse-owners Moreover. the Handicapped
should handicap all horses on their best perform
snces. II horses run in races and are mot meant
10 win. the stewards should attend TO the horses
and their owners II horses are run TO get weight
Of In handcaps. do not try in their races. or. 10
be pain. are pulled started unfit (Which is
Just as much OF turf crime as pulling the keen
eyed. alert energetic stewards OF the Jockey Club
should attend 10 them while the Handicapped should
give his undivided attention 10 adjusting the weights
according the record OF the performances of the
horses entered in the handicap
Al efor, should be made to reduce the friction |
thai exists between some OF the prominent owners
Cancellation should be the watchword Of every true
turfman. There should be grounds for complaint |
BY any particular about the handicaps, es-
pecially II is known to race his horses to
win, and 10 send them to the post fit at all times
and under all circumstances
The racing thus far at the Gravesend meeting has |
been attractive and the attendance Increases every
I Gay Honest racing pays ana rev NOR o ua,s
who retired in disgust on OF the VIGOROUSLY
suspicious performances OF some we.-Kho"h horses
tnd leading jockeys.
THE TURF CLUB.
The Turf Club with It's home in the Morris Park /
Clue House is fairly launched on rs career Inc !
ain OF the club Is to foster racing COLL tennis polo
cycling and other outdoor sports
The Turf Club Is an outgrowth OF The WESTMINSTER
Racing Association. although an entrey distinct
concern When Morris Park leased there was
more doubt about the success or me racing
meeting that is 20 be held In OCTOBER. JAM ,d
keene with his usual sportsmanlike lnpuss psus|f
nmseI contribute $1,000 20 insure me success -.
he meeting. August Belmont ana othfr "I" NJ
ksenes example and the success OF me meeuiis
ana the Westchester Racing Association VIZ a.
t1red TO be dOubly Of success AuSuSS -.
mon, and Others formed the idea OF Turf CiuD a.
az AUXILIARY Of the Jockey Club ana the W - 80
Racing Association A Meeting was called TOT ~ u-
gust the Casino in Newport me Iuin n.re
was formed and the following well-kno"n Ihtu
epponted a a committee TO draw up coHs"'"''0"
ana bylaws for the club; . ~ ,r.,ior