The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-03-08

winner on what he calls an outside play
Today he telegraphed Martin Julian, man
ager for Eitr, ms follows:
Dallas. Texas, February G.--wiil give
purse OF $1,000 for Coroett-Fitz con-
test. Sure to take place. Have ideal spot
November the month.
tSiEne1l Dan a. Stuart"
Julian did not say whether this offer
suited his man. IT'S away ahead of the
London purse" he remarked.
-
Solly Smith said in the hearing OF some
New York e1thusiasts that he would make
another match with George Dixon to hgh,
for the championship, and could get back
ing for ssou. Dixon's manager heard OF 1t.
and posted $500 with Richard X. Fox to
back up his acceptance. He says Dixon
Will meet Smith at any time that is agree
able TO sign articles and arrange the de-
tails.
The Australian gate. which has been
used with such phenomenal success In
starting the runners at San Francisco,
and which will be used on nearly all the
big running tracks this season, is much
talked OF Just now as device that may be
used for starting trotters and PAGERS. In
writing or this subject Annadale, In the
HorSeman. says:
The Australian gate will soon be seen
on every American race course where the
Thoroughbred runs. ard perhaps tho trot-
ters and PAGERS will be held back by It be-
fore very long. OF its complete fitness foy
use with the runners there is no possible
room for doubt, and Il will devolve upon
some enterprislng trotting association to
give II Il trial or course. the start conl1
not be quite as fast as Il Is at this tlmo.
but II would be the game for all, and that
Is rather moro than most starts are at this
To start with the gate horses in harness
would naturally be compelled to come TO
the score much slower than they do at the
present Time. but they would all be level
and then after the gate few UP they would
Oe al liberty to begin as quick as they
pleased. Every driver would have his eye
on the structure, and just as soon MS he
saw 1t begin to move he might begin to
move HIS horse along Just as fast as h.
pleased. II would work hardship to NO
one, and the horses themselves would soon
get tn recognize that the gate was a ba.-
tier IN their way and respect IL accord
inglN, holding themselves In readiness 10
get into motion when they saw II fly be-
yond their range of vision. Practice wouIi
soon teach horses 10 score much more ac-
ceptably than they do at the present time.
and the long, tedious scoring NOW so much
complained Of would be a thing OF the
past Many mon make n living starting
runners or trotters. and perhaps their in
ruence on the trottlng tracks may keep
the Australian gate In allegiance for year
or so. but It's use IS coming as sure as the
sun rises and sets. Think Of It for mo-
ment, In the last run Melbourne cup thir-
ty-siN horses were gent away to perfect
start in minute and forty-flye seconds.
Under ordinary circumstances II would
have taken an experienced starter about
an hour. with good luck to catch them all
on their stride and send thcm away at all
level just 50 with trotters and PAGERS
When Held Of, say. sixteen or twenty
harness horses comes for the word they
are arranged IN two or three tiers, accord
ms 10 the breadth OF the track The
starters patience Is sorely tried; the peo-
pie, judges, horses. drivers and all others
concerned are eXaspcratcd to the last de-
"ree by the constant but uuayailing effort
Ia get the contestants of in any thing like
level order, and as "a asst resort the starter
thunders out: Go back. turn together and
come slow. The man that comes ahead of
tho pole horse gets $50" Now, why should
not this procedure be followed from the
hrst, and the word be given "at the first
inioniion"' II in the end 1t is no injustice
Co make horses and drivers come slow TO
the wire, It is no injustice to make them
come Just as slow TO the wire at the very
snading OF the field away while the horses
We're fresh and the audience excited II
would put money IN tho pockets of the as
so0iations and confidence In the minds of
the people who pay at the gate. | verify
believe that tho Australian starting gate
holds within its rope-formed structure the
true solution of the prolonged scoring dir
rcnity. and the association that first gives
IL trial viii be the first to confer an i'm
mensc bereft on the Industry at large. II
ninety pound hoy can. perched on a
three-pound saddle, control from it's back
heavy-headed, strong thoroughbred in
'front.' OF the gate, why can not hundred
and nifty pound man similarly control a
uotter from a comfortable seat in a bike
sulky? Surely he can. and though he
might not get away as fas as without the
gate. the people would be all the better
satisfied. and that is 10 small affair"
the Boston Athletic association has voted
To send n team to compete isp the coming
olympad at Athens. Greece, In May. The
men selected to represent the Boston Attn
leiic association, and probably all-Amer-
lea, as no similar action has been taken
by any athletic organization In America,
are Tom Burke, Arthur Blake. t. H.
Clarke or +. w. Lord. aud Tommy Curtis.
Mr.. sloan or Princeton university has
had the matter of American representation
In the olympiad In charge. The Boston
Athletic association team will he entered
IN the long and short distance running
events ana tho broad and high jumping
and putting the shot. Blake will enter tho
tweuty-mile run between the cities OF
Athens and Marathon. Tom Burke IS
the present iio-yards worlds champion ana
is considered the best athlete ON the team
L. II. Clark of Harvard an al-round
athlete. will enter the high jump, the broad
jump. throwing the hammer aud putting
the shot. Arthur Blake win enter the milo
the mile and n half and other running
races. T. w. Lords specially Is the hur-
dies. T. i. Curtis has done remarkably
well In tho hurdles and tho short distances.
The team is expected to leave for Fu-
rope March a. The first day OF che
Olympic games is May 3, The expenses OF
tho trip viii be borne by the Boston Ath-
lctic association, the money to be raised
by subscription.
r.
1t is not generally appreciated that