The Washington bee., 1896-01-25
THE NEGRO SPORT.
WHAT HE HAS ACCOMPLISHED IN
THE REALM OF ATHLETIC
ACTIVITY, ETC.

The modern newspaper that
claims to cater to the variegated
tastes of its readers, and is ever
mindful of what pleases the
general public in journalistic
line devote in very many in
! stances a whole page of their
paper to sport exclusively, and
have an editor of that particu-
lar line of work, who is very
great parsonage, and who is in
deed an indispensable acquisi-
tiOn.
Through these agencies the
| man or set of men who achieve
greatness, ON the cinder path,
in the field, on the diamond, or
in the magic circle, receive their
need Of praise or are praised
beyond the just merit OF their
performance, or their brilliant
performances receive but scant
credit according to the color of
their skin, or their personal
standing with the autocrat OF
the sporting department. 1t is
unfortunate, and a sad commen-
tary upon our boasted love Of
fair play that no colored man,
no matter what his accomplish
ments, Can hope to gain even
his just dues from the average
writer of sporting Information
Of to- day.
1t is not the purpose of this
article to accord to our brother
in black all that is due him for
the gallant manner in which he
has fought his way to the front
in spite Of almost insurmount-
able obstacles that had confront
him, and against which he has
had to contest every inch of the
ground but We shall endeavor
in our weak way to mention in
the space allotted some of his
most notable performances, and
most glorious achievements.
THE TURF.
The colored man has not en-
joyed for any great length of |
time the privilege of the bet
ting ring at the race track he |
has, until recent years, occu-
pied the most menial and sub
ordinate positions, except i'm
rare instances, when his unusual |
ability enabled him to ''sport |
silk"
Now that he is enabled by |
his own improved condition, |
and a marked change in public |
sentiment to face the bOokies
On even terms, and wage finan-
cial warfare with them under |
equal conditions, he has shown |
him elf in numerous instances |
to be as good a judge of form |
as his more experienced and |
Wealthier colnpeers.
He has shown also. that when
he is convinced that he is right |
he will wager his money with
that reckless abandon that I
would do credit to Riley Gran
nan Or Pittsburg Phil.
In 1890 there was formed |
what was called the Colored |
Combine, All organization which
In order to achieve better re-
suits, pooled their money and
their racing interests.
1t was composed of such we'll
known turfites as Albert Coon
er, Chas. Jordan, Chauncey JAG
obs, Pate clay, John Carter,
W In. II. Smith, Andrew Thomp-
son and others.
They had, | believe. a string
OF three horses of which From
teudC WdS Tile DeSt and most
consistent performer.
Their plan was to get their
horse i'll superb fettle, keyed up
20 a pitch by quiet methods and
without ostentation, working
ghen Others were asleep in or
Ter to keep the true condition 4
u their charge from the talent
md public alike, and when the
,ugle called the horses to the
'ost everyone was in the dark
s to the true condition of the
Combines entry.
The odds under those circum-
tances were usually good and ]
heir representative used to go
own the cline" and bet their