New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-27

George NJ Slate. Of Sydney, New-Sou'h wares
Offering to match the champion Australian ,ro''ns
gelding Fritz against any trotter or PAGER III inc
world for $4,000 side and the indications are that
within the next six months the greatest international
harness race on record will be fought out by the
turf champions of two hemispheres. Not since the
memorable sectional contest OF 1873 between Amer
tcan Eclipse and Henry, the representatives OF the
North and the South In the $4,000 match race at
the Union Course, Long Island. has more impor-
tant turf contest been proposed, and 1t may De
doubted whether any race In the annals OF the
snort has attracted the worldwide attention whicn
will be directed to the prospective journey OF Rod
er J. to the other side Of the globe. there 10 meas
IRE strides for a wager of extraordinary magni-
tude with the trotter that Is believed by horsemeh
OF the antipodes to be genuine worlds champion.
Every true sportsman in this country VIII De prouu
70 learn that an old-schoo match race OF this sort
&c In sight and that there Is somebody among the
patrons Of harness racing with suiicient COURAGE
to back an American horse against anything oi HIS
kind In the world. even though II becomes hece'
sary as Mr.. Tewksbury says In his letter 10 Inc
Horseman" accepting the challenge 10 sehu 'i'e
American representative halfway around the "o'io
to decide the race. .
With Robert j., Mascot and Paul In MS s'aoie
Mr. Tewksbury has several strings 10 MS W" ;"
accepting the challenge. and he may even ue''ue
to go outside OF his own stable for canoiua'e 10
hardly be necessary for him to do this, however
for Robert J. is the tried and true champion OF
many hard fought fields, and. taking his racing
career as a whole, he Is without doubt the s'e"'
est performer In harness that the turf mas ever
known In all his campaigns. extending over tne
entire country from Maine TO California the poou-
like little gelding has not more than once or '"i''
n at all, paced a really poor race and 1t Is wen
known that he has repeatedly beaten all corners
and all records year after year Slice the uayS Va
Hal Pointer and Direct This remarkable UNI
formity of performance becomes quite as impo''
tant as his wonderful turn OF speed when an Aus
tralian campaign Is In view, for no thurman "ou'u
think of depending upon any horse, however ias'
for so hazardous an undertaking as $Z0V" lna'c"
race TO be decided the other side OF the ear'n
unless he was consistent and trustworthy uhuer 'i
conditions -
Robert ]. Is a geding. and Is of that tough' WHY
type of which great campaigners are maze anu no
would stand shipment much better than most staii-
IONS He Is a good feeder, capital traveller ana
an easy horse to fit for a race, ana ne "ouiu io.
need so much work after arrival IN the torru
weather which prevails In Australia In January ana
February as a grosser horse OF the Joe fatcheh'
John r. Gentry or Star Pointer type would require.
With the hardest campaigner that can be found
for the proposed expedition the FISK OF accioen'
and illness incident to the radical change OF cima'e
must necessarily be very great ana none Out
bold sportsman would think Of shipping an Ameri-
can horse u miles the Equator and CIV
ing the Antipodeans a at their very doors
Mr. Tewksbury believes that with good luck ana
with such consistent little racehorse as ROBERT d.
to rely upon the venture can be successfully car
ried out and 1t will not be his fault II the great
international race falls to take place.
His plan Is to ship the American horse by easy
stages In a special car to San Francisco, putting
| him aboard ship after a short rest and some eA-
ercise there landing him In Melbourne or sydney In
fair condition. If possible and then to select suit
able track and settle the race quickly, instead Oh
| waiting for him to become acclimated
Should Robert j. have the good fortune to reach
| the distant battle-ground without mishap American
| sportsmen would stop backing him. and as
| the Australians daring bettors with wonder
full horse carry their for them the contest
! would cause more money to change hands In two
worlds than any international sporting contest that
has yet taken place Negotiations also pending
| with Edward +. Geers, the great reinsman who
has last four years. 10 90 with
and Gesr b has % w nd M no so
G. j. Hamlin. be obtained. f. r. Bovine. the
String Of for Alley Bonner john Shuts
and Incorporation Counsel "; II. Clark: will also
ness to drive the mare should Geers be unable to
serve when the time arrived. Mr.. Tewksbury says
s' butt e woR nG 10
sioner to represent him and the, then there would be
PAGER; Something IKE six weeks wSuId probably
he day Of deedns the about
being required to make the Journey from here
ony s75S for the payment Of expenses according
to the challenge published in The Horsepan" i Is
estimated that the cost Of the trip would be not less
long odds in favor Of the Australian:
II is a singular and interesting coincidence that
match are closely related, both being grandsons Of
Harold. the sire Of Maud s.; 2:oss Fritz was bred
Frauiein, by Berlin. we're raised in America. Van:
ceve is by Harold, out Of Vassar. by Belmont, and
she out Of Venus, by seelys American Star. HIS
where the sire OF Fritz was foaled in 1881. vassar
produced two sons that gained records below 23o
Venus the grandam Of Vancleye Is also the grandam
of Vatican, sire OF II, Q. Havemeyer's fast mare
who produced the former champion stallion KremlIn,
so7a.. Robert wikin, Christchurch. New-Zealand.
ago and the horse there took record OF 2:2s after
ward passing into the hands OF j. a. B Buck a
wales who bred and still owns Fritz Berlin. the
sire Of Fritzs dam Is California trotting sire OF
note and webrsd ss son OF afaViss Rafk
2:iSh The Australian champion Is thus bred in
racing lines on both sides OF me house ana accord
The particular performance which the admirers
harness horse in the world. took place at Melbourne
March the int 5ss snS ETH
m mSsirsI to t the mile pole in each heat
on grass track laid out for the runners and was
in very bad condition for the harness horses besides
up a sna INK ia
were asked to step ana ne so
qoss h the the
Correspondent of THE Horsemsn." photo-en-
his tribe II American horsemen imagine that the
sh horse As for the an hi. Print
viii Indeceive them for Frts t. rigged out with z