Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-06-29
TO-DAY,S BIG REGATTA.
All of the Oarsmen in Shape-Har'
ward Leads in the Betting.

GALES FERRY. CONN, June 2S.-The
finishing touches have been applied, the
hard practice is over, and the six crews
which will represent Yale and Harvard
on the Thames in the big regatta are
practically awaiting the pistolshot which
Will send them off over the course on
Thursday.
The close of the training period finds
all of the oarsmen of the two universities
in perfect shape, physically, with no in
dications OF entertaining, except, per-
haps. a little fineness in the condition Of
two men In the Harvard Varsity eight.
The work on the river has been more
than ordinarily delightful this year, on
account of the cordial feeling which has,
from the first, existed between the rival
oaTsmen. In fact the utter lack of Sc
crecy, the open and frank methods of
practice, and the exchange of courtesies
between the Yale and Harvard settle
ments have done much according 10 the
coachers and graduates Of both universe
ties. toward putting intercollegiate row.
ing on a new footing.
FIRST AMERICAN REGATTA.
The contests are awaited with much
interest in view Of the fact that the
I,
for the first time, are able to carry out,
the scheme OF a regatta. The events of
the meet will be crowded into one day.
in order to meet the convenience of visit
ing spectators. The contests will begin
in the forenoon Thursday, and will find a
climax in the early evening. with the
big" race between the Fights Of the
two universities
Wind, weather, and water permitting,
the University tours will row their race
at 1880 \. NJ, the start being Just above
the draw-bridge. The COURSE will lie up
stream for two miles, this race finishing
at the two-mile flag. off the navy-yard
Immediately after this race the two
freshman crews will go on for "a two
mile pull from the nayy-yard, up the
river TO the Varsity eight starting
point opposite Gales Ferry. Late in the
afternoon the Varsity race will come.
Harvard has the best in the betting for
two out Of the three contests. However.
last-minute changes have been made in
the shell of the Yale four two heavy
oarsmen have been succeeded by lighter
men, and the boat moves more rapidly.
As result hot race is looked for. On
form, the Harvard freshmen are the SUI
periors of the Yale youngsters and their
THE BIG FIGHTS.
With the two big Fights the situation
Is different. Harvard is reported TO have
made faster time on the river than Yale.
on the other hand the Yale eight Is
markedly the superior thus far as 10
form. The men pull much more easily.
apparently and have vast amount of
endurance and reserve power The New
Haven crew, moreover is largely a vete-
ran aggregation. a factor which tells not
a little in q race.
The course of the Varsity eight race
is the old Yale-Harvard course, which
was abandoned when Cornell became a
third crew. 1t starts on the west river
bank. makes straight for the navy-yard,
where, with turn almost insignificant
II reaches straight down the river to the
big railroad bridge.
The official arrangements have been
satisfactorily completed. observation
trains will be run on both SIDES of the
river affording good views of the races.