New-York tribune., 1900-10-28
SOME PHASES OF sPoRTsMANsHIP.

There has been a considerable pother raised
on both sides of the Atlantic over Lord Dur
hams structures upon American jockeys and
American methods upon the turf. We are not
called upon at present to pass judgment upon
all that His Lordship has said. 1t may be that
the remarkable success of some American
jockeys has caused him to speak with uncalled
for vehemence and gravely to misjudge those
who have been triumphant against his own
favorites Yet the unsavory recollection of
some American jockeying and turf patronage
and the too frequent scandals of the racing
world here counsel hestancy before declaring
all his criticisms unfOunded. There is probably
good reason for careful consideration of the
whole case by the stewards of various race
courses and by all who are interested in putting
and keeping the turf in the category of clean,
honest, gentlemanly sports.
One of Lord Durham'S remarks is, however,
not so much subject for expert investigation as
for general consideration, and as such it may
we'll command cordial approval. That is his
declaration that he does not welcome the influx
of those who consider horse racing merely an
instrument for high gambling" That senti-
ment, in particular and in general, cannot be
too earnestly commended, and it's dominance
and control throughout the whole world of
sports cannot be too earnestly desired We
suppose there will always be, or at least until
the millennium, a certain amount of betting on
horse races. So there is football and on
croquet and on Presidential elections But we
do not therefore abolish these latter We mini
mize the evil so far as possible and make 1t
clear that 1t is only an incident and not the
prime object Of the thing itself II elections
were held or golf were played simply or chiefly
for the sake of betting upon them they would
|
hesitatingly say. should horse racing be abol-
ished if 1t should become what many are try
ing to make it, merely an instrument for high
gambling That is what it was made a few
years back in New-Jersey, and 1t was in con-
sequence, and most righteously abolished in
that State. If ii should be made so here II
should be abolished here. Public gambling is
no more tOlerable on the green turf than on the
green cloth.
Apart from the purely legal aspect of the
case. which is most convincing and sufficient
one, there is an ethical one The distinction
between sportsmcn and sporting men is one
| with difference. and is to be most rigidly
| observed. Generally speaking 1t is the distinc
tion and the difference between the amateur
and the professional We shall not saw that
rule is invarabe. There are some "profes
| siOnals' who are the truest of spOrtsmen We
| sun nave Ialth that II might be possible TO
maintain professional baseball league upon n
| decent basis. Yet we are confronted with tho
! deplorable reminder that this has not been done
for any considerable length of time. Years ago
professional baseball fell into abominabIe hnt
| richly deserved disrepute. Then there was
| revolution and the game rehabilitated and
! for a time enjoyed and merited vogue as tho
| National game. To-day, at least in this mart of
! the country, it has fallen as low ms eyer As
| for professional Craftsmanship one must hold his
nose when he recalls its record Most other
| athletic sports are conducted on an oma+orr
| basis, and nothing more menacing To thair nros
perity and good fame can be said than tbot
! professionalism" is creeping into them
with racing stables owned and rocacorrsos
controlled by men of independent means 30
! character and taste, who love the sport sln,nIv
as sport, and who seek the Improvement :,
the breed Of the nOblest OF quadrupeds borso
| racing is a humane, honorable and honest +b,nn
worthy of the regard of people of charoctar or,S
| culture. With the stables and coursas oon
Quoted by mercenary spectators who cora
nothing for sport and nothing for horses h,,t
everything for the dollars they can mako ara
who conduct the whole business as n bus,nas.
OF rather shady practices, horse racing % no
longer worthy of the name of a SNORT ana o.
uncommonly lucky II it deserves any hattar
name than that of gambling For when II is