The sun., 1903-12-26
ENGLISH sPORTING NEWS.
rr'ce Paid for keene's 3obrinski, tho
Highest OF December sales.

ing season has been more than counter.
balanced by the interest in the great sales
and the fact that many cracks and pros.
pective champions changed hands kept
the critics busy figuring on future posi-
biities. The disposal OF the Keene and
Whitney stables added an additional stir
to matters. although, all around, the Decem-
Der sales must be ranked as among the best
ever held
For the racehorses in training the top
price OF 5000 guineas went to Bobrinski,
two-year-old Of the Keene string, and the
price has caused considerable comment
both In America and England, for the
lanky son Of Kingston has not done any
thing to warrant such price. The pur-
chaser was Sam Darling, trainer for Mr..
Gubbins, who must be credited with know
ing his business when it comes to sizing
up promising youngster. Bobrinski's g
best performance occurred at Sandown
Park about two months ago. when he met
Pretty Polly. He could hardly be ex-
pected to come home in front Of this sea-
sons wonder, but the American showed
he had speed and staying power. and fin
ished like trump. 1t was calculated then
that the Kingston colt was about fourteen
pounds behind the great daughter Of Ga
lnule, and that is indeed creditable. Lam
cashire, a half-brother OF Bobrinski, is
spoken Of favorably by Englishmen but
1t is said that the handsomest Of all Ameri-
cans at the sales was Sweeper, who won
the Michaelmas Plate at Manchester and
ran second to Newsboy in the same meet
Ing,
| One OF the most notable fixtures in the
| Naninn N 1ap 1ar racantlv tho fftv-
sixth annual exhibition Of the Birmingham
Dog Show Society, held at Curzon Hall,
Birmingham. The number Of dogs benched
was 9l7, representing total OF ,723 entries
which was considerably more than the hall
could accommodate, The executive Of
this show has always been at a disadvant-
age when compared with the Kennel Club
for on account of the space the entries
| have to be limited but the show ranks
| among the best, and. indeed as far as sport
| ing dogs are concerned, it is looked upon as
| quite the premier exhibition in England
! Those who fancy the dog afleld patronized
| the show, especially admirers of gun dogs
Retrievers and spaniels of many varieties
were also to be seen, these two breeds hav
ing become more popular Of late wears
| to mect the exigencies Of killing game. The
CltAboCo VI dtSIHOuuuo WcIO cACtptlOIlully
prominent and there was grand collection
of grevhounds, among them being several
coursing cracks, including the champion
Pterodactyl. Belladonna H., Black Eagle,
Sussex Belle and Bit Of Courage. Some at
tention was attracted to the Borzois by
the entries Of the Duchess Of Newcastle,
but the championship was awarded to Mrs.
| KelvertIs Kieff, dog Of splendid conforma-
ton.
The winter book in the classic events OF
1904 win soon be in full swing, and from
present indications 1t will not be a very
hard job to place the favorite of the Derby
and Oaks. A wager Of 1000 guineas to
$50 was made a week ago against Pretty
Polly winning the One Thousand Guineas,
Oaks and st. Leger.
The progress of American athletics has
set the Englishmen thinking, and those who
want to see the Briton maintain his suprcm-
take TAX a brace. odd Blue, in the current M Mt
number Of Sporting Lie. treats OF the mat
ter as follows:
the American champion runner, that the
English are fonder OF athletic sports than
the Americans-that they appreciate the
finer points OF an athletes work, more
times have changed. and the Americans have
changed with them since Myerss day and
generation. For one thing, athletics proper
now vie in populartywith baseball, sparring
and kindred pastimes in America. In
Myers's time there was an utter lack of
games. as they are called, and doubtless
this had much to do with the apathy in
question. Since they have discovered the
material for athletic achievements Of the
demonstrated that at heart the Americans
are Just as fond OF athletic work as the
English. Indeed, there was much truth
in the dictum Of recent magazine writer
that New York is in a fair way to become
the athletic capital OF the world. At any
rate, England will have to look to her lau.
rels, for the same apathy which obtained
in America years ago appears to be gradu-
ally obtaining in this country,
Il appreciate my friends doubts and
letic clubs on the aforesaid lines would be
irnpracticabe Difficulties In the way of
suitable grounds, sufficient Members, avail
able funds. 6c., would be sure to intervene
But there is no reason why an athletic
Of better class clubs-such as, for instance,
the public schools. universities, Sand
hurst and Woolwich, Cooper 3 Hill, the
civil service. the hospitals, the leading hare
and qs6s ehRs hae saah
an association, with its headquarters at the
Queens Club, would speedily attract hum
dreds Of better class athletes once again
and serve to resuscitate the palmy days
Of Beaufort House and the like. Provided
such an association we're, in turn, affiliated
with the A. A. A., I agree that the suggestion
is both feasible and particularly happy.
OF course, all sport ought to be demo-
cratic in its tendencies, but it is the old.
old story. Men of culture, rank and higher
social status decline to compete with others
OF the hybrid class, as my correspondent
diplomatically puts 1t. There is a good
deal of sound sense in the argument that
the mixed state of latter day amateur ath-
letics tends to make the better class ath-
letes uncommonly chary Of competing.
Il am far from being q pessimst in this
connection, but the letter of very distin-
guished patron of sport has set me think
ing. My correspondent notices with dis
may that during the last twenty years or so
many of the very best known and most hon
ored names have gradually disappeared
from the list of officers Of our leading ath-
letic clubs. A good many still remain, Of
course; but, adds my correspondent 'unfor-
tunately a large percentage Of those in power !
are men who, instead of recognizing the
fact that they are placed in Office to foster
sport, only work in the interest of the clubs
to which they belong l cannot speak with |
authority on this point, hence simply re-