The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-01-23

Henry Thompson informed them that
IL would be easy money inasmuch as
mad defeated him eight times, but
said distinctly that l could not get in
condition TO race on New Years Day.
l never promised to ride, and my only
regret is that 1 did not deny the re-
port that l would Manager Sturte-
want urged me to allow my name to
be used. saying that It would cripple
the sport if I drew out. was anx-
lous to encourage the races here, and
was of the impression that the Sa-
Vannah managers would provide a
hrst-class programme. Under these
circumstances l did not think that il
would detract from the races, but
when they made such a failure real
lied my mistake at once.
''Sturtevant advertised the match
race, when he knew that l would not
ride. After 1 had assisted the pro-
motors they were ungrateful enough
to request the announcer to state that
l had forfeited the championship. l
would not allow this. and the an
nouncement was not made. There
upon | challenged Thompson for
match on Feb. g for a side bet of ST.
900, or any part of it, to ride for the
championship medal, which 1 held.
and have held since 1899. l wanted to
put up a forfeit then, but Thompson
would not agree, saying he would send
his forfeit money to one of the
Charleston newspapers as soon as he
returned to Savannah. He has not
sent any forfeit and he has not agreed
to meet me.
Il hereby challenge Thompson for a
match race in Charleston on Feb. %,
for the Southern amateur champion
ship, held by me, and a side bet of
This race to be mile heats best two in
three, pacing machine to carry us
three quarters of a mile, and we to go
the last quarter alone, with a stand
ing start, and pacing machine to pass
between us on starting line in the mid
die of the track. / am prepared to
post forfeit for this match with the
News and Courier, and will ask Henry
Thompson to do the same.
1.-The statement published in Savan-
nah on information undoubtedly fur
nished by some of the Savannah
racers, who were here, is a tissue of
falsehoods, from start to finish. No
purse of $75 was offered me to ride,
for ON the other hand the promoters
and managers knew weeks in advance
that my work here was such that 1
could not get in condition for racing.
IN. S. Sullivan,
Southern Amateur Champion"
Henry Thompson, of this city, to
whom the challenge is directed, more
than a week ago informed the Morning
News that he would retire permanently
from the racing track and never again
compete in speed contests. He gave as
his reasons that racing is improbable
and interferes with other business, and
that in the future what riding he did
would be for pleasure and convenience
only.
He says that Sullivan knows this
fact and knows that he meant what
he said, hence the challenge, or why
did he wait until such a late date Z?
Thompson says that the statement of
Sullivan is entirely incorrect; that they
have raced but four times, and that
each of them have won trice. Thomp-
son says he is not afraid of Sullivan
in any respect, but that there is no
use for further challenging and argu-
ments, as he has quit the track for
good, and that the Charleston rider had
as we'll look for new opponent, as he
will never be seen on the Charleston,
or any other track, again.