The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-25
Horse Racing, Pusilism and Ath-
letics Prove That Short
Edshes Are Beneficial.
V0SB0R0UGH ON SPRlNTERS.
Handicapped of Eastern Jockey
Club Defends the Breed
as Sires of Cavalry
Animals.

Although much has been written and said
against the sprint and short distance event
In horse racing. pugilism and athletics. it
appears as II this variety OF the sporting
game was not so black as 1t was painted.
From experience In the various lines men,
toned, 1t seems that short dashes in the
three lines OF sport generally result in a
strong and vigorous class of contestants.
Taking horse racing first. as the sport
affording the most typical instances of the
sort. We find that the Splinter is generally
as we'll. IL not better. developed than the
long-distance performer. Six-furlong dashes
have evolved a class Of horse more power
full and able a general rule than the
four-mile performer of earlier days.
Ten Brock, Lexington. Grey Eagle and
other old-time cracks, if accounts Of the
day are to be depended upon. were lightly
built animals compared with the racers Of
to-day. Tney We're small, rather rangy
horses. with great lung capacity and the
ability to cover long distances at the rate
of a mile in las or whereabouts. In short
dashes, against the sprinters Of to-day, they
would be nowhere.
AS n contrast to this sort Of horse, the
sprints of to-day have developed animals
powerful in build, with a tremendous flight
Of speed over short distance and the a5ili-
ty to carry weight rather than to go
route. By sprinters, however. is meant the
hcrses able to cover six and one-half fur-
longs and not the quarter horses which
used to figure at the outlaw tracks.
In three furlons dashes, such as were
breed or short-bred horse can hold his own
with the thoroughbred. In longer distances,
the stride and stamina of the Thoroughbred
tells. Six furlon2s has been recognized as
the shortest practical distance at which TO
race horses with view TO Improvement or
the breed. and dashes under this distance.
after certain periods of the year. are for
hidden for the al-age division by tracks
under the Jurisdiction OF the Western
Jockey Club.
Taking horses with local regulations as
instances Scorpio. Mickey D., Elastic and
Frank Bell may be mentioned. All were
cover a route In fast time. Bumnfr was a
stockily built little fellow for his size. ard
Jack Ratln was solfdly put up. Ethylcne
was not a rangy-looking FLY by any means;
the spriniers of last season at the st.
Louis tracks. II You Dare. Brigadier and
CARDS build. being neither of the lanky
type nor especially noticeable for s.ocki-
ness
Handicapped Vosborough OF the Eastern
Jockey Club recently wrote an article upon
the subject Of the six-furlong dash in morse
racing. stating that experience had shown
and powerful II successful. Even if the
horse was small in size. he was generally
powerfully built. Mr. Vosboroueh expressed
more valuable for improving the general
class OF animal throughout the country.
especially for cavalry use. than the old
time, long-distance runner.
Here is one authority. at least defending
the strongly built horse turned out by TIE
sprints.
Turning to athletics and taking the SC.
Louis University meet OF last Saturday as
afrording instances. we find that the men
figuring in the dasnes were generally OF
pretty solid build. Kirby. who won the ffty-
yard hurdle race, was one Of the largest
sa ti. ma 'a' showing for for, Company Of the
First Regiment in the relay race. was short
and stocky.
Arthur Duffy. who figured here eighteen
months ago. was short and solldly built
He is the champion Splinter Of the world
to-day at 100 yards. Barney Wefers was
lance running race has seemed to turn out
as its champions pretty solidly put up men.
As n contrast. 1t may be mentioned that
O'F'lynn. the half miller. is rather long and
rangy and gives far more promise over a
distance than he did in the sprints.
In pugilsm we find the same state of at
fairs. Short-distance men are about as
good as the long-distance fighter. Harry
Harris and Tim Callahan, both lanky, rangy
and elongated pugilists, are about the types
usually accepted as long distance fighters.
the Harry Forbes order are best at the
short route.
Terry McGovern and Young Corbett are
short and solid Jeffries, although now
dsproportioned through excessive weight.
is of the same solid type. These men can
in short fights. So do many of the
best pugilists of to-day.
Spirits, in any variety Of sport. may be
harmful If carried to excess and II that
sport is given over entirely to the develop
ment of sprlnting But when short-distance
events are carded in connection with longer
events it appears as II the result was benz
eficial rather than otherwise. E. B. W.