The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-06-25
YALE WINS TOSS FOR COURSE
MAKES CHOICE FOR THE TWO ' BIG RACES.
Selects Ghe West Side of the Thames- Harvard Winning the Toss for the Four.oar Event Takes the Same Course for That COnteEt-PT0visIOn Made for Rowing the Races Late in the Day If Water Is Rough at Noon Betting Favors Yale.

Betting Favors Yale.
 New London, June 24-F'ihal arrange ments for the Harvard Yale races were completed tonight by the toss for posi- tions, and Yale was fortunate in win ming the choice for both varsity and freshman crews. Captain Waterman who called the turn on the coin for Yale, selected the west side of the river for the four-mile varsity race and the east side for the two-mile freshman race between the navy yard and the idrawbridge. Captain McGrew, of Har- yard, selected the west course for the varsity fours. Arrangements were also made to have George $. Mumford rep resent Harvard on the referees boat, while George St. John Sheffield will act in similar capacity for Yale.
 z It was planned some months ago to have the varsity fours start the days programme rowing their two-mile race down the Thames, starting at Gales . Ferry and finishing at the navy yard, this event to be followed immediately by the freshman race over the balance of the course, with the finish under the railroad bridge. It is expected that these two races will be completed be- fore noon so that the great observation trains may be able to go back up the river and accompany the two varsity crews in the principal contest of the day, of four miles down the river. ,1
 Recognizing that all these events, coming in the middle of the day, might have to be postponed owing to rough water, the committee of the regatta has made plans for covering that contin- gency. If postponement is necessary the races will be rowed in the late af- ternoon and early evening down. stream. ..e. . Naturally the sole topic of discussion was the chances of the crews in to-mor- rows races, and the general sentiment seemed to be that Yale would win both the varsity and the freshman events, and that the four-oar contest would be klose. However, there were a large number of Harvard supporters who had faith in their crews to back their opin- ion by accepting the short end of the bets which the Yale men offered, and tonight the odds averaged seven to three in favor of the blue.
 The probable condition of the river tomorrow was also a matter of some speculation; and especially as for the last six days the water had been almost too rough for any satisfactory practice While the wind has blown steadily across the Thames from the northeast, there have been times when it slacken- ed and the water became quite smooth, 1 tn " that similar conditions would prevail tomorrow during the middle portion of the day. the time set for the races.
 Many of the old oarsmen who arrived on the afternoon trains went straight X up the river to the quarters of the two crews, where they had a chance to look over the sturdy young men who will pull the oars of their lives tomorrow, as well as a chance to talk over old contests on the historic river in which they themselves figured in either win ming or losing boats. All the visitors were favored with seeing the two var sity crews on the river for short time. At Broad View all three of the Yale : crews went out between five and six o'clock and practiced racing starts in front of the quarters. No attempt was made to send the crews over any great stretch, and not more than dozen strokes were pulled consecutively. Coach Kunzig reported the Yale men to be in first-class condition, and he took the opportunity to deny that any of the men were overtrained.
 Down the river at Red Top the liar ward varsity and four-oar crews were also sent out and given some final in- structions in starting by Coach Higgin- son. The freshmen, however, did not appear, as some of them had been given an afternoons rest. MT. Higginson also reported that his men were in fine shape, and he talked confidently of the outcome of the race.
 In the informal four-oar race to-day, which is only held as matter of diver tisement, Harvard won from Yale by about three-quarters of length. The distance was but about three-quarters