The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-02
YEAR HAS BEEN
A NOTABLE ONE
MUCH HISTORY MADE IN yARI-
Gus BRANCHES OF SPORT.
Record Breaking Frequent on Both
the Running and the TrOtting Turf
MANY International Events-Re-
view of the Year in the Prize Ring.

The year of 1908 has been a lively one
in nearly every branch Of sport. Record
breaking was more frequent on both the
running and the trotting turf than In any
season in some decades. In other lines
OF sport international events made the
year notable All in all, much history
was made in the twelve months just
passed.
Perhaps the general public-or the lay
men, to use another term-Were most in
terested in the Americas cup races, in
which Reliance successfully defended the
trophy against Shamrock III. This was
a distinct triumph for the United States,
for, altho Shamrock III. was admittedly
the fastest boat ever sent over py the
British, her defeat was more decisive |
than that of the second Of the name two |
years ago.
In other lines of sport the Americans
did not fare so we'll in competition with
the English. The latter not only won the
Davis cup in the international tennis
match at Newport, but also captured the
American championship in doubles and
singles The contests between various
teams Of American golfers and the visit
ing Oxford Cambridge players proved con-
clusively the superiority OF the Enshsh
at this game, for the Oxonians defeated
one after another set Of picked men rep
resenting the best the United States had
TO offer. The Philadelphia cricket team
partially redeemed America by most
successful tour Of England. beating
number Of the strongest elevens IN the
game, which Is peculiarly English. and
which never has enjoyed wide popularity
on this side of the water.
Or these international contests, how
ever the Yacht races were the only ones
which attra cted much attention except
among those persons directly interested
in the particular games. In the races Ior
the Canada and Seawanhaka cups, how
the American challengers.
THE achievements of the trotters ana
PAGERS have been SO often reviewed tnat
extended comment upon the new RECORDS
made is superfluous. From June ", when
Lon Dillon lowered the mile wagon record,
To Nov. 30 when Dan Patch reduced
Johnston's old mark for a mile to high
wheeled suky, there was RAPID success
sion of crashes, as one record altef an
other was broken Rarely dld a WEEK
pass In the latter part Of the season with
out two or three new marks being set.
Sometimes a new record would be smashed
after holding good only one day; once the
mile wagon record was lowered twice by
different horses in the same afternoon
The brilliancy Of these exploits IS cloud
ed somewhat by the fact that dust or
wind-shields were used by all Of the horses
which made these marks, except Cresceus,
the authenticity of whose record OF l:59A
is disputed. For this reason 1t is doubt
full whether the American Trottlng Reg
istry association will accept the records or
Lou Dillon Dan Patch. and Major Delmar.
Ii is to be regretted that these great
horses were not driven under conditions
which would have established the validity
of their times beyond the shadow OF a
doubt Without question both Lou Dillon
and Dan Patch the new champions, can
beat the old records for horses OF their
respective gaits, if asked to do so next
summer. Whether they can do as well
as they did this year is another question.
The day, the track, and the horse must be
exactly right to attain the limit OF speed,
and neither horse may again be able to
strike as favorable a combination of cir
cum stances as those which attended the
setting Of the marks Of 1853, 1881 and
1864 at Memphis last October.
The runners were nearly as busy as the
trotters and PAGERS in making history in
1903, and perhaps their performances were
even more remarkable, since the new
marks were set in actual races. Dick
Welles enjoys the distinction Of setting
two new marks, those for six furlongs
and for the mile. The new records made
by the runners during the year follow:
Five and one-haf furlongs, MCGEE
1:05 1-5.
Six and one-half furlongs, Van Ness
Seven and ons-halt furlongs. Rag Tag
1.s3 LIS.
One mile Dick welles, 1877 s-s.
Mile and one sixteenth. Glassful
Mile and fifty yards, Havi1and, 1:41 1-5
Mile and 100 yards, Grand Opera
Aa44 3-5.
Mile and one-quarter, waterboy
RIOS 1-5.
Mile ana rve-e,ghths, Africander
Mile and three-a quarters, Major danger
field, 2:57.
In the prize ring, altho many importan
fights took place. only two Of the sever
champions were dethroned. Jeffr1es i
still the heavyweight champion, with JacI
Johnson best among the colored mon; AM
Bob Fitzsimmons has wrested from
George Gardner the title in the new clas
OF light heavyweight. Attic Fitz has re
claimed the middleWeight title, it is gen
orally conceded to Tommy Ryan, the con
census of opinion being that Fitz canno
make the weight for the class. Joe Wal
colt continues to hold first place anon
the welterweights, and Martin Duffy ha
wrested from Matty Matthews the empt
honor Of best among the white men In thi
class.
Joe Cans Is still lightweight cham pior
with Jimmy Britt best man among tn
whites. Young Corbett claims the feather
weight title, a1tho he has not fought a
122, the proper weight for this class
since he first won the championship b
defeating Terry McGovern two years agt
Abe Attell is the best among the 122
pound men. frankie Neil has won tn
bantamweight title from Harry Forbes.
The prospect of a change in the heavy
weight title is quite remote. Jack Munro
is the only white heavyweight Jeffrie
has not whipped, tho Munroe confesse
that he does not now consider himself
match for the champion Munroe
matched to meet Tom Sharkey in Marcl
and if he defeats the sailor he may e.
match with Jeffries.
The past year has been marked by tt
passing of a number of once famous mel
Peter Maher, by defeats at the hands
Choynski and Jack Munroe, and Kid MI
Coy, by losing to Jack Root, establishe
their claim to permanent chairs in tt
section reserved for has-beens. Jim Co
bett made second but vain attempt
violate precedent by winning back
championship he had lost, and it Is prol
able that Corbett will now keep away fro
the ring for good, as he does not nee
the money badly and can add little to h
~ reputation by defeating any men exec
E & Jeffries and Fitzsimmons, for both
whom he has a most wholesome respect.
Death during the year removed a nun
her of men noted in various branches
sport Prominent among these were j
Goddard, the pugilist; Orrin Hickok, tt
reinsman; Win Mercer and Ed Delehant
e. az, no cabau nlayerS. Harry F1ISeS ri