New-York tribune., 1906-10-08
SPORTING COMMENT.
Neus and Viesrs on Current Topics,
amateur and Professional.

With the big automobile race over. the yacht
Ynr ana baseball seasons closed and little or no
activity in several other branches OF sports
those interested IN outdoor pastimes begin 10
realize that the long winter is at hand Boot
bah, racing and golf now hold the centre OF
the stage but their life too. is short, with only
four or five weeks 10 run The football games
,n which Yale Harvard Princeton. Cornell and
Pennsylvania viii engage should prove interest
ing this week while the racing at Belmont PARK
and the women's national golf championship aI
Boston VIII provide plenty Of entertainment 1or
those interested in these branches of sport Ihe
most important happenings last week Were @ me
winning os the American League CnaiipIonsShlp
bv Chtcago the victory of Wagner in the Van
derbtlt Cup race, the successful Ineeths OF ING
Brighton Beach Racing Assoeian1GSi' aS uoIsche5
earned high honors, and the earning or the IN
tercolegiate lawn tennis champlonssnlpt ps s
Robert lie Roy, Of Columbia, and the playing OF
xusny college football games IN which the new
code further tried OUT
AUToMoBnNG.
The third international automobile race for
the Vanderbilt Cup has passed into history
and for the third time France has won the
coveted trophy. Under the terms OF the deed
Of g.ft the next race must be held on French
soil. but France would not accept the custody
OF the cup after winning il IN 1905. and France
VIII hardly change its position in the matter
this year. Last year Tracy, driving for the
United States had second call on the cup. and
the race came back TO this country. Now Italy,
by virtue Of Lancia finishing second on Satur-
day, has first claim on the trophy IL France
takes the same position last year. and II
for the cup IS held II viii probably be on
italian soil The race Saturday, as success
ful il was in many respects as thrilling and
spectacular 10 those who have the speed mania
9n an aggravated form, was. nevertheless, marred
by one fatality and many serious accidents.
hg- han roN-S Sa. rfa ~
race as q sporting fixture test Of the
speed and reliability of the machines, looking TO
the DEVELOPMENT Of the industry. It must be
said in all fairness that, as far as could be
judged, the racing board Of the American
Automobile Association the Cup Commission
the authorities OF Nassau County and the
drivers Of the cars were not directly responsible
phasized by the loss OF a human life. The
course was fully and carefully patrolled, and
every precaution possible under the conditions
had been taken 70 prevnt accidents TO the on
lockers. The crowd was simply uncontrollable
and hundreds had absolutely no regard for their
own safety or the safety Of the men who We're
plotting the cars. The wonder is that the ia
talities were not greater. The racing board
quick 70 the futility Of holding another race
under the conditions which existed Saturday,
and at a meeting held Immediately after the
contest decided that no more races would be
held over the Nassau circuit.
This does not necessarily mean the doom OF
automobile road racing in this country but Il
does mean that hereafter such races will be
held over roaos so far removed from big
few enough in numbers 10 be easily controlled
Road racing has done much for the industry
In this country, and Il would be q pity IL IL
could not be continued under conditions that
would not make a test Of the cars menace to
the lives and limbs OF those who crave the ex-
citement that comes with speed mania.