New-York tribune., 1908-04-13
COMMENT ON SPORTS
OUTDOOR SEASON HERE.
Nescs and Vices on Current Topics,
amateur and Professional.

N"NO
launched this week, and from now until far on
Nover,ber thera will be one round of enter
tainment for those who find their recreation
in baseball golf radng, lawn tennis and the
various other sports. The growing popularity
and wider participation in indoor sports nave
served 10 bridge the long closed season, but the
desire 10 get out in the open is not the less
keen, and the change will be welcome Inc
major league baseball season will be formally
opened tomorrow, and the cry, Play ball. VIII
be heard throughout the land. On Wednesday
the thoroughbred will be at home to all New
York with the opening of the metropolitan rae
fne season at Aqueduct and the running OF the
Carter Handicap The golfers must wait an
other week for the first open tournament OF the
year at Lakewood, but most Of the local courses
Will be ready for play. the early spring mas
been responsible for the links being in for
ward condition. Under favorable weather con-
ditions between seventy thousand and eighty
thousand persons will see the opening games of
the National and American League baseball
teams in the various cities where games are
scheduled tomorrow, and from fifteen thousand
10 twenty thousand are likely to overrun the
Queens County Jockey Clubs inclosure at Aque-
duct TO the Carter Handicap and five other
races decided Wednesday. This gives a fair
indication of what the opening OF the outdoor
sporting season means.
The Yankees and the Superbas will open the
local baseball season here. and the fans
hoping and praying for bright warm weather.
The Yankees will take the field against the
Philadelphia Athletics at American League
Park while the Superbas will have the Boston
Nationals for opponents at Washington Park
Brooklyn. The Giants will begin their long fight
for the pennant in Philadelphia. but will be seen
In Brooklyn on Saturday for a series with the
Of tl,a
Polo Grounds the following Wednesday. The
baseball fever has broken out in this city in
more virulent form than ever if such thing is
possible, and in all probability the attendance at
American League Park tomorrow will be linn
tied 10 the capacity Of the stands. In Brook
lyn too, there are fresh hopes and much enthusi-
asm and unless all signs fail the new stand will
be none too big to accommodate those who want
TO the first ball pitched.
The Giants. the Yankees and the Superbas are
quite ready. so far as can be judged by the early
practice games, TO begin the long fight for the
championship II their respective leagues. The
hope is strong that at least one pennant will fly
over New York next fall, for hope springs
eternal among baseball followers when the
grass is fresh and green and the season is young.
There is every reason for hope, however, this
year, and does not have 10 be an optimist
Yankees and the Giants. A good start means
much, and there will be no lack Of rooters TO
pull for victory on the opening day. With Glade
20 strengthen the pitching staff-the weak point
last year-the Yankees are sure to make better
fight The men showed 10 good advantage in
Jersey City on Saturday in spite OF defeat and
appeared to be in fine condition. The Giants
made fine impression in their exhibition game
with Yale. although there did not seem to be a
UncifiO 10 T,laH
looked well and acted well, and can be counted
on to give good account Of themselves Ten
ney was as lively as colt, and the fans agreed
that Bridwell will do Donlin is still popular,
judging by his reception, and Doyle made new
friends The Superbas have been going slower
in the preliminary training trip than a year ago
when they North with thirteen out OF
fourteen exhibition games to their credit. This
year they have been after fewer victories and
more practice, and in all probability will come to
the line in better condition. and not lose some
fourteen out of the first fifteen games they play
as was the case last season. The Superbas must
be reckoned with.
strong field viii go to the post in the Car
ter Handicap at Aqueduct on Wednesday, and
racegoers are anticipating a great struggle
for the first big stake of the season Discussion
is rife over the probable winner and the anna
teur handicappers busy trying to find a
nav in the weights announced by w S Vos-
burgh the official handicapper Many will pin
their faith to the horses which have been raced
curing the winter at New Orleans or in Cali
fornia, believing that condition will plav a
more important part in the final drive than a
question Of pounds. 1t must be remembered.
however, that the early training conditions here
have been more favorable this spring than in
several years and that the horses which have
cen prepared the local tracks are conse-
uently more forward. This lends more un-
-ertainty 10 what looks like particularly hard
racing problem. Among the probable starters
which must be considered carefully may be
mentioned Dr. Gardner which won the Ex-
celsior Handicap year ago; Jack Atkin Glori-
fer, Chapultepec, Meelick, Riheman, AngeIus
Oxford, Spooner, Berkeley, Bat Masterson, Don
Enrique, Melbourne and, possibly BABY Wolf
Gretna Green and Restigouche Good reports
are heard Of these and if they all go TO the
post the race promises to be the best in its
history Whereas the three-year-olds are at a
disadvantage when opposed to older horses at
this time of the year, many good judges have
expressed a fancy for Meelick AngeIus and
Chapultepec, all OF which have raced with some
distinction during the winter Meelick which
won two Derbies in California and one in New
Orleans, must take up 1l2 pounds but he is
70 fine condition and has been reeling off half
niles in % seconds under restraint since his
srriVal here. AngelUs which won the CITY
FSxk Derby, and his stable companion Chapul-
srpec, also working well The former
breezed FIVE furlongs in :0e a few days ago.
and Chapultepec has all his speed and shows no
III effects Of his campaign in the South Cha
pultepec must take up l05 pounds while An
gelus gets in with 30 pounds. The distance
seven furlongs-is in their favor also Dr. Gard
hcch haer o-,fp,~