The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-07-13
ny 3. .. Gn1Fr1rn.
sportInE Editor Of rhe Tlmc.-pl.pntch


Conditions will decide the worlds
athletic championship, to be contested
at the gigantic amphithcatrc near
London, beginning this week. II Mike
Murphy can bring the Americans to
the scratch for the various events In
such shape that they can duplicate
their past performances the team rep
resenting the United States Will surely
carry off first honors. The material
is there-the speed. strength. skill and
stamina to beat the world, but can the
crafty trainer top his many past
triumphs by sending the men to their
marks in condition to do their best
work?
The team arrived in London the first
OF last week with every man said to
be in good condition. Reports since
then say that most OF the men seem
to be taking to the climate kindly.
This. however. is bound to be con-
1ectural to a degree. we won't know
just what the condition OF each indi-
vidual is until he has performed his
stunts at the games.
The country anxiously awaits the
day when Rector, OF the University
OF Virginia. viii run the 100 metres. 1t
is possible that being from the South
he may stand the heavy English cii-
mate better than his Northern and
western companions. Latest reports
say that he is making out in fast
time.
Most everybody comedies Rector to
be the fastest man In the bunch, but
many say that he Is nervous and,
therefore. not repeater With his
taJI ha1
that1fne ytrginIan, II In condition. will
show his disparagers a few things.
Although the Americans look as
though they ought to win, 1t is going
to be no walkover by any means. even
IL every man on the team Is in the
mink OF condition.. It is we'll to con-
slider now that they have the whole
word against them.
The race-track season for the spring
and SO far for the summer has been
remarkable for the number OF RECORDS
broken. James r. Keene's famous Bal
lot the other day made new WORLDS
record for the mile and five-sixteenths.
Hardly track in the country there
is but has had one or more track
records to go this season.
Much has been made OF this TACT,
and II has caused any amount OF Won
der. Is it really fact that the thor
oughbreds are getting faster each yefS'!
The American has mania for maxim
everything so fast. Break record
is the slogan OF the sporting world.
In regard to races this would be
extremely laudable II the accelerated
I speed were due to improvement in the
horse, but that Is not demonstrated. It
Is the Improvement In the course that
seems responsible for nearly all the
modern records; and careful investi-
gationNby turf authority repeats the
fact that about so per cent. OF the en-
listing records made during the past
five or ten years We're made by platers
4 and not by stake horses.
In England and the Continent OF
Europe practically no attention is
paid to the time of a race. The races
are run on real turf, and rough up and
down hill ones at that. while in this
country the tracks are dirt and scien-
tifically constructed to allow the very
der these conditions 1t seems to be
ridiculous to claim an improvement and
superiority in horse flesh, and to
. be claiming worlds records unless
linked with such claim is the corrella-
tive; or the latest model dirt track
with one or Two banked turns.
- N never III the history OF sOdScpdAi lies
the game taken such a hold upon Rich
mond. vicinity. and the entire State
as 1t has this Nason. Thousands and
thousands are baseball mad. AS I said
some time back the Virginia League
games here haYe9a better attendance
than in any other city In the United
States, making due allowance for the
population. II +;
Wherever few houses are clustered
there you will find a baseball team.
7 All the smaller cities in the State have
teams of unusually good ability. PEI
tersburg, which has the baseball mania
to a decided degree, has supported two