The Washington herald., 1908-06-23
ISSUE is UNCERTAIN
No FaVorite for Races on
the Hudson.
COURTNEY FEARS OUTCOME
Veteran Coach Admits CorneIVa
Chances in the intercollegiate Re-
EattR Saturday TO Be Simmer
Than Ever BefOre-Syracuse Pick
ed for the FOur-Oared Event.

Poughkeepsie. N. Y, June Z2-The i've
crews entered in the intercollegiate re-
gatta to be held on the Hudson River
here next Saturday afternoon entered
upon their last week Of training with
greater uncertainty as 70 the result OF
the contest than has been known in many
years.
Conditions were ideal to-day for prac-
tice work on the river. and by 8 o'clock
this morning the various college crews
were ordered from their lighthouses and
sent up the river for row over the
course.
The tide ran like a millrace, but the
water was as smooth as an inland pond.
All the crews went over the course and
rOwed fast. Various coaches held watches
on them. and all hands were smiling
when the morning practice was over. In
the late afternoon the crews were out
for more practice work.
Ward Is Hopeful.
- speaking OF his big crew to-day,
Coach Ward said: I have the best crew
this year that ! have had In five years
past. but that does not mean. I think,
or am intimating. I will win the race"
Coach Ten Eyck said the Syracuse men
would do their best 10 win, but refused
TO make any predictions as 10 the result.
There is no widespread belief that Cor
nell Will win the university eight-oared
race. II not the two other events which
complete the programme, namely, the
two-mile race for university fours and
the two-mile race for freshman eights.
The prestige Of a series Of victories on
the POughkeepsie course seems 10 have
been broken by the defeats which Cornell
has experienced this year IN preliminary
contests and the Ithacans have come 20
Poughkeepsie with their veteran coach
admitting frankly that he does not expect
70 see Cornell win more than the fresh
man race this year.
Our varsity eight and four have sim
ply got 10 show remarkable Improvement
in speed during the last week OF practice
or we won't be in it, said Courtney yes
terday. The men know how 70 row,
and I don't believe there is a nicer-look-
ing crew on the river, but so far they
have not shown the speed that think a
crew must possess 70 win in the fast
company which assemblies in this regatta
COrneIPs Supporters Oppressed.
Usually enthusiastic adherents Of Cor
nell are sobered by the fact that the var
sity is made up entirely Of two beaten
crews Five OF the men. were IN the Cor
nell crew which Harvard defeated 1hls
spring. and three were in the second var
sity defeated by Pennsylvania second
varsity at Ithaca. the first time Cornell
has been beaten on Cayuga Lake. Under
the present status Of the crews. Cornell
viii not be the usual favorite the day be-
fore the race.
To estimate comparatively the other
crews is practically impossible Even
such experienced observers as Courtney
and Ellis Ward say that they have never
seen lot OF entries that seemed so even
ly matched a week before the race as ara
the varsity eights which pass within
sight Of one another in daily practice. The
man is rash. indeed. who accepts the task
OF picking a favOrite among Cornell. Co
lUmbia, Pennsylvania, Syracuse, and Wis
cOnsin.
Syracuse Is likely TO be favorite in the
varsity four-oared event Its four is
much admired and Courtney says IL is
one of the best-looking fours in action
that he has ever seen
For the freshman race Cornell viii
probably be favorite, with Wisconsin's
eight. the heaviest Of the freshman
crews, second choice