Evening star., 1909-05-24
INTEREST THIS week
CENTERS IN ENGLAND
Travers After Golf Title and
Sir Martin After the
Derby.


centered this week In England. This
is particularly true for golfers and those
who love the Thoroughbred. as Jerome
b. Travers will play for the amateur
golf championship Of Great Britain. while
Sir Martin, the champion two-year-old
Of the American turf last season. will
race for the blue ribbon of the Eng
lish turf when he goes TO the post In
the EPSON Derby Wednesday. Travers
after winning all the titles worth having
on the links in this country. went abroad
several weeks ago in quest OF the anna
teur golf title of Great Britain and to
seeek new fields to conquer. Some years
ago Walter J. Travis surprised the golf
ing world by boarding the English golfers
in their lair and bringing the coveted
title back to this country. Travers is
quite as vel. qualified. IL not more SO.
to repeat the triumph, as he stands out
today as the strongest and most brilliant
exponent of the old Scotch game in this
country. According to reports from
abroad. the present champion OF this
country has been playing well In prac-
tice. and il he can overcome the handi-
cap of climatic conditions there is every
reason to believe that he will be success
full. Reports also say that he is on the
hard side of the draw, but IL this is the
case it will be all the more honor IL he
wins as then no question can be raised
of his right to the title.
with high hope for the success of Tray
ers. there is also high hope for the vic
tory Of an American thoroughbred in the
classic and historic Derby. If Sir Mar
tin is beaten the winner can be stamped
in the minds of racing folk here that the
son of Ogden-Lady Sterling is a three
year-old of the highest class and one
which only needs to prove himself over
distance of ground 10 stamp his great
ness. 1t was my pleasure to see Sir
Martin in every race i'm which he started
last year and. barring the unbeaten Colin
and the great Irish Lad. which was al
ways particular pet of mine. | have
rarely seen horse that I admired more,
not only because Of his brilliant speed.
but because of leonine courage, good
temper and unfailing willingness to do
everything required of him. 1t made no
difference whether the track was fast or
slow, what weight he carried or the size
of the field, he was always giving of his
best and lighting along In the van or
close to IT. Sir Martin went to the post
thirteen times as two-year-oid last
year. and was unplaced only once. He
won eight races and finished second four
times. Tor total of $751; He met and
defeated all the best youngsters of the
season. including Maskette. his conqueror
in the Futurity. when conceding six
pounds. 1t was a record worth getting
enthusiastic about. and a record which
stamps him as near great as two-year-
old can ever be.
After Sir Martin took up 1873 pounds and
in his first race in England. few days
ago. a rumor went out that he had
trained off and might not go TO the post
in the Derby. Fortunately. this rumor
was denied. and, while he did not beat
much. according to the English critics.
i'm his first race. he qualified in no un-
certain way and proved that he is fit and
ready to run to his best form. Louis
Winans. who bought Sir Martin last win
| ter from John E. Madden, his breeder. at
a fancy price is American born, although,
he has lived in England for several years.
Up to this time he has devoted most of
his spare time to the trotting turf. and
this is his first real effort to win the
highest honors In thoroughbred racing.
He went into the market and bought the
best that could be had. and victory We'd
nesday will be only fair reward.
victory for Sir Martin in the Derby
would do much to arouse fresh interes,
in the thoroughbred in this country In
terest may not be lacking. but il liz dor
mant to large extent. and consequently
come to those who have the welfare of
the turf at heart. When James r. keene
August Belmont Harry Payne Whitney
and Herman B. Duryea. among Others
shipped many of their best horses abroad
last fall following the disastrous season
in this state. much unfavorable criticism
was heard that men who were supposed
to be interested in the turf for the sake
of the sport should desert 1t in the time
OF Its greatest need.
As I have nOintpd hpf0Pp in this
column, this action of the leading own
ors was misjudged to large extent
Not one of them has deserted the turf in
this country. in fact, the colOrs of all
four have been seen since the season
opened. and will continue to be seen
throughout the racing year. 1t is nothing
new for these men to be represented in
the classics abroad. and, while the nva-
sion is more pretentious this year than
ever before the shipment of some of the
stars was not altogether from q monetary
point of view.
In talking with Mr.. Belmont the other
day he made it clear that the real pur-
pose OF sending Colin. Ballot, Fair Play
Priscillian and other good horses out of
the country was for the purpose OF estab-
fishing the fact If possible, that horses
bred and developed in this country could
hold their own with the best in England.
a country which has long stood as the
fountain-head for the breeding of thor
oughbreds. 1t would have been poor poll
icy to ship any but the best, as the hand
leap Of climatic conditions, to say moth
ing of racing on the turf, must be over
come. Hundreds of persons who never 60
to the track will take a lively interest
i'm the success of American horses In
England. il success comes. and this In
itself will help the cause of racing and
make for inestimabe good so. far as the
ind 10