The evening world., 1909-02-08

- Shrub and I.ongboat. Curl
ously enough, although Longboat
won, nearly every one who was in the
Garden thinks Shrub would surely
collect II the race was run over again.
He gained eight laps in eighteen miles
80 easily, and ran so steadily up to
the actual moment OF his breakdown,
that with less anxiety to snow the
Indian under he would probably have
no trouble in beating him over the
Marathon distance.
Had Shrubb beaten Longboat as badly
as he seemed capable OF beating him
when the race was three-quarters run
there wouldn't have been any more pro-
fesslonal Marathons. The interest in the
game would have been killed, because
there would have been no one to run
Shrubb with chance OF winning and
races between second string men
wouldn't draw the crowd AS things
stand now, there will probably be two
or three more
The Marathon business has been
gold mine for the promoters Powers
and Pollock have cinch on it. They
are Marathon trust. They run of the
meets and have the pick OF the runners
under their management That's about
as near monopoly as the Meat Trust
itself. Johnny Hayes, who struck for
more money before the match with Do
rando, is out with the promoters, and
can't get match until he squares him
self
There are two races that will draw
between shrubb and Longboat, and the
other is race between Longboat and
Hayes. A fOur-cornered race between
would be the real candy. That would
Ill the Garden at any prices. To tell
the truth, these two-nan races are be-
ginning to tire u.s. Hayes Is the only
second man SO far who has run his race
OFT. Both Dorando and shrubb struck
their colors and LET. Longhoat to jog II
out alone. There's not much satisfac-
ton In that for the spectators.
But with four men In a race there Is
Q guarantee Of thrilling finish. The
only trouble in arranging II Is that there
will be four to pay instead Of two, and
that leaves less for the management.
TAYES was In poor condition when
n he ran against Dorando. He trlec
1 L TO train himself for the race, and
that was a mistake. He should have
h&d q professional put him into trim.
Too many banquets had upset his con-
dit!on, and Only hard work could put
him right again. He has been taking
the hard work prescription since, and II
he ran a Marathon two weeks from now
would no doubt make new record or
force the other fellow to do 1t to win.
DorandO ran ten minutes faster than
Longboat, and Hayes wasn't far behind
in time, 1t was Hayes 5 pushing stead
ily throughout the race that made Do
rando so so fast.
A n Interesting phase Of the Mara
II thon business is the turning pro.
= of crack amateurs. For the first
time in many yeas there i money in
professional running and the tenpta-
ton TO get more than u medal or tin
watch is hard to resist. Another phase
OF It is the increasing In value OF prizes
for amateurs. Although the \, a. L.
rules that no amateur can accept a prize
Of more than So In yalue rirst prize. !
notice that most of the good men are
getting far better inducements than
that For instance, Tom Collins got a
800 prize for winning tie four mile
event Saturday night In the !. \. a. c.
games In the Seagate Marathon prizes
nun in value from $3.50 down. according
to the list printed on the entry blank
with the official A. a. L. form on the
back. Other games promoters advertise
1.-THE most valuable prizes ever offered"
The A. A. L. has been mavellously
quiet on this subject.
II would be interesting TO the general
public to know just how the ignoring Of
the most vital rule In tie amateur code
Is accomplished. Amatelrsm is under.
going change.
And for that matter why shouldn't Il?
Why should an arbitrary value OF not
other figure? The real test Of anna
teurism is the getting Of actual money
sOr athletic competition. Why should
there be q limit on the values Of prizes
II an athlete tu!ns them into cash ne
becomes a professional In any case, and
unless a prize is turned into money 1t Is
OF no more actual value 10 the owner
II Il cost 800 than II 1t cost the regula-
ton So, or what Is much more common
In first prizes, about s. or g
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