New-York tribune., 1909-05-24
COMMENT ON SPORTS
RE4L TEST IN ENGLAND.
Tracers after Golf Title and Sir
Martin after the Derby.

4 FOCGFS Alttf SOiI Il t6tC Oftt' ~"
Martin after the Derby.
Afuc,a interest Oh the part % American sportsmen
VIII be centred this week IN England This is par
1icularly true for golfers and those who love Ihe
thoroughbre6 as Jerome 3 Trsvers VIII play for
tl1e amateur golf championship OF Great Britain
while SIR Martin the champion two-year-cld Of the
American turf last season. viii race for the blue
ribbon Of the English turf when he goes TO the
post II the Epson Derby on "Wednesday Travers
after winning AL the titles worth having on the
links fn this country, went abroad several weeks
ago II quest of the amateur golf title o. NTea'
Britain and 20 seek new fields 10 conquer. Some
.ears ago Walter J. Travis surprised the go4Hns
4vorld by boarding the English golfers in their lar
and bringing the coveted title back TO this country
T-ayers IS quite wei! qualified, If not more So
10 repeat the triumph. he stands out to-day as
tie strongest and most brilliant exponent OF the
old Scotch game in this country According TO re-
norris from abroad the present champion OF THIS
country has been playing well in practice ana Il
ne can overcome the handicap OF clIlatc cohdl-
lions there IS every reason to believe that ne VIII
De successful. Reports also say that he Is on 1he
hard side Of the draw bat II this is the case it VIII
be all the more honor If he wins as then no ques-
1ion can he raised q his right to the title
With high hope for the success Of Travers. there
IS also high hope for the victory Of an American
thoroughbred in the classic and historic Derby II
Sir Martin Is beaten the winner can be stamped
great horse, there Is no question in the mlhos Oh
racing folk here that the son OF Ogden-Lady S'eI-
ling is a 1hree-year-old Of the highest class ana
one which oal. needs 10 prove himself over dis
tance II ground 70 stamp his greatness II was
nv Measure 10 see Sir Martin in every race IN
which he started last year, and. barring the uI-
beaten Colin and the great Irish Lad "hleh NdS
alsgays q particular pet Of mine, nave raIey seen
a horse that I admired more. not only because oI
his brilliant speed. but because of leonine courage
good temper and unfailing willingness to 90 every
-linr REQUIRED Of him. 1t made no diIeTeHce
whether the track was fast or slow, what weight
NJ carried or The size OF the field. he was always
giving os his best and fighting along ia the van OF
close 10 il. Sir Martin went 10 the post thirteen
Zines as q tWo-y year-oid last year, and was uH-
,,iaced only once. He won eight races ana hnlshe1
second four times for total Of $le,65-. de met
and defeated ali the best youngsters Of the season.
Including 1IasketJe his conqueror in the Futirl'y'
when concedinE six pounds Il was record WI IA
getting enthusiastic about. and a record |hlch
stamps him as near great as two-year-old can
ever be.
Afrer Sir Martin took Up 1S6 pounds and galloped
home an easy winner one mile in his nrst race
fl England. a few days ago, a runor went ou'
that he had trained Of and might not go TO Inc
uost IN the Derby. Fortunately, this runlor Vas
denied and while he did not beat much accoIulns
10 The English critics in his first race he quallneu
IN uo uncertain way and proved that ne Is III anu
ready 10 run 10 his best form. Louis Ninails VINO
l.orchr Sir Martin last winter from John f Mad
den his breeder. al fancy price, - American
born although he has lived in England Tor seVeIai
wears I-p 10 ths time he has devoted most OF MS
snare time 70 the trotting turf and this Is his nTst
real effort TO the highest honors in thorough
hired racing. He went into the market and bought
me hest that could be had. and victory on Wednes
day viii be only fair reward
,fc+or,, for Sir Martin in the Derby would do
- 7scb 10 arouse fresh interest in the thoroughbred
IN this country. Interest may not be lacking bul
il is dormant TO a large extent. and consequently
ar,-.llinE that Will stir il Up viii be welcome 10
those Nho have the welfare Of the turf at heart
When James r Keene, August Belmont, Harry
Pazne Whitney and Herman b Duryea, among
others shipped many OF their best horses abroad
last fall. following tfe disastrous season III Inns
state much unfavoraie criticism was heard that
men who were supposed 10 be interested in the
turf for the sake Of the sport should desert it in
the tine Of its greatest need. As have pointed
cut before ia this column. this action Of the lead
ing ovners was TuiSju6ged 10 large extent MOI
,ue OF them has deserted the turf in this country;
I'm fact the col7rs Of all four have been seen since
The season opened and VIII continue 10 be seen
throuehGut the racing year. it is nothing new for
these men To be represented in the classics abroad,
and while the invasion is more pretentious this
year than ever before the shipment o. some Of the
stars was not altogether from a monetary point OF
view.
In talking with Mr.. Belmont the other day he
made il clear that the real purpose of sending
Colin Ballot Fair Play. Priscilian and other good
horses out of the country was for the purpose Of
establishing the fact, If possible that horses bred
and developed in this country could hold their own
with the best in England, country which has
long stood as the fountain head for the breeding Of
thorouehbreds. Il would have been poor policy 10
shin amy bat the best as the handicap Of climatic
conditions, To say nothing Of racing on the JUrf'
must be overcome. Hundreds Of persons who
never 40 To the track viii take lively interest in
The success Of American horses in England, If sue
cess comes and this in itself viii help the cause
of racing and make for inestimable good so fer
the breeding industry is concerned
There appears 10 be a difference Of opinion among
tie members of the Jockey Club and the various
racing associations as TO The advsability Of open
ing The so-csleE tree field TO racegoers this year
L strikes me that the experiment should be made,
4 for no other reason than TO dispel the more or
less general feeling that the sport for the classes
and not for the masses / happen TO know that
AIr Belmont. chairman Of the Jockey Club, is
among those who in favor o. throwing open
The eeld stands cor the benefit Of those who would
gladly pay s. lo- the privilege Of seeing the horses
race but are quite unwilling II not unable, 10
AFFORD So for an afternoons amusement. There IS
no reason TO believe that tlose who might patron
ize the ae;d stand would be more disposed 10 vo-
late the new statute than those who go the
main incIosure. and the same supervision could he
exercised n prevent II the clubhouse lawn.
Il IS The avoRed purpose Of TIE Jockey Club 70
huud up racing for the love Of the sport, and il
this democratic country there is reason why
the foundation should be laid by catering TO those
who happen 20 be fortunate enough 10 have plenty
OF money and plenty Of time 10 spare It is
49, ,--l-- -1rr Sod % ~