The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-07-12
LONDON |S DULL
 IN SPORT LINES Plugs Have Deserted the Clubs and Fight in Country
AMERICAN HORSES LOSE
Unfavorabe Weather Has Been Bad on American Racers-Sir Thom- as Upton Will Challenge for
 Yacht Race.


 taken to the country and left the field oi sports to such innocent games as polo lawn tennis and golf London is indeed dull. But then we have the ponies stil with us. The opening day of the Hay market meeting opened in a sensational manner, with a remarkable sale of year lings which attracted a large and fash ionable attendance. Big prices were real ized, as high as s12,0o0 being paid for a colt bred by the late Sir Daniel Cooper, The sensation came when J. B. Joers Your Majesty was beaten in the Princess of Wales stakes by A. Bailey's Dark Ronald, and the Duke of Portland's Prim- CT. MT. Joel Is said to have paid s172,ct for Your Majesty last spring.
 American horses are still running poor ly. This is attributed In a large measure to the unfavorable weather which has prevailed all spring and summer. Some of the American owners ran horses on the opening day, but only one succeeded in winning. J. R. Keene's Esperanto, to choice, winning the S-year-old handi- cap from 15 opponents.
 Rumors are still in the air that MT. Winan will retire Sir Martin, but nothing definite can be learned of the American s intentions. Sir Martin is still in the hands of his trainer, and is reported to be doing well, the tenderness in his ankles having entirely disappeared. Whether he will be able to get in shape for a hard race is another matter, and those well in- formed think that Sir Martin is out of racing for all time.
 Englishmen have little hope that the polo championship cup will remain In this country, now that the Meadowbrooks have won two of the five games to be played for the international trophy. On account of the postponement of the third game of the series, in the international match, on account of the weather a match was arranged with the team oi Eleventh Hussars who are the favorites in this years interregimental match fol the championship of the army The Illus sars were easily beaten by the Americans by a score of to g.
 The action of the Jockey club in adopt ing a rule which will prohibit American, French and German horses from being handicapped until they have run three races in the United Kingdom is causing much adverse criticism.
 The rule is undoubtedly the result of the extraordinary weight allowed Sir Martin in the derby. and those favoring the rule say 1t is the only way English handi. cappers can get a fair rating for foreign horses, and the only object in adopting the rule was the protection of home nomi- nators and handicappers.
 Little Danny Maher, the American jockey, Is seriously contemplating his re- tirement from the turf. Danny has been gaining weight so rapidly of late that it will be a very short time when he will be compelled to retire. Maher has been reported i'll, as an explanation of why quently, but the weight question is the only illness he has had
 Maher Is said to have been offered 8 partnership in a lucrative business con. nected with the turf, but will in all prob ability return to America when his con tracts with present owners have expired of the ocean, and his sudden change of
 Much surprise is expressed in yacht ing circles here over the announcement that Sir Thomas Upton has notified the Royal Ulster Yacht club that he will again challenge of the Americas cup allowing the Americans to name their own rules and build boat of any size they please. Sir Thomas has repeatedly 1 h. oh 11nx.< again under the special rules in force during the past races on the other side of the ovean, and his sudden change oi mind Is causing much gossip.
 While Sir Thomas is regarded ir England as a sportsman pure and sim pie he has never succeeded in gaining membership in the Royal Yacht club owing to his inability to sail his owr yacht. The members of the latter or ganization, most of whom are member. of the nobility, will not discuss the latest phase of the yachting situation for publication, but privately they ex press the opinion that Sir Thomas hal been experimenting with a new mode ever since the defeat of Shamrock III four years ago, and, having found ; model to his taste, will again try t. lift the trophy. No intimation of tn designer, or the shipyard at which tn, new. challenger will be built has beel given out, but the fact that Sir Thomas has spent much of his time in Scotland lately leads to the belief that the nev boat will be designed and built by firm of the Tyne.
 Sir Thomas one ambition has been t capture the much prized cup and bring it to this country, and he was bitterl. disappointed at the failure of sham rock III to beat the Columbia. Thougl beaten, Sir Thomas Shamrock III wa not disgraced. in a 30-mile race ther was but a few minutes difference in tn time of crossing the finishing line, bu the American boat always had jus enough margin to win. At that time 1 was claimed that the trouble was no in the boat itself, but in the crew an, sailing master, but of course there ar none to be found on this side of tn pond who will criticise the manner fl which the challengers have been han dled. Expert yacht designers hay pointed out defects In the designing 0 Shamrock III, none of which appears t have had much weight with Sir Thomas One of the objections made was tha Shamrock III carried too much lead O her keel fin, the effect of which was t make her appear clumsy in handlin and hard to handle in a, heavy sea. An ather found fault with the immense sal area, but tn ese objectors evidently for get that the rules of the New Yorl Yacht club call for certain measure