New-York tribune., 1910-01-24
OMMENT ON SPORTS
-YSTERY. IN RACING.
,escs and Viesos on Lite Topics
of the Day.

{ OF the Day.
q IS q waste OF time to try TO fathom
q depths Of the racing dates for the COM
q season Those who preside over the
rious racing associations. who. by the
&y, practically agree on the allotment be-
re the stewards Of the Jockey Club set
ssir stamp OF approval and make formal
8nouncement. have g remarkable faculty
3 keeping their own counsel, and nothing
definite nature can be known
NtI the time comes TO make the dates
bic The question, however, is arous-
much interest among followers OF the
sort, and 10 satisfy the demand for some
ing three or four tentative schedules
ne been suggested. which no doubt have
rxed their purpose, even, as is quite
ely, they have not come within many
SIS OF hitting the nail on the head These
@statiye schedules have placed the open
! of the season some time in May, follow
the close of the spring meeting at
sall!co, due IN part 10 the fact that P. J.
ecyer, president Of the Queens County
sckey Club and the Brooklyn Jockey Club.
4ouoted as saying that neither AQueGuct
= Jamaica would be willing TO conduct
<Aetings in conflict with Pimlico. In view
q the fact however, that Saratoga has
&pressed a desire to race throughout the
fll month Of August. il would seem neither
r nor just for the other associations TO
Sand in the light by wasting practically
I'd month at the opening of the season be-
fase Of a more or less exaggerated idea
lat racing IN opposition TO Pin1lico would
= be profitable
Il is q well established fact that even in
8ppier times for racing the spring meet
Is paid much better than those in the
Ii After a long closed season followers
the sport are keener for its renewal and
-n out in larger numbers than late in the
ason. when. perchance. their appetite is
tisfed. The meeting at Pimlico would at
4ct a few regulars from the metropolitan
strict, even with racing at Aqeuduct or
maica. but. judging from the experience
last fall, when Piulico raced in conflict
Ia meetings here. the number that would
70 Baltimore would be too small
be worthy Of much consideration There
u be plenty Of horses il training TO I'LL
programmes here, even though many
n be shipped 10 Pimlico. and it is alb
I'd 10 suggest that q meeting in the met
poliJaa district would be the one to suf-
by the conflict.
PimIico Will be the loser by not being
Hing 10 conduct a meeting before the
sening Of the season here on April Is, but
Pimlico is willing TO take the risk there
5ould be nc hesitancy on the part of
sueduct or Jamaica. The directors CT the
mlico Jockey Club cannot be blamed
Eher fer wanting later dates than the
81 two weeks IN April AS ii has been
sinted out before in this column, the sue
ss Of the meeting depends largely on the
tIb members. and these members do not
re 70 go about with their coat collars
rDed up 10 see horses take part in what
ould be q continual mud strife Il one
favy rain set in. as the track there is
Lilt largely CT red clay. Pimlico viii be
ad OF the New York patronage, but Pin
% does not absolutely need Il, else the
rectors would be willing 10 experiment
7 once with an earlier meeting. II the
cling associations here are as keen for
ties as followers Of the sport have been
> TO believe. the season will begin on
pril Is. as OF old II not, and If some of
e associations are still fearful Of facing
loss. IL is absurd to fail back on such a
me excuse as a conflict with Pirnlico.
according TO John A Heydler, secretary
Il the National League, the fans are
81 particularly interested in more batting;
le game is quite satisfying as it is. and
snsequently there is no call for any
tdical changes in the playing rules. Ban
Johnson, president of the American
league. and others who make a close study
the game are OF much the same opin-
n so that nothing can be expected as
Pe result Of joint meeting Of the rules
ommittee IN Pittsburg to-day. I do not
together agree with Mr.. Heydler in the
Ssumption that the fans would not like
see more hitting. and if some means can
e devised 20 bring this about without ma
sriaIy changing the character of the
anne II would make for good. in nv oDin-
sn. There is no loud or insistent demand
loweVer, for any change along these lines
? there is no particular need. perhaps.
2T the rule makers TO struggle with the
roblein, which is not easy of solution Az
? minor changes, II IS hoped that a r1,rn-
er VIII be made. ] have talked with sew
ral men who are in hearty svmnafbv
Flth Nj Johnsou's suggestion. to sa,,a
me and prevent game dragging along
y oepr1Vlng the pitcher Of five balls he
pre- each inning for the purpose Of warm
= oR- Il q ilue warming I'D exercise is
ecessary IL could be done AT one sida
sfter two men We're out, although soma 6a-
fare that this is impracticable on accom-,
limited space. Rules which are ono,
Two or more interpretations should he
feared Up, and this has been prornissd
gnile the suggestion TO have battery errors
cored as fielding errors and placed in tb.
eguiar column is deserving OF considera-
ion. O.
The time is approaching for the ANNA,
neeting or the football rules conm,,+a.
Snicn has been set for February 4 In tbis
slty' ano the lot of its members will ,,o+
,e happy one. as there is much m he
-one II the changes are TO be radical enougb
Q sausty the general demand from ,,niver-
aties and colleges in all parts Of the co,,n-
ry, without changing the character o4 +I,o
game TO such an extent as TO make n nm.
recognizable. The Harvard Bulletin % ,r
'onamenting editOrially on the subject an
bears 10 have some fear that the commit
zee Is not so constituted as 10 accom-
2iish the purpose demanded It says:
The rules committee viii soon have its
lrst meeting for considering Changes in
ne rules OF the game of football SOM
y the members and many Of the advisers
1f ls1at committee earn their living ~,
reaching undergraduates how 10 NAV Va
( alle, Snc the natural inclination ~ s,7cb