The Washington herald., 1914-04-12
BY L. ID. SALE.

by L. ID. SALE.
Activity all along the line, is now
the word in every field OF sport
In no other part Of the world can be
found a people so ardently devoted to
sport of various kinds as in these Unit
ed States of America. In no other part
Of the world are newspaper publishers
so generous in expenditures in the COW
ering OF the details pertaining to these
sports. In no other part OF the world
can be found so many talented writer's
of sports.
And yet we are the busiest people in
the universe. We work more hours
work harder and play harder than do
other nations. and We spend what We
earn more freely than do the people
of other nations. Business is not as
good as one might ask II to be, and
money is not flowing as freely through
the channels of trade as it was twelve
months ago.
But in spite OF IL all the season now
lying before US is going to be one Of
enjoyable sport. Preparations are being
made for il on every hand. The base
bali players are already in the field, OIL
ing up for superior efforts yet TO come.
Devotees of racing sport are equally
as active. Early in May will be given
at this point the annual horse show-the
curtain raiser of the horse chow season
and the performance will be continu-
Gus one until the frost is once more upon
the squash and the sere Is on the po-
tato. The annual horse trots will be
ushered in on Decoration Day, as usual,
in all parts of this country, asd for
four months to come there viii be no
cessation of racing sport.
Reports in turf papers, and in the
daily press. indicate that by reason OF
a recent change of rules there VIII not
be a shortage of. horses as was indi-
Gated earlier in the year. Scores OF good
horses will be racing in 1914, that, but
for the recent change of rules would
possess little if any earning capacity. II
is not that We. of these United States,
are breeding less horses for racing
purposes, but because each year the
standard of speed is advanced, the re-
quirements more difficult 10 meet, and
more tracks are put in commission. Two
minutes or better speed is the goal to-
ward which every up-to-date breeder
is striving So rapidly has the speed
record been lowered. that the 2:30 trotter
is a relic of antiquity.
And yet the trotting breed is only
trihe over a half a century old. Even
10 speed is too slow for modern de-
mands: 2:l5 speed is merely tolerated, and
only 2:l0 or better speed is at all satis-
flying to the average rscegoer. The
public demands speed. and then more
speed 1t delights in sensations that only
horses like Uhlan, and Dan Patch can
supply. Time works changes in public
taste in man, and the creation of his
hands. few years ago the names of
Flora Temple, the first to lower the trot-
ling mark below 2:2O; Dexter, who low
ered FIora's record to 2:17 IA. and Gold |
;mfth Maid. who reduced the. worlds
rotting record to 2:I4 were familiar |
names in every American household. !
Since those crude days of-trotting sport |
he three-year-old trotting record has |
been placed at 2.04 3-4. by Colorado E; the |
lged trotting record at 1:5S IA, by Uhlan, |
md the pacing record Of 2:n IA, of the |
I'D white-faced mare, Pocahontas, cut to |
% by Dan Patch. Such reductions of |
,peed, in so short a space of time, be- |
longs to the realm of incredulity. There |
ire millions OF boys in the United States |
oday who can recite on demand the |
,ecords of Walter johnson and Ty Cobb, |
md repeat every incident of their private |
md public history, who have never read |
of nor even heard of Uhlan, Dan Patch, |
,r Colorado E. and who are not bit /
Interested in their marvellous perform
lnces.
Only a few days since we sat in a NOV
ing picture show in this city and saw \
the figure of the peerless ball finger,
Walter johnson, flashed upon the screen
and the audience acclaimed him as did
The ancients their gods in the pagan
lays OF Greece and Rome. One can easily
imagine what would have happened had
either of the equine champions named. or
all three. followed the champion baseball