The weekly Alaska citizen., 1918-02-04
SPORTS TO CONTINUE

~OAV associations and conferences will hold theirs. Some colleges, of course will not be represented at all. and teams from many causes, including the fi- Tnancial one, will be smaller than usual. They will be held, if for no other reason. to stimulate increased participation in regimental, company, class and dormitory sports within the colleges themselves. The germ of intercollegiate athletic rivalry, though relatively dormant, has survived even in war time and the thought that the winners in these intramural sports will represent the college in the inter- collegiate contests will give those sports an added interest to the under. graduate.
 These intra-mural sports are de- veloping in an encouraging way now. Many little meets are being held and while the number who take part isn't as large as it will be, men are coming out who would be reluctant about competing in normal times with their higher standards of per. formaEce. It is these novices who need the training most and in whom the good results of track work will be most quickly and strikingly illus trated. The sport will flourish among them. It will languish insofar as it is dependent upon the competition of proficient teams and the clash of champions.
 More emphasis on the little meet. ings and the vastly reduced import ance of the big ones is, 1 think, the outlook for 1918.
 THE TURF.
 By F. X. sturgis, Acting Chairman of
 The Jockey Club.
 We are about to enter into a new year and 1918 will bring to the people of this nation a condition for which there is no precedent, and which will produce results that can only be con jectured. All earnest and right-mind- ed citizens are trying to conduct f ni nf ral as well as a public spirited point of view their efforts may trend toward the improvement of national condi- tions and do justice to the best in terests of the people of this country
 Among other broad and interesting subjects which must be discussed and duly considered is that which refers to sport, so called, and the relations which the various sporting interests of this country may bear to the se- rious side of life and the uplifting of national standards. Foremost among these questions will be that of racing. Will the community approve of and endorse the racing of horses on the various courses of this country in 1918, and will it be for the best interests of the people? To the first query we answer without hesitation in the affirmative. and we may point with confidence to the example in this respect set by the people of Great Britain and France. Racing properly conducted has been countenanced and supported by the best elements of these two nations, and we are certain that such will be the case with rac- ing here as it is at present carried on. To the second query. which is a different and perhaps more important one, we also answer in the affirma- tive.
 For over one hundred and fifty years the thoroughbred horse, so-call- ed, has been the chief element in breeding animals of courage. sub stance, general utility and value; from that strain comes not only the race horse of today. but that magnifi- cent animal known as the American trotter. for there is no important ami nal of this typical American breed of horse that will not trace his pedigree in greater or less degree to the thoroughbred.
 Behind the thoroughbred is the Arab blood with it's long history of wonderful endurance. great perfor- nance and many attractive and useful qualities.
 The racing of the thoroughbred horse enables the breeder frequent ly to select the best among the ami nal by which he may have bred and trained. By the development of the Attest therefore, the strain of blood