Omaha daily bee., 1921-07-17
Racing Can Be
Stopped But One
Can't Stop Fans
Blue Sport Laws Make Will
ing Exiles-Pearson Tells
OF Experiences in New
York State
By RAY PEARSON.

Gotham suggests any number OF
subjects for a fellow in this
scribbling "perfesh' to write
about. The boxing game interests
us most, because that's our line, but
we'll devote the greater part OF this
yarn to telling about those wonder
full days the followers of the ponies
are permitted to enjoy at Jamaica,
Belmont Park, Aqueduct and other
ovals where the steaming thorough
hreds gallop.
We might tell something about
how it feels to be Chicagoan who
is visiting in New York or there
abouts. We were enabled to make
such a visit because ordered there
to write about the worlds champion
ship battle between Jack Dempsey
and Georges Carpenter.
Had it not been for Carpenter and
lis manager, Francois Deschamps,
this yarn about the sport Of kings
never would have been penned, but
the Frenchmen decided to make
the camp at Manhasset closed shop
except on couple of days each
week during the training period.
Therefore, we had to seek some
other way Of killing time, and the
business of making a selection
wasn't at all difficult when he heard
the newsboys shouting on the cor
ners of Broadway, Get your racing
entries and selecticnsw
Another Lonesome Turf Fan.
The next stop found us hopping
into beautiful Belmont Park, and
soon we were sitting up in the huge
grandstand watching the nags whlrl
around the big track. Next to me
l discovered a fellow who seemed
lonesome even in that wonderful
spot with all its thrills. He didn't
have the look of loser, but just
seemed to be thinking, and thinking
deeply. l turned to him, and, being
from Chicago, my attitude smacked
of friendliness. Not being able to
slip tip, I said:
This surely is beautiful race
track, don't you think so?"
He looked at me for a moment in
thoughtful way, and then, not be-
ing New Yorker, he answered.
This is what he said:
"Yes, it is simply wonderful. Just
look at those horses speed over that
track, gaze on all the people, and
just think how nice it is to be able
to pick nag to win and have few
beans riding. A fellow wouldn't
care, even if he lost his swag, sitting
here and watching this great sport
A Race Starved Chieagoan.
Then my neighbor halted his con-
versation for a minute, then con-
tinued, and quickly learned that he,
too, was a Chicagoan, for he said:
do you know that, with all the
joy of sitting here watching these
races, / haven't been perfectly hap
py, as I should be? Seems that, as
/ find myself in this great throng
and with this great sport to gaze
upon, l can't help but think how my
own town of Chicago hasn't any
thing like it. Here in New York
there is racing all summer long, with
several tracks operating. But in
Chicago-Oh, we'll, you come from
there, too, so you know. I'd be hav%
ing great time right now if l
couldn't think of what we're missing
at home"
We are in perfect accord on these
views.
Even Boxing Isn't Illegal!
Then another night we wandered
away from the hotel freside and,
aided by newspaper and subway
train landed away out at 10Th street
and Westchester avenue, the Bronx.
In big letters on huge fence sur
rounding a base ball park we read,
"Boxingdrome. Boxing Bouts To-
night" We wandered in and, with
something like 10000 others, saw a
program of bouts pulled off in the
open air and under arc lights.
1t was wonderful show, and the
windup that night saw Champion
Joe Lynch knock out his opponent,
Sammy Sandow, in S. seconds.
But the boxingdrome is just one
of many clubs which hold boxing
shows in New York. They are held
because in the state of New York
the sport with the padded mitts isn't
frowned upon, and it has become a
legalized business which brings en-
joyment to hundreds of thousands of
people.
1t is wonderful, brother, but when
Mr.. Chicagoan gets so far away
from home and is enjoying himself,
he cannot help but think how tough
it is that "home, sweet home" isn't
as sweet as it might be.