, 1923-09-08
by HENRY L,
United Press Shorts Editnri

NEW YORK, Sept. S.@United
Pressl-Much Of real sportsmanshlp
was evidenced in the preliminaries
leading up to and concluding the ne
gotiations for the great internatlon-
al race between Papyrus, winner of
the English Derby and the three.
yeap-oid thoroughbred to be selected
as the best in the United States.
Suggestion for such a race. that
can surely be considered as a worlds
championship event. was based upon
good sportsmanship by the Amerl
/, can turf officials, and 1t was accept
ed in the 1same spirit by Benjamin
Irish, owner of the British champion
and one of the most popular owners
on the English track.
Had the ace been proposed during
the regime OF the suDer-horse, Man
o. War, it would have looked like
the American Of the idea
We're prompted by the desire to gain
some prestige over the British thor
oughbreds by backing n sure thing.
While there are any number of
good three-year-oids in training this
season, there arc none who compare
to Man o. War at his age. and when
the -oolor-bearer for the United
States has to be selected through the
means of a special trial race, 1t is
evident that Papyrus will not be
forced into the position OF 4 game
ster going against Htaeked cards.
The thoroughbred that is selected
TO represent the United States will
be an animal that. in opinion, more
than anything else. is the best run
ner in this country, and the British
invader Will not be forced into a con
test with a horse that Is obviously
out OF its class, like Man o. War
would have been. The race will he
over the full derby distance-a mile
M a half.
Benjamin Irish could not have
been criticized il he had taken the
stand hat the race should be run
In England. He has a champion.
and the first instinct OF champion
owners is to seek the best Of every
thing-at least in professional sports.
Those who consider everything from
the commercial viewpoint will
argue, of course, hat no such a
purse as $780, God could be offered
in England. and they will point out
that a losers end Of $4,000 would
Induce any owner to take the
chances.
The policy Of money first and a
sure thing which rules pugilism
and some other professional sports.
cannot be applied. OF course, to own.
ers OF the type and standing OF
Irish, Harry Payne Whitney, Harry
+. Sinclair, r. T. Wilson. J. S. Cos.
den and the others, who have candi.
dates for the race.
They represent as high a type of
citizenship and craftsmanship as
can be found in any line of Ameri.
can athletic activity, and 10 doubt
they are inspired just as much by
the desire to see a great race as
they are by the motive to win tile
purse.
Papyrus will be forced into ali the
handicaps that will be imposed upon
the entries, Just as an American
horse would have difficulties to over.
come in a race on a foreign track.
The British horse Is accustomed to
run on a turf track. and he will have
10 run on n dirt track in this i'm.
portant race, Climatic conditions
VIII have to be ercom Just as
British athletes have difficulty in
maintaining their form without
climate and weather.
enough time to become Thoroughly.
aceiimatedi so will a British horse
be affected by q sudden change OF
In setting a late date for the race
october 20 the American officials
nave done the utmost to place the
British horse under weather condl.
tons as lear as possible to that of
the racing season in England. II
is said that a typical late October
day in this country oorresponds al.
most exactly to the general RIM ~
weather on Derby Day in England,
atmospheric conditions, OF course,
WIN affect Panyrus, but II does not
follow that he viii be thrown OF.
The atmosphere is rnrer here at that
tmo, but while At might make il
more difficult for him to run therI
are az many chances that the coadt
tons might make him run better.
There is also the trans-Atlap.ie
tin Ia be considered but il Is n
sure thing that everything posslbl.
viii be done TO give him a safe pas.
sage and perhaps he will travel with
just as much comfort as a first
class passenger on the finest liner.
As far rs the difference between
n turf track and a dirt track tlere
may be some who win consider /;
slight and Of littlo Importance, But
Il VIII be Important 1t might pro.
duce greater speed in the British
horse md Il might throw him clear
Oft his stride,
Tennis players know the vast dlf-
ference between a turf court nnd O
clay court, and they know that
American turf Is harder than British
turf and that It makes tennis balls
much more active inthis country.
Lew Tender Claims hat no was