Show i t I IS 5 THE spectator section of sport going softer or tougher Strangely Strange Strange- ly ty enough there are only two real tests on the spectator side side golf golf and racing In all other sports the spectator locates a comfortable seat and lets the hired men do doall doall all the work In golf the spectator spectator spectator spec spec- has always known a harder job than the player tf For the spectator in ingol ingolf r golf gol has to race run Jump ditches and climb fences x 1 for tor for six or seven t I miles to see sec a few shots played The spectator at Grantland Rice a major golf tournament tournament tournament tour tour- I could always use an alpenstock alpen alpen- alpenstock stock or a vaulting pole Lately In racing the mind ed d multitude has had to walk from one to two miles in order to buck 12 per cent which proves that beIs be he beIs I f Is the hardier of the breed As Col Edward Bradley said tome to tome tome me a y year ar or two ago ago I I did allright all allright allright I right at 4 and 5 per cent on my side Imagine what Id I'd have done with 10 or 12 per cent I have no such imagination But the modern modem racing crowd Is still a flock sock of physical compared compared compared com com- pared to the old guard If you dont don't believe Relieve this ask John Partridge one of f the best of our racing trainers owners and philosophers John Partridge was around when the going was really packed with snarls Looking Back BackI I have to smile Just a little little Partridge told me when I hear complaints from racing fans who leave have to walk a mile or two to se see a race nce Id I'd like to take these people back just a few years years maybe maybe 30 or more I was training horses at Butte Mont and the closest track was at Anaconda 18 miles away There was no means of transportation between between be be- tween Butte and Anaconda So Id I'd get up around daybreak and walk my horses 18 miles to the track Wed run win a race or two here and there and then walk back v home borne arriving around midnight So you and your horses would walk 36 miles a day to run a race I 1 asked No Partridge said Only the horses had to run I had a chance to 10 sit down o and rest a little to What about the spectators I asked Oh they walked 18 miles to the track and then the same distance back lack home after the race And it wasn't such easy walking either The Older Days Plain or Glamour Boy Ben Jones who trains Ocean Wave Nellie L L. L and other members of the Calumet stable outlined almost the same experience In his old Missouri and Oklahoma days We used to ride or drive our racing racing rac rae ing horses 10 or 15 miles to the track Ben said Ill admit I never walked any 18 miles to a track and then another 18 miles EUes back home but this John Partridge Partridge Par Par- is a rugged hombre lie He and his horse would walk 40 miles If U John thought he had a chance to I IWin win I But a long time ago Id I'd have my racing horses in front of a wagon I heading 15 or 18 miles away just to 10 carry the saddles and other needed needed need need- ed oed supplies Maybe the jockeys Maybe me It was just something In the blood There were no handicaps that could have stopped us Wed We'd have ridden rIdden a burro over the if it we thought there was a chance to win ninea i a purse and a 40 bet this helps to explain Ben went on the crowds that are arc coming to different racetracks every very day against the expected and necessary handicaps It goes a long longway longway longway way back and the rougher going belongs to the Middle and the Far West to the cowboy sections where they like horses where they like to ride and gamble It all goes back to frontier stuff These modern racing racing racing rac rac- ing conditions are on the soft side Walking seven furlongs In golf that's only three holes Well We'll soon have the spectators In better shape than the horses They would be instill in instill still stUl better shape i If they had bad to walk 10 or 15 miles What about 36 miles mUes there and back John Partridge asked Plain Plata lien Ben Jones turned a trifle pale and shook his head I was never quite that tough he said Green Pastures I Beau Deau Jack has retired temporarily to the green and studded cattle-studded pastures pastures pas pas- tures of the Augusta National but the fight game Is still packed with I pastures just as ns green and the season season season sea sea- son has much promise Beau Jack was a big crowd puller pull pull- er r but Mike Jacobs Herman Taylor Taylor Taylor Tay Tay- lor and other promoters still have Bob Montgomery Henry Armstrong Sammy Angott Johnny Greco and others who can keep the summer campaign busy enough for nil all con con- corned I |