Show 0 J i iS C R CE IS TS S THE spectator section of sport A going softer or tougher Strangely Strange Strange- ly enough there are only two real tests on the spectator side side golf golf and racing In all aU other sports the spectator locates a comfortable seat and lets the hired men do doall doall doall all the work Y In golf the spectator spectator spec spec- rotor has always known a harder barder job lob than the player For the spectator in ingolf ingolf golf elf has to race run jump ditches and climb fences for six SUt or seven 4 miles to see a few shots played The spectator at ata Grantland Rice a major golf gol tournament tournament tour- tour could always use an alpenstock alpenstock alpenstock alpen alpen- stock or a vaulting pole Dole Lately in racing the mind ed multitude has had to walk from one to two miles in hi order to buck 12 per cent which proves that he heis heis heis is the hardier of the breed As Col Cot Edward Bradley said to tome tome tome me a n year or two ago ago III I did all allright allright allright 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 racing crowd is still a flock of physical compared compared compared com com- pared to the old guard If you dont don't believe this ask John Partridge one of the best of our racing trainers owners and philosophers John Partridge was around when the going was really packed with snarls T 7 LOO b bI ry Back BUCK BUCKI I III have to smile just a little Partridge told me when I hear complaints from racing fans who have to walk a mile or two to see a race Id I'd like to take these people I back just lust a few years years maybe maybe 30 or I more I was training horses at Butte Mont 1 and the closest track was at Anaconda 18 miles away There was no means of transportation between 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 home arriving around midnight So you and your horses would walk 36 miles a day to run a race I asked No Partridge said Only the horses had to run I had a chance to sit down dow and nd r rest st a a little r n What about the spectators I asked Oh they walked 18 miles to the track and then the same distance back 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 Vave Nellie L L. L and other members of the Calumet stable outlined almost the same experience in his old Missouri and Oklahoma days We Ve used to ride or drive our racing racing racing rac rac- 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 back home but this John Partridge Partridge Partridge Par Par- is a rugged hombre lie and his horse would walk 40 miles if John thought he had a chance to win I But a l long ng time tune ago Id I'd have my racing horses in front of a wagon heading 15 or 18 miles away just to carry the saddles and other needed needed needed need need- ed 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 a burro over the if we thought there was a chance to win a purse and a 40 bet All AIl this helps to explain Ben Jones went on the crowds that are coming to different racetracks every day dav against the expected and necessary handicaps It goes goes a long longway longway longway way back and the rougher going belongs to the Middle and the Far West Vest 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 in instill instill instill still better shape if they had to walk 10 or 15 miles What about 36 miles there and back John Partridge asked Plain Ben Jones turned a trifle pale and shook his head I was never quite that tough he said Green Pastures Beau Jack has retired temporarily to the green and studded cattle-studded pastures pastures pastures pas pas- tures of the Augusta National but the fight game is still packed with pastures just as green and the season season season sea sea- son has much promise Beau Jack was a big crowd puller pull pull- er 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 all con con- |