The Sport
February 1858
Grand National Hoping to Avoid Controversy in This Year's Race
1857 Grand National winner Emigrant
Aintree -- The Grand National at Aintree will be run on March 6th. Organizers are hoping for better weather this year than the torrential rain that fell during last year's running. Eleven year-old "Emigrant" who had finished sixth in 1856 won last year after an unusual set of events. The horse was ridden by Charlie Boyce, who was also the horse's trainer. Boyce was forced to ride with one arm strapped to his side because of an injury suffered during an earlier hunting accident. As the pair was pushing on and trying to avoid the worse sections of the course, Charlie Boyce steered the horse towards the canal towpath by mistake missing out on several fences, and continued on to victory.
The turn of events angered several other riders but nothing could be done at the time to alter the outcome of the race. This year, all steeplechase fences will carry flags at both ends of the fences to ensure the jockeys stay on course and run the correct circuit. With the going heavy at last year's race, two horses from the field of 28 died. Garry Owen ruptured his loins and pulled up. The horse later collapsed and died. The other fatality, Albatross, fell dead while running toward a fence.
Top Nines from Brooklyn and New York To Play Base Ball Series
New York -- A long rumored series of games between the best base ball players from Brooklyn and New York has been confirmed by leading members of the National Association of Base Ball Players. Specific details about how many games will be played, where the games will be held and which players will be selected to represent their respective cities have yet to be finalized and probably won't be until the NABBP convenes its second annual convention next month.
Will Base Ball Become a Fly Game?
New York -- During the winter season, there has been much debate about whether to make the New York version of base ball a fly-only game. Under current rules, a batter can be put out if a hit ball is caught on the fly or is fielded on the first bound. It seems a majority of players would prefer a fly-only game, saying it is a truer measure of a player's skill in the field. Dissenting are several members of the Knickerbockers, the oldest established base ball club in the city and one that has been instrumental in establishing the game's current rules and popularizing it. They like to point out that the bound rule differentiates base ball from Boston's town ball, where the fly-only game prevails. It is sure to be a hotly debated matter when the NABBP convention meets. Of note, no NABBP player, even those in favor of the fly game, seems interested in implementing town ball's 'soaking' rule. This rule allows runners on the bases to be put out by being hit by a thrown ball or 'soaked.'
Football Club formed in Blackheath
London -- The old boys of Blackheath Proprietary School, who play a "carrying" game of football made popular by Rugby School have formed an open club. This means membership will be open to anyone, not merely those attending the school. They will play matches against the current pupils at the school.