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A CHJCAGO SPORTSMAN IN EUROPE. William Ryan, a Chicago sportsman, who accompanied the American baseball teams on tbefar lour around ihe world last winter, is now on a trip to Europe f.,r the purpose of observing the conditions under which racing is conducted in France, Germany Russia and other Ruropeaa countries. While touring the world with the baseball team*. Mr Ryan look advantage of the opportuni ties presented to see the principal raee tracks of Australia, Kugland and other countries, which he then visited, and it is probable that when his preseni trip shall have been completed. Mr. Ryan will have hail an experience that cannot he dupll cited hy any other turfman in this country. Mi Ryan is now in Paris and will go from there to B.rlin. St. Petersburg and otlier Continental capitals before returning to England for a glimpse of racing on the tracks in the vicinity of Iximlon. Mr. Ryan, besides being an enthusiast on the subject of racing, is well posted on other sports. From Pacta 1«- writes to a friend that the French race courses are highly attractive. Long champs, he writes, is a beautiful enclosure right iu Paris. Saint Cloud is a pretty little track located in the hills near the metropolis. On April 21 the day he vis.ted the Saint Ouen track — the American bred gelding Restigouche. which S. C. Hildreth took to France, was beaten a nose for first money in a hurdle race. One thing that struck him forcibly was that some of the jumpers ran with blinkers. He was at the Auteuil course the dav King George and Queen Mary of England were there as guests of President Polncaire of France and it seemed to him that the royal party look a keen interest in the sport and enjoyed it immensely. The American .jockeys that be saw. including Frank ONeill. Matt McQee, Johnny BeiaT, Milton Ilciirv, Winnie OConnor and Johnny Loftus. were all looking well an. I appear to be contented and happy in the laud when they are pursuing their vocation, with no rough riding and no excessive reducing of weight to worry over. I/ftus, he writes, has had 110 good mounts as yet. but seems to lie in fine condition physically and is always away from the post with the liest of them. Mr Rvaii predicts that be will make his mark in France, just as other American jockeys have. tleue Leigh, Fred Burlew and Tom Walsh are American trainers who are conspicuously active at the various tracks every day. American trainers and American jockeys are decidedly in favor Willi French owners. Tod Sloans cafe. Mr. Braa writes, is a popular rendezvous for Americans iu Parte. It is doing a thriving business and Sloan k devoting himself to il so assiduously that he finds little time to go to Ihe races any inure.
