In Victorian days, as today, most sporting events would be reported in newspapers. For an event to achieve coverage in a magazine with the prestige of, say, The Strand, it would have to be significant indeed - so one can assume that the sporting events and matches described below were considered key sports events of the day!

A [Cricket] Match I Was In, by the Rev. James Pycroft (Stories of History, 1891)

In and About Newmarket (The Strand, 1891B)

A look at the thoroughbred racing center of England.

Doncaster and the St. Leger, by "Vigilant" of The Sportsman (English Illustrated Magazine, 1892A)

The St. Leger is the great horse race of Northern England.

Cup Defenders Old and New, by W.P. Stephens (Century Magazine, 1893B)

A look at some of the yachts competing for the America's Cup.

The Australians in the Cricket-Field, 1896, by A. C. MacLaren (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1896)

The Prince's Derby (The Strand, 1896B)

Subtitled "shown by lightning photography," this is illustrated by a sequence of stop-action photos of the first Derby race to be won by the Prince of Wales in 100 years.

The New Olympic Games (Century Magazine, 1896A)

The Olympic Games of 1896, by Baron Pierre de Coubertin, President of the International Committee (Century Magazine, 1897A)

England vs. Australia: Cricket Reminiscences of Past Conflicts, by George Giffen (Windsor, 1898A)

Racing in Australia, by Harry Furniss (Windsor, 1898A)

The author clearly favors British racing over Australian...

The Oxford and Cambridge Race, by Elizabeth Robins Pennell (Century Magazine, 1898B)

Cycling at a Mile a Minute, by Frederick Talbot (The Strand, 1900A)

"The true story of Charles Murphy's great cycling feat."

Curious Incidents at Cricket, by W.J. Ford (The Strand, 1900B)

Society at Ascot, by Maud Rawson (Lady's Realm, 1901)

See also

• Professional Sports

• Victorian People: Athletes