The herald., 1893-09-30

very many riders on the track, as the
park keeper John Kilroy soon ordered
them off and proceeded to roll and wet
down the gravel in order to have II in
good shape for today. The track ID in
better condition now than at any pre-
vious time. The bank by the grand
stand has been raised about two feet
and the home stretch widened three
feet.
The principal work done at the park
in the afternoon was in erecting num-
ber Of tents for the various riders and
their admirers.
Over by the tennis court the Fart
Side Bicycling club and the Rambler
aggregation have placed their canvas.
The Riverside riders will occupy the
latter tent. J. Phil Percivsl has tent
all for his lonely and some friends down
by the side OF the home stretch. The
Los Angeles Wheelmen will occupy the
large dressing room in the grand stand
and right around the corner from the
Victor team which is quartered in cozy
and well appointed room. There will
probably be several more tents erected
today for the officers Of the event and
other riders.
A score board facing the grand stand
just north Of the tape 10 In the course of
construction and will probably be fin-
ished today In time for the race this
afternoon.
The riders all turned in to bed early
last night. A large number went to the
pool rooms for while during the fret
part Of the evening to see how affairs
were going.
An attempt was made to sell pools on
all Of the various races to be held today,
but neither enthusiasm nor money was
rampant. and but little was wagered.
The first pool sold was on the maiden
race. Joe Long sold at So as favorite,
with Lacy second at SO, the field going
for 81. Several more pools on this race
were sold. and q few on some Of the
others. In the team race at Agricultu-
raj park on Tuesday the Riverside ag-
gregation sold as hot favorite. Nobody
cared to back either of the other teams.
Several small bets were made OF two to
one. with the Los Angeles wheelmen on
the short end.
Finally the seller offered odds of 5 to
2 against the Los Angeles wheelmen, but
this met with but few takers.
At present the Riverside team is the
choice of nearly every one for the team
race, but the local people may yet gain
sufficient confidence in their own team
to take the short end Of 5 to bet.
The most difficult point Of the whole
meet is to come anywhere near picking
small number of the winners. There
are fully dozen men entered who can
ride mile under 2:30, and several un-
der 2;20. The favorites, ehowever, are
Fox and the two Burkee. Gatensbury
and Holbrook are both fast men and
have been doing good work lately.
Among the other prominent riders are
the Cowan boys, Kitchen, Castleman,
Shoemaker, Ballentine, McCrea and
Cromwell.
The safest system Is not to bot at all;
but If the reader desires to be sporty ne
will probably find it more profitable in
the end to back the field against the
favorite.
An attempt will be made to run 16 of
the races today. the remaining nine to
be finished on Monday. Among today's
events ere several state championships,
which always arouse considerable in
terest. Fox will ride in the first heats
of the half and mile open events.
The races will be held today and Mon
day at Athletic park, which is reached
by taking either the Central avenue or
Arcade depot electric cars. The races
start promptly ct O'Clock.