The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-27

and have to do your writing on single
pine board full of slivers, which sagged in
the middle, according to the number OF
people leaning or standing on it TO get a
better view OF the races. However, the
meek scribes did not object; everything
else was going so smoothly they felt they
had no right to complain.
The impression prevails that in the one
and two mile scratch races, class B, wherein
the records were lowered. whoever was first
behind the tendem which did the pace
making had the race practically won, and
this is borne out by the facts, in that Bald
won both events. Could he have done the
same had he been in second or third place
up to the time of the final sprint? Some
say he was not entirely ridden out, and
could have done mite better had some
one given him a harder finish. Coulter
and Foster were right On top of him,
almost, and ne didn't win by very much to
spare as it was. There it no doubt, though,
that Bald is the greatest racer we have ever
seen in California. l use the word racer
advisedly, because, though others have
made better time In speed trials, his record
OF mile in competition at 2:04 stands as
the greatest performance ever made on a
wheel. and all credit should be given the
plucky Buffalo lad for his wonderful speed
and headwork.
There Will be some excellent racing at
the Mayday fete to be given for the benefit
of the Fabiola Hospital Association at Oak
land Trotting Park next Wednesday. With
the exception OF Ziegler, Harbottle and
Coulter, who have gone East, and Ed
wards, who has retired from the track. all
the cracks who rode at San Jose last week
will compete. Those who could not attend
the races at the latter place will have a
chance to see Bald's wonderful squirt and
Allan Jones pretty riding if they witness
the Oakland races. Bald may also ride at
Santa Rosa on May 9.
c. s. Wells has left the Rambler team
and may 90 East on the national circuit
with the Columbia or Syracuse people.
though nothing definite has yet been de-
Cided on.
The retirement Of Wilbur J. Edwards has
occaslened some little comment among
club men, as he was noted rider and very
popular with both competitors and specta-
tors. Joseph B. Carey, who Is considered
the highest cycling authority in San Jose,
has the following TO say about Edwards
retirement in the Mercury:
'As the case now stands, il viii GER
talnly take some strong inducement to
bring about change OF his mind in this
regard. Edwards announced several days
before the meet that. win or lose, he would
ride no more. Whether or not his love for
the wheel viii permit him to give up track
riding altogether, is a matter of uncer-
tainty. Edwards is noted as a rider
whose fairness in a race cannot be cues
toned. He has never in any way resorted
to trlckery 70 win race, although he has
been defeated by such means many times
Edwards retires with the worlds record fol
the fastest mile ever ridden on a bicycle
and the coast record for the half mile and
mile"
Mr. Robert A. Smyth, the official handi-
capper, has announced the following as
the allowances to be made the various
land. Mr.. Smyth's work at the San Jose
meet was very good, and showed him to
be fully in touch with the abilities of the
riders. In the final heat of the one-mile
handicap, class, A this was particularly ap-
parent, when the thirteen riders who had
qualified were all punched on the back
stretch; yet the track is so safe they all
finished close together, at racing speed
and not slip occurred. Here are the
handicaps for the Mayday races:
Two-miIe handicap (class BE. c. Bald, P
{. c., scratch; w. +. Foster, o. c. W., 40 yards
". A. Burke, A. c. W, so; D. osen, G. c. C., so
C. NJ Castleman, A. c. W., 20; G. S. Wells, B
c. W, 80; w. A. Terrill, B. C. W, 100; Allan
Jones, G. c. G.. 100; J. c. Smith, G. G. G., 100
H. c. smith, $50; G. A. Nissen, A. c. W. $50
T. S; Han, B, c. W., 200; R. Cushing, 225; U
Two-mile handicap (class All. +. Terrn
Ind a. Reid. b. G.. w, scratch; Il. Languetln
B. c. W, N. f. Rose, A. G. W, and F
Y. Byrne, /. c. C., 90 yards; J. R. Sampson, 4
". Decker, A. c. W., 80; +. L. Day, B. G. W..