The evening times., 1896-04-30

meets drew attention TO the sport and was
productive of new competitors for racing
honors, but the record OF $50 stood for
some time. In looking over a list of L.
A. W. champions 1t seems odd TO note
that in 1888 George d. Gideon, the present
chairman OF the national racing bo;-rd,
won two out OF the three national cham
pionships from some of the best men in
the country, riding two miles In GAL "a
and five miles in 1919 40.
RAPID GROWTH OF THE WHEEL
From the outset the sport has steadily
grown in popularity and the riding time
been reduced until with the single excep-
ton of baseball 1t is today undoubtedly
the most popular sport in existence, and
has a record for speed lower than any
other form of locomotion not gverned by
steam or electricity. The fastest mile
ever ridden on the track was by p J.
Rerlo. who, on December 81, 1895. rode
that distance with pacemakers at New
Orleans in 40 80, lowering by two SEQ
onds the best previous record, made by
Arthur Gardner.
These figures have, however, been beaten
a number of times on straightaway courses
straiShtaway mile ever ridden up to tie
first OF the year being by Green and Esneii'
who, on December 16, rode tandem in
LIZ 1-5. Within few days, however
Melvin O'Dennis, claims to have ridden
mile at Denver, Col, on straightaw way
course in Ill 3-5. which exceeds the run
ming g-horse record by 24 seconds
Enthusiasts say that within year mile
will be ridden inside Of 105, but this,
OF course, remains to be seen.
That the manufacturers are not eager TO
engage professional teams is evident from
the fact that though the season Will De
opened in few days, only two manufactur-
ers have engaged teams, and some OF the
best men in the country are still unattached.
Those familia with the business, as wellas
the sporting side of bicycling, realize, how
ever, that the competition among manu-
facturers is fiercer than it has ever been;
that a record made by any honest rider Is
of undoubted value to tile maker or the ma
chine ridden. and believe that any man rid
ing fast enougi,ito make himself prominent
will have no difficulty in attaching himself
to one of the nmhy manufacturers, any one
of whom would be benefited by the promi-
nence gained by reeords made on his me-
chine. 81 . .
There is littledo,,B that this view is the
correct one. antiievan though there will he
fewer 'teams''ithis year than there have
been in the past rs safe to predict that.
if professionals ride as honestly as they
did last year, there will be few men rid
ing fast enough to- be talked about who
will not be drawing money from some man.
ufacturer in additioa to the prizes Won.
PRoFEssIoNAL wHEELMEN.
The only other element necessary to ma ke
professional ra cling successful is the indorse-
ment of the public. and this, there is every
reason to believe, will be accorded. That
there is no real prejudice against the mere
fact of a man being professional Is APP
parent from the enormous crowds that go to
see winning baseball teams, and the only
thing necessary is that the public shall be
convinced that the men whom they pay to
see compete are riding honestly and doing
their best to win. The future of professional
racing rests with one class, and only one
class-the racing men themselves. They
will be well governed: the public is ready
and willing to pay TO see them ride: the
prizes will be of good size. and ail'that is
necessary for success is their honest CO.
operation.
II all the cracks were to start in mile
handicap race, band'capper arranging
them acco riding to their relative ability
would probably place them In about the
following order, with Bald as scratch man:
Bald. Murphy. johnson, Sanger, Cooper,