The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-17
PARRISH IN FINE FORM
w. f. Becker Unfairly Treated by the
Tandem PAGER i'm the Match Race
The Summarizes.

The programme was an excellent one. The
threat of rain probably kept many from
the track. The track was in prime con-
dition and the riders showed up in first
class form, Parrish holding the honors OF
the evening by winning three firsts. He
was in his old-time form last night and
showed what the ability to make first
class sprint will do in race which is a
race only for the last lap. When he took
his accustomed lead at the beginning of
the finishing squirt there was not a rider
on the track who could close the gap.
There was a great deal expected in the
last race, which was a match of Il
mile between Jap Parrish and w. F. Beck
er, paced by tandem, for a diamond stud
valued at $50. 1t was expected that this
race would show some good time, but the
spectators were disappointed 1t seemed
very much like it had been prearranged
that Parrish should have the best of it
and should win, even though he could NOT
do it in real race against time. Becker
is a new rider on the indianapolis tracks,
but he has a record that is good and he
showed last night that he can do good
work. In this race the tandem was ridden
by David and Craig, who are crose friends
of Parrish. 1t was this that defeated
Becker. Becker knew he could not win the
race if it should be made loafing affair
until the last lap. for he knows Parrisn's
ability to make a final sprint, but he
thought he could beat Parrish in a paced
race. However, he did not count on having
to defeat the pacemakers The time of the
race: 54-tells the whole story. For three
laps the tandem did not attempt to set
pace. but merely held the riders back.
All this was in favor of Parrish. Finally
Becker tried to pass the tandem in the
fourth lap, but the riders moved it out
just enough to prevent him doing SO. This
was contrary to the orders received by the
tandem riders, who were to stick close to
the pole. This loafing of the tandem held
the riders back so that it was race I'M
til the fifth lap, and then it was a sure
thing for Parrish, for it was known that
he could beat Becker on the final sprint,
with no real racing before that.
The effort of w. M. Taylor to lower the
track record of Oil. which he holds, was
failure on account of the pacemakers. 1t
was arranged that he should be paced for
two laps by a tandem, and then for two
laps by single wheels, 1t to be pickup
pace. Becker was the man to make the
first pickup. He made a dismal failure
Of it and Taylor stopped for want of
pacemaker. Becker did not start soon
enough and did not calculate the speed of
Taylor to carry him along. The result was
that before Becker had acquired a speed
equaIing four minutes Taylor passed him
like a flash and then slowed down, know
ing it would be useless to continue. After
wards he went a fifth unpaced against the
record, but failed to lower it. He made the
fifth in :2317.
The other racing was fine. 1t showed
good work on the part of many of the
riders. In the first race A. Pearson showed
well. He won the second heat by length,
but was disqualified for a foul. He was
plucky in riding. This was a novice race,
and Parsons foul was probably through
ignorance of the rules but it was neces-
sary to take the first place from him. He
could have won the final If he had been
allowed to enter it.
The second race, a one-mile open, was
good all through and except for one little
.nishap would have been perfect. In the
final which paced by a tandem, the
tandem riders did not judge the speed of
the racers and set the pace for the start
where the pickup was made slower than
riders were going. This compelled the
riders to swing out little. and in doing
so Steinmetz and Wolfe came together and
went down, leaving only three riders to
complete the race.
THE LOCAL CHAMPIONSHIP.
In the Indianapolis championship Becker
put new phase the matter by winning
the race. This gives Steinmetz and Craig
two each and Becker one race in this con-
test. Parrish, who now lives here, will en-
ter the championship contest tonight and
this will make matters more complicated
In case of a tie at the end of the season
there will be race between those tied
which will be paced by tandem and
close limit put upon it. This will be the
most exciting of the season. Just be-
fore the tape was reached in this race
Hoffman and Paxton came together and
fell but they rolled off the track and did
not interfere with any others. Becker was
given good round of applause when he
won the championship race
The two-mile handicap was won by Harry
Deputy, which is the first time he has won
a race this year He is only fifteen years
overtaken by anybody. He had $50 yards
handicap and left the others of the limit
men at the beginning, setting the pace for
the entire two miles. The scratch men
overlook all but the limit men and seemed
to think the limit men were behind them.
for they apparently made further eff
fort to catch them. The summaries follow:
First Raee-One mile novice-First heat:
Ed Meredith. T. 8. watson i''it George CIV ".
Lowry, W. H. Colwell. T: Q. Watson first.
Chris Poehler. second. William J. Helm
ers, G. M. Spahr. Clyde Woolls, Edward
Raymond. A Pearson, c. d. Durbin. w.
f: Davidson. Edward Raymond first.
Clyde Woolls second, G. M. Spahr third.
Time, 3:1l
Final heat: Starters, T. o. Watson, Chris
Poehler, William J. Helm, Edward Ray
mcnd. Clyde Woolls. T. o. Watson first,
Edward Raymond second, Chris Poehler
third. Time, 3:16.
Second Race-One mile open--First heat:
Starters, w. f. Becker II. II. David. A. NJ.
Craig. Jasper Parrish, Carthage: Earl Bur-
kett and Harry Masquelette, Marion. JAS
per Parrish first, T. II. David second, w.
F. Becker third. Time, 2:37. Second heat:
Starters Jacob SteinmetZ Ed Hoffman,
Mat Paxton. Herb Fulmer, Robert Wolfe.
Anderson. Mat Paxton first, Robert Wolfe
second. Jacob Steinmetz third. Time, 2:31.
Final: Starters, Jasper Parrish, t. H. Da-
vid Jacob Stenmetz. Mat Paxton, Robert
Wolfe. Jasper Parrish first. T. III. David
second. Mat Paxton third. Time, 2:22 1-5.
pionship. Starters-W F. Becker. Tom
David Alex. Craig. Jacob Steinmetz. Ed
Hoffman Geo. w. Lowry Mat Paxton,
Harry Deputy. w. Il. Becker first Alex
Craig second, Jacob Steinmetz third. Time,
2:34.
Fourth Race-Two-mile handicap. Start
ers-W. +. Becker, scratch: Tom David.
scratch Alex. Craig. scratch: Jasper Par
rish Carthage. scratch; Jacob Steinmetz
and Robert Wolfe, fifteen yards; Mat Pax
ton. forty yards Il. Watson and Earl
Burkett Marion. seventy-five yards: ED
Hoffman, $50 yards: Ed Meredith, Herb Full
mer. W r. Davidson, 200 yards; VIM j.
Helm Harry Masquerade, Marion. Harry
Deputy 30 yards Harry Deputy first
Harry Masquelette second. w. r. Becker
third. Time. 4:54.