The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-04-05

ton and II remains for the meet promoter
~ ery one or the other and find out.
NATIONAL CIRCUIT MEETS.
mere VIII be more race meets in the Ma
tioffai Circuit this season than last year.
Lac chairman Of the racing board aas been
compelled to ask that all applications for
->auonale Circuit sanctions be in his hands
psloie the LIST OF April. He will allow no
yates Tor those coming in after the 1st of
the month Little seems to have come OF
the proposition TO two spring circuits
converging at the national meet and contin-
uing as one circuit from that point The
date or the national meet has been set for
Aug. ~ to Is. ana this would give over two
months before the circuits would join.
Last years racing circuit was 1895 miles
IN length. The number of days Of racing
was seventy-eight. the number of meets fifty
Vnree- AT these meets the estimated total
attendance was 10000. Ga the circuit 1t has
been estimated that the average number of
circuit chasers that followed the entire cir
cult was forty-one. The number of meets
VIII be greatly Increased the coming sea-
son, the number of days of racing likewise.
and the number of circuit chasers will be
larger by nearly double. The changes in the
programmes of the meets, If carried out, the
VIII bring out more men for the circuit.
Last seasons circuit started at Plainfield,
\. j., May 30, and went through the East
throughout June. In July 1t went Westward,
reaching Minneapolis early in August. In
the latter part Of August 1t was in Canada,
and Labor day saw the party at Waltham.
Then came long jump to Rochester and
Buffalo. and another long backward jump
10 Springfield and Waltham From there 1t
was long jumps clear across the country to
California, and the finish came in Red,ands
in December. the 4th Of the month. 1t is
planned to make the circuit this season not
longer. burt shorter, and to cross the country
from the Pacific TO the Atlantic twice in its
progress, meanwhile travelling from the At
lant.c ocean to the Mississippi river and
back. This circuit will take about 1890
miles. and will open up much new country.
California has plans for twenty days of
racing to start the circuit late in April and in
the first half of May. Tucson, A T., FL
Pasos San. Antonio, Houston. Sherman and
other points IN Texas, New Orleans and
points throughout the South, with Savannah
as a closing point, are talked of as posi-
BILE dates. Many have applied. With these
dates all in the party would take beat for
New York for the June meet in that city,
which last year occurred June Is; Massachu-
sets, New York State in June; Ohio. Indi-
ana, Illinois and Wisconsin in July and ear
ly August, and the national meet, Aug. 10
to Is. Following the national meet the all
Gold Viking meet will be scheduled. The
Springfield meet Is set for three days-Sept.
l, and 3-or two weeks earlier than last
season. Denver wants dates earlier than last
season. and with this arrangement Denver
he otfo ot~r f1r- the La
ter part of September The Pacific coast
would be reached again early in October,
when the meet promoters of that great cy-
cling State promise the racing men gold in
abundance. The record-breaking teams could
then continue the circuit to the end and be
ready for work the 1st of November. This
is the circuit on paper as the meet promo
ters are trying to arrange it, and if SO ar
ranged, the meets will be closely connected
throughout large part of the circuit, and
the mileage should be less than last season,
when thirty-five all-night rides were taken
in the circuit work.
Prize limits have been reduced in the pro-
fessional class, and $100 for the big races
will be the rule. The meet promoter may
give four races-an invitation, with 800 for
first, $50 and So for place prizes handi-
cap. with SO. $50 and SIS: long race. with
$lOc, SO and $50, and tandem race for ST.
coo. Out of this amount he may pay for the
pace making and other expenses, such as
trick riding. The usual prize may be $50,
it may be $50, but the former will do more
TO bring the prominent foreigners TO this
shore than the latter.
FOREIGN CRACKS WILL COME.
Tom Eek is in Europe with his team and
promises to return in August with a long
list of foreign riders for the fall races. The
prizes in this country will be larger, the
races will be more numerous every week
and America is attractive to the foreign
rider, as a rule. Many match races Will be
run during the season and it is not improb-
able that Michael. the little Frenchman.
may be seen in this country. Hamilton is
attempting to get an hour race with
this rider for large stake, and makes offer
of $500 for training expenses IL Michael VIII
come over to this country to race. COMPETE
ton for these match races Is keen, for there
are many new third-mile tracks already con-
structed and many more are to be finished
for this season. Bridgeport has given an or
der for a third-mile track. Philadelphia has
a track completed, Boston's fine new track
is already completed Jacksonville has
newly-cons tructed third. New Orleans
quarter, Cincinnati third and Louisville is
to have a board track Chicago will have
the finest constructed quarter-mile track
possible and this will be indoors. Many
points in California have new tracks and
that State can boast of nearly fifteen bcy-
Gle tracks in all. New York contemDlates
new track at Manhattan field. San Fran
cisco has found small tracks safe and will
build six-lap track out of doors, and there
are many other cities contemplating the
construction of tracks for the season. all Of
which gives indication Of the widespread
and general interest in the sport
The three big meets of the year, as 1t now
appears. will be the national meet at Louis
Vile the Viking All Gold meet at Toledo
and the Springfield meet. Other meets may
be brought forth later. The national meet
Will assume new Importance this season.
owing to the fact that. for the first time in
years. the national championship races viii
be run on a track that is safe, that is fast
and a track that has the confidence of all
the men. 1t is improbable that the races
will be marred by falls as was the case last
season. the season before and the season be-
fore that. Competition will be keen and re-
sr,lts will be decisive in all of these races.