The times., 1897-06-20

While it is believed that the charges
| against the amateur riders OF the Dis
| trics win not be prosuctive of immediate
suspensions or other penalties, there Is
| s.in n cecided feeling of uneasiness among
| them.
| These particular charges may have been
| the result OF personal spleen, and We're
! undoubtedly made with little forethoaght
| yet there is no doubt that certain Of the
| local liders have transgressed rules laid
down for amateurs.
| Chairman Mott is now engaged in in
! vestigatipg the charges, and as he has
been advised through other channels Tran
those from which the charges emanated, his
| decision in the matter VIII very likely he
an important one. If the charges filed
could be sustained in full it would Tn
deubtedly be the death of amateur racing
in the District.
All OF the foremost amateurs were in
cIuded in the complaint.
The statement that the Cycle Board or
| Trade would offer no more prizes in meets
given under their auspices because of the
Decoration Day scandal seems TO be pren'a'
ture, as the program for the big meet ON the
5th OF j uly, which has just been made pub
be, contains two professional events.
The third and seveath races are for the
''profs, y and, though thc prizes hung up are
not quite generous as formerly. they are
sufficiently large To bring some good nen
here 1t is feared, however, that the Mary
land State meet at Frederick City, which
comes of on the same day, will attract
the best professionals in this part of the
country.
or the local professionals Mudd, Ball
and Woodward win probably contest. or
course, Fred Sims suspension, which viii
not expire until after July 8, will prevent
his appearance.
Sims has had trouble with the racing
board almost continuously since 1894. and
IL begins to laok as though these continued
suspensions mean a possible expulsion from
the legitimate tracks II is unfortunate
for Sims mi ght otherwise be d shinin light
among the professionals and reflect consiI-
cradle credit upon Washington.
Professional races are undoubtedly the
most exciting when the competition is
honest and above board OF course, the
men are much speeder lot than any
amateurs, and the riding is infinitely
prettier as a rule. The best types Of pro-
fessionais have done much for cycling in
America, and it is especially unfortunate
that certain riders should descend to
crooked work and thus bring reproach
upon that class of riding
Chairman Mott, of the racing board, Is
DOUBTLESS earnest in his efforts TO purify
racing in 10th amateur and professio1 1ai
ranks, and he should be given the support
OF all wheelrnen. There are certain people
who say they are opposed TO the arbitrary
control OF the l.. A. W officials in cycle
racing If they were fully conversant with
the need Of such an organization, they
would he speedily silenced.
The next meet at international Park
will occur on Thursday, the Gath. The
meet will be under the auspices .of the
park management. Good purses have been
offered and the foremost riders of the
District win compete in the amateur
events, while the professional races will
include sosne speedy men.
The list OF events and prizes is an
follows:
First race-one mile; novice Prize, gold
medal
Second race-One mile open; amateur
First prize, travelling bag, monkey leather,
value, $40; second prize, diamond pin,
value, S15.
Third race-One-third mile open; pro-
fessiona1 First prize, $40; second prize,
$40.
Fourth race-One mile handicap; ANA
teur First prize, watch, value, $50: sec
ond prize, suit case, alligator leather, value,
$40.
Fifth. race-one mile open; professional
First prize, SIS, second prize, $40
First team prize. gentleman's IS dressing case,
alligator leather, value, S15, to each man.
From the above list it viii be seen
that many prizes of useful nature are
offered
Heretofore the prizes have been gem
orally confined TO some article of iewelry.
The management of these races con-
cluded that a change would he oesiIabl
hence the rr'ze Est.
This is q wise move, which will no dou,s
be approved 10y Jne riders themselves, as
many Of them are overs toe Ike a. with
iewelry won in past races.
Another feature is that the price of adj
mission includes grand stand privileges
This should insure good crowd.
II is to he hoped that the crowd will be
a more orderly one than at some previous
races, and that those people who per-
sst in standing ON the seats and otherwise
interfering with the comfort of those who
wish 60 witness the faces without the foot
ball compartments.
A number of Baltimore wheelnen areex-
pected over for these races. Time limits
Will prevent loafing.
The entry blanks and the program for
the big meet on July are also ont, and
from indications the meet will be the
most successful held in this city.
William Gettinger, the president of the
Arlington Wheelmen- has the meet under
his charge, and his well-known ability, com
bined with the hard work he has been
putting in, will insure many entertain
ing features
For the first time IN local cycling his
tory there win be '.multicycie'' race
on the program.
This viii undoubtedly be drawing
card AT present the entries include three
tandems, two tnpiets and quad, with
the prospect of several more entries COM
ing soon. A seytettte will probably be
entered also. The event win be haudi-
cap, and the handicaps will be adjusted
on basis of the difference In speed of the
various machines.
The rain OF last Sunday afternoon made
the return trip of many club dismal af-
fairs.
Great numbers of the wheelmen madethe
trip to Camp Washington on their wheels
TO visit soldier friends Those who went
early enough We're all right. az the return
trip could be made by boat, but those who
went down in the afternoon were rendered
h,-f 6.sr