The San Francisco call., 1897-08-22
HARDY DOWNING
Wins A PURSE
Tacoma'S First Races
Under G. A. A. G..
Auspices.
The San Jose Wheelman Takes
the TWc-ThirdS Mile
Handicap.
Sharick Of the Sound City Victor In
the Prof Ssional Event at
Two Miles.

TACOMA, WASH, Aug. 21.-On the
Pierce County fair grounds to-day was
the first bicycle meet since the Tacoma
riders sec ded from the League of Ameri-
can w heelmen. The meet was under the
auspices of the Tacoma Race Promoters
Association, the newly organized branch
of the California Associated Cycling
Clubs. The afternoons programme COM
prised a two-thirds OF mile and a two
mile handicap professional races and am
ateur handicap races OF one and five
miles. The meet brought together the
crack riders of California and Puget
Sound, and each of the two professional
races were splendid contests.
The two thirds mile was ali open event.
1t was brilliantly won by Hardy Downing
of San Jose, with w. B. Vaughan of San
Diego second and George SharIck of Ia
coma third. Sharick is known as "the
wonder of the Northwest" His friends
expected he would win. Viewed from
local standpoint, it seems that Sharick
thought he had to beat Ziegler of San
Jose. the racing partner of Downing. the
winner. Sharick accordingly traied
Ziegler for nearly two laps, or until they
ing that Zegler was not trying to win he
started after Downing, and made a mag
nlflcent effort. He closed a large gap,
passing several other riders and was able
to win third place.
In the two-mile handicap, local riders
had better luck. On the fourth of the SIX
laps Z;egler, who had started at scratch,
pulled out. Thi, left eleven riders on the
track. Tney rode so closely punched,
with Sharick pocketed IN the middle so
completely that escape seemed impossl-
bic. The positions of the eleven riders re-
mained relatively the same until the last
lap. When they had nearly reached the
stretch, Sharick succeeded in emerging
from the crowd, cut down the lead and
crossed the line first. Bartholomew wa,
second and Jack" Sharick third, Tacoma
riders thus winning ali three places.
Over 1000 enthusiastic wheeimen saw
the races. Tonight a purse Of 500 or
over is being raised, which will result in
the matching of Sharick an Ziegler for a
race tomorrow afternoon. Friends of
both men are betting eagerly on the re-
suit.
To-day's races were the first held on the
new one-third mile track at the county
fair grounds. Riders were very much
pleased with the track, which is fac
simiIe of the noted tracks at Washington
and Louisville, with two short turns and
two long stretches.
Two-thirds of a mile, professional: First
heat-Ziegler, Allen. Elford, Jack Sharick
Crawfotd. Ziegler won. Allen of Spokane sec
ond, Sharick third. Time. 81.
Second heat-G. Sharlck, J. A. Jones, Bar
tholomew, Whitman. Sharick won, Barthol-
omew second, Whitman of Los Ang les third
Time, l SO.
Third heat-vaughan of San Diego A. Jones
OF san francisco, Downing OF San Jose. Beemer
of Tacoma. Downing won, Vaughan second
Jones third. Time, :3S 1-5.
Final-Otto Ziegler, George Sharick, L. Allen,
Bartholomew, Downing, Vaughan. q. Sharick
got place being third in fastest OF three heats.)
Downing won, Vaughan second, G. Sharick
third. Time, l 80 l-5. Eford acted as pace
maker in final heat.
One third of mile, amateur, first heat
Wing of San Francisco, Dow of Tacoma, Lau-
meister of Tacoma, Hedderly of Tacoma
Crawford OF Sea tile. Dow won Wing second
L umeister third. Time, 40 IS.
Second heat-Mott OF Oakland, Cotter OF
Shipp won, Cotter second, Fink third. Time,
:51 Is.
Final-wing, Dow, Laumeister, Cotter, shipp
ana Fink. Wing won, Sh PIP second, Dow
third. Time. 40 2-5.
Two-mile professional. handicap-Ziegler
yards. Elford 140 yards, Whitman so yards,
Downing 40 yatcs, A. Jones Is yards Beemer
100 yards, J. SEarick 80 yards E. Allen so
yards, Vaughan 100 yarus, Crawford 80 yards
]. Jones 80 yards. G. Sharick won, Barthoo-
new second, F. Sharick thiid. Time, 5 40.
FIVE mi .es. amateur. handieap-W. T. Shipp
120 yards. John e. Fink $50 yards Frank
Hedderly 800 yards, Frank Cotter 12O yards
L. Laumeister 200 var s. L. Dow 12O ards
William Crawford 200 yards, j. E. Wing
scratch, P r. Mott scratch. Wing won, Cotter
second, Dow third. Time, 1920.