The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-04
FIRST OF NIGHT RACES
GOOD SPORT, BUT POOR CROWD,
AT WASHINGTON PARK.
Tom David shows His Fine Training,
Winning Both Professional
Events-The Amateurs.

Saturday night was a bad night for the
inauguration of electric light bicycle races
for the season, as was evidenced by the
small attendance at Washington Park last
night. But it was not bad night for the
races, and those who did attend found the
sport of the highest order. Considering the
fact that the track is only a fifth of a mile
the time was good. Tom David made an
exhibition unpaced half mile in los, which
is not a bad showing, everything consid-
cred.
The programme contained amateur and
professional events. The two professional
events were almost alike Tom David won
both easily from field of five. His team
mate. Alex. Craig, who has been working
in an office all summer, and who has made
no effort at training, followed his wheel
closely in the first race and won second
The only feature of the professional events
was the demonstration of Davids ability
When last week he beat Earl Kiser, one Of
the kings of the track this season, it was
said that it was an accident. 1t may have
been, but the metal he showed last night
is the kind that beats the best of them.
The first race was a one-mile open for
amateurs. 1t was run in two heats and
final, the first two in the two heats and the
fastest third to qualify for the final max
ing a field of five. Those qualifying were
l.. o. Watson, G. H. Buschman, c. E. Will
lis, I. L. Heller and Jacob Steinmetz The
final would in all probability have been
won by Steinmetz but for an ugly spill at
the turn into the home stretch IN the final
lap. Stelnmetz $ wheel struck a soft spot
IN the track and he went down. All the
others fell over him except Willis who was
far in the rear as to be almost out of
a Ia cd IN
the bank and around the fallen riders and
won the race. Buschman jumped up and
grabbed his wheel and ran to the tape and
got second place. Keller ran in, but was
disqualified because he did not take his
wheel with him. This gave Steinmetz third
place.
The next amateur event was for sixteen
year-old boys, and there were but three
starters, James NJ Davis, Harry Deputy
ana Newton Devay. They finished in the
order named, an uneventful but pretty
race.
the closing race of the card was five
mile handicap event for amateurs. The
men started with the following handicaps:
Scratch, Jacob Steinmetz, c. h. Willis; 100
yards Herbert Mcbride; 125 yards, Mar
Bates, r. Steinmetz, Lee Heller; IT'S yards,
]. II. Woodruff; 225 yards, Harry Deputy,
e; Ftchner 900 yards, j. NJ Davis; $50
per of the handicap men, including the
limit men, caught the scratch men, and the
winner of the race was a lap ahead of the
in which merit won. There was no pace
making and no loafng.
The following are the summaries of the
races:
First race, one mile OPEN First heat
Hal Hibben, G.. H. Buschman, c. E. VIII
let's. Time. 2:31 10 Second heat-Jacob
Steinmetz, Lee Heller; Time, 2:34 80. FL
nal-C. F.. Willis. Hal Hibben, Jacob Stein
metz Time 2:31 1-5.
One-half mile open, professional Tom
R d5n,h t tbHj Alex Hex Craig second; Ed
Two-fifths of a mile (for boys under six
teen): James M. Dairs, first; Harry Dep
uty, second; Newton Devay, third. Time,
:58.
One-mile open. professional: Tom David,
first; o: w. Slaybach, second; c. Spring,
third. Time, 2:27.
One mile, tandem: Jap Clemens and Ed
Roll, first; Donald Ketcham and Ed Pfeffer,
second. Time, 2:32.
Five-mile handicap, amateurs: J. M. Da-
Wis 600 yards), first; Charles Bates Q50
yards, second; Harry Deputy (225 yards),
third. Time 1880 20.
Exhibition half-mile: Tom David. Time,
los.