The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1897-07-19
THE WHEEL

THE WHEEL
Although efforts have been made to
keep the affair secret, it leaked out that
the Quill club wheelmen of America,
whose headquarters are in New York
city, have been working quietly and en-
ergetically for their big two-day ma
tional circuit meet, to be held at Man
haitian Beach, New York, on September
and g. The feature of the meet will
be the $4,000 Quill Club wheelmens handi-
cap. This is the largest PURGE ever Of
fered for a race in this country, and
is expected to bring the fastest profess
SIGNALS together for miles around. AS
it is to be a handicap affair, every rider
will have an equal chance of landing
first prize.
The plan which has been adopted calls
for the heats of the big race at one mile
TO he run on a Saturday, while the final,
at two miles, will be run off on Labor
day. The winner of the final will re-
ceive $1,000 Of good American coin, the
second man $3.50, the third man 500 and
the fourth man $50. This makes a total
of $1400, and the other $500 will be di-
vided among the placed men in the
heats and semi-finals to be run on Sep
| TENDER 4. With such a prize to be con-
tested for there is little doubt that all
| the fastest professionals who cam reach
the track will be anxious to take shy
at the big purse. An entrance fee of
| $40 will be charged each man, and en-
| tries for the big race will close on August
II. In case rider enters and pays his
fee and later finds he is unable to COM
pete. he will be entitled to the return
Of so per cent Of the fee already paid
The club held a meeting in New York
last week and decided upon the follow
ing program
| First day-Trial and semi-finals of the
Quill club $4,000 handicap; one-third
mile dash, professional, $780, $50, $25, $40;
one-mile amateur invitation, S35, $50
and S25; one-half mile amateur handi-
| cap, $35, $40 and $40. Amateur team pur-
suit race between Greater New York
and New Jersey, with special prizes and
| special events to be decided upon
Second day-Final heat Quill club
$1,000 handicap, which will be two miles
while the heats will he at one mile;
one-mie open professional, with prizes
of $3.50, $500, $50 and s25; quartermile
dash, amateur, $35 $40 and $40; mile
amateur handicap. $35. $50 and $40, and
hve-mie Metropolitan championship
for the American wheelmen's trophy
cup.
Entry blanks can be obtained from ~
Reeves secretary race committee, st.
Paul building, No 220 Broadway, New
| York.
The mourning bicycle" is the latest
craze, and has already been seen in the
streets of New York The machine is
black throughout, unrelieved by nickel
or color A fashionable widow recent
| ly appeared on one of these machines
wearing black sailor hat with black
Grape band instead of a ribbon, and
large black rosette in front Her black
tailor made suit was relieved only by
the shirt front. which was striped black.
as also was her high linen collar. A
black poodle was her escort.
= 4 \
The preparations for the big L. A. w.
meet in Philadelphia, now only couple
of weeks away. still go merrily on, and
from indications it will eclipse all pre-
vious occasions very materially. The
arrangements of the details have neces-
sarfly been laborious and slow, but as
matters stand now everything may be
| said to be in readiness, and all that is
wanting now are the crowds, the racers
| and the hurrah.
| The meet proper will be limited to
| four days-August 4th, 5th, 9Th and 7th
| The first day will be given up to the re-
| ception and registration of visitors, dis
| tribution of badges, credentials, ETC.
| In the afternoon runs will start from
headquarters in all directions. An ex-
| cursion on the historic Delaware river
will pass the night and send all hands
| to bed in condition to enjoy sound
sleep. Thursday, the second day, will
| be in charge of the tours and runs COM
mittee, and all places of scenic and his
toric interest will be visited. and the re-
| turn will be made in time to give every
body a chance to get in shape for the
most gigantic Smoker" ever attended
! by wheelmen. 1t will be under the aus
pces of one Of the prominent clubs, or
may be joint affair. At the same time
the L. A. w. ball will be in progress
The following morning the trial heats
will be run off, and in the afternoon the
finals.
| Before the cycle game reaches the
stage of perfection in detail and entirety
1t must of necessity undergo numerous
changes in the governing rules. says
Sporting Life, the purpose of which shall
be to bring about a condition of affairs
more satisfactory to public, promoter
and racing man than at present exists.
Among other changes that are recon-
mended by students of racing is that
of the abolition of amateur races, ex-
lcept the novice event, and the classif1-
cation Of riders according to their COM
petition records for the mile. BY this
change 1t Is proposed to substitute in
place of the present open and handicap
events for amateurs and professionals
the following standard races:
Novice race open to all riders who
have never won prizes in a race track.
Free-for-alls, open and handicap.
200 class. opens and handicaps
z:10 class. opens ana handicaps.