Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1897-09-09
FAIR CLOSED.
M'lis lie WheeImen Carr y OFF Many of the
Bicycle Race Prizes-Big Crowd
to Witness the Races. Which
were Successful,

Who says bicycle races will not draw
larger crowd than horse racing at the
County Fair in this county? Just look at
Thursdays crowd at the second day Of
Fair. A larger number by hundreds at
tended Thursdays exhibition of bicycle
races than for many years past. Itseems
that horse racing at the Fair here is a
thing of the past, and that it must be
followed with bicycle races to draw the
crowd.
The fair this year has been patronized
chiefly by the younger class, for outside
few vegetables displayed there was moth
ing to attract the people but the bicycle
races. Thursday the grand stand was
packed by an anxious crowd while many
persons who could not get seat and
thronged the field, along the track and
fence eager to see their favorite win out.
The 44th annual Fair was the best for
several years. Of course those who like
horse racing may not have thought so,
but still there were two spirited horse
races Thursday. The races as arranged
this year brings together county Fair
people. More people from Cumberland
county were present this year. Millville
and Vineland were well represented, as
these towns had many entries in the
bicycle races. Salem county was also
represented. Many who never saw a
bicycle race went away from the Fair
we'll pleased. Ali the races were intesest-
ing, except probably the five mile races,
which were rather monotonous, but the
rest were all right, and fortunately in
both days races there were no serious
accidents occurred. Many persons
thought the Fair would not be success
this year, but those who attended can tes-
tify to its success. The handsome prizes
the Fair Meet Committee had selected
were drawing card, and the prizes were
worth competing for.
There were several attractions on the
track. The Gross boys gave exhibitions
of acrobatic work, and did it we'll. Green
and McDaniels gave fine exhibition of
fancy and trick bicycle riding. w. w.
Robbins and William Mcfarland gave
an exhibition with their trotting horses.
w. R. Cooley, of Wilmington, Del,
made an exhibition mile, paced by tan
dem, in 2.1S4.
In the five mile bicycle handicap, pro-
fessional, it was expected that S. l.. Cas-
sidy, of Millville, would either win or
come out second, but be>failed to even
score. Mr.. Cassidy is the Cum berland
county wheelman who was in the six
days bicycle tournament in New York
some time ago.
The bicycle races resulted as follows:
One mile boys race, amateur-was won,
by F. S. Robbins, Millville: Wesley
Flavelle, Bridgeton, second; Edgar
Ackley, Elmer, third. Time 2.45l.
One mile handicap, amateur, first five
to qualify. First heat was won by Bert
Rutter, Millville. M. L. vanderslice,
Philadelphia, second; T. j. Gillon, Will
mington, Del. third; HI. D. Carton, Vine
land. fourth; John Curliss, Millville,
fifth. Time 2.30. Second heat was won
by Allen Sheppard, Millville; William
Duncan, Vineland, second; f. M. Reeves,
Millville, third; Leroy Austin. Tuckerton,
fourth; Frank Reeves, Millville, fifth.
Time, 224a. The final heat was won by
F. M. Reeves, Millville; Frank Reeves,
Millville, second; Leroy Austin, Tucker
ton, third. Time, 2,19a. In this race Aus
tin was on the scratch and the winner had
thirty yards.
Five mile handicap, amateur, was won
by Leroy Austin, of Tuckerton; Charles
Wheldin, Millville, second; Bert Rutter,
Millville, third. Time, 1851.
Five-mile handicap, professional, won
by E. F. Miller, Vineland; Ben Peck,
second; H. Johnson, third. Time, 14.15.
One mile open, Cumberland county
men only, three to qualify, was won by
Furman Reeves, Millville; H. D. Carton,
Vineland, second; Frank Reeves, Mill
vile, third. Time, 2.39.