The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-30
FROM BIKE TO HORSES.
Michael VIII Probably Be a Jockey
Next Year.

| 1t is stated as a certainty that Jimmy
Michael has parted company with his man.
! ager, Shafer, and further than that he may
| not be seen in the cycle racing game after
this season. In other words, the horse idea
! has a strong hold of him, and next season
may see him riding as jockey instead of
a speed merchant on a bicycle From inside
information received in this city yesterday,
it is believed that Michael is dissatisfied
with the manner in which he has been
looked after this season, and also that
Shafer Is feeling the same way over the
manner in which Michael has chung to the
jockey idea, to the detriment of his riding
on the wheel.
Michael came to America in the fall of
1895, and won his first race from Starbuck
and Weinig, at the meet of the Quill Club
Wheelmen 1t was of one hours duration
and was the first paced race ever run in
America. In the winter he was signed by
Chicago firm, who placed him in the
hands Of Shafer to be looked after, and the
latter soon became his acknowledged man
ager. His long string of successes last year
is fresh in the memory of those in the game
and even this year, against all that have
been brought against him, he has shown
himself to be as good as the best of them. 1t
IN with Phil Dwyer. the well-known horse
man. and a New York newspaper man con-
ceived the idea of Dwyer taking hold of
the midget and making d jockey of him.
He wrote a story to that effect quoting the
opinions of various horSemen, who favored
the idea .(although many thought that
and Jimmy soon came to the conclusion that
he would like to follow the horses. The
matter was dropped: however. only to come
low put up at hotel near the Gravesend
bay race track Long island. and every
as any exercise boy about the track. He
seemed taken up with the idea of being a
jockey and Shafer had all sorts of trouble in
order to get the lad to take to his training
on the wheel. This. in a measure, accounts
for his rather poor showing in his first
couple of races this year. 1t seems that the
jockey idea is bit stronger than one for
cycle racing, and it would surprise none of
those on the inside to see the ''Welsh rare
bit on the horses next year instead of
going into the same business with the little
wonder, he doing the managing part, while
Michael would ride the races. But of course
that is only talk. Michael is to ride against
Tom Linton, his bitterest rival, at New
York, on Labor day. this being the third
and deciding match. Linton won the first,
owing. Michael claims, to Michael having a
punctured tire, while the little wonder
scored over the coal miner in the last one.
Harry Gibson, the diminutive youngster
who will go against "Plugger Bill Martin
in a ten-mile paced race at Newly Oval
on Labor day night, returned from Cincin-
natl yesterday, and later in the week will
be followed by number of pacemakers
who will endeavor to carry him to victory in
his coming match. His big machines will
arrive at the track in a day or so, although
at present he has a quad and a trplet, his
full pacing outfit being three quads and q
triplet: Gibson rode seven mnes unpaced in
the afternoon and by tomorrow will be
working OUT behind his pacemakers.
Which will doubtless bring many people to
the track who like to watch the men in
stand and enjoy innumerable sprints with
out charge.
The announcement that a number of the
big pacing teams in the East have gone to
pieces, makes it certain that Martin will
bring a number of the best men back with
him in his race with Gibson.
There were many amusing events in con-
nection with the training of the telegraph
boys yesterday, and interest in the coming
race is at fever heat among the much be-
badged youngsters. Entries for the races
will close on Thursday morning, with AL
Reeves.
1t takes a courageous man to mention the
L. A. w. in this neck of the woods, but
Wallace Sherwood is the brave chap in the
present instance. He now proposes a
progressive" l.. A w. tour through a
dozen towns in the State The Weather
Bureau may squelch Mr.. Sherwood for tam
pering with the safety of the crops A
frost" would be a bad thing for the farm
erS just at present.