Evening star., 1898-06-11
SOME CYCLE C. HAT

There Is a strong probability that before
the present season is over night racing will
be introduced in this city, and the public
will be given an opportunity to witness the
sreed of the men by electric light. The
Park Cycle Club is securing bids on the
matter. and some definite knowledge of
what is TO be done will be aseertained soon.
Last year night racing was brought up
but the plan fell through. owing to the
great cost of introducing the system. 1t
was then proposed to erect poles for arc
lights at different intervals around the
track. and also the ground 20 illuminate
the place. but owing to the large number
of lights that would be required the cost
precIuded the introduction.
This year it is contemplated to introduce
an innovation The projectors propose us
Ing several powerful search lights. placed
at different points, perhaps at the center
of the ba mixing The full force of the light
could be turned the tracks and the
bunch of racers kept in view all of the
time Two good search lights would un-
dOubted!y answer the purpose Ihe plan,
Ii is understood. has been introduced in one
or two other cities in the country and has
met with success Another reason which
will be incentive for introducing night
racing in this city lies in the fact that
racing after dark has been introduced in
Baltimore and the venture has proven to
be eminently successful Baltimore is even
d pOOfcT DlCSCIt Town IMAM w N.tSHlils Ion 81
far as patronizing race meets is concerned,
yet the Coliseum at that place. where night
racing has been introduced, has drawn an
audience of over 5000 people to single
meet-equal To the largest number of people
that have ever attended loca. meet in the
daytime in this city
The Park Cycle Club officials before in
stalling such system as described above,
Will hold preliminary trial to test the
advantages of the searchlghts for the pur-
pose. The event is expected to be held in
a very short time, and a number of local
racing men will be invited to ride several
times around the track to test the merits
of the new system. If the trial is deemed
successful night racing will be regularly
introduced.
The 1ong-looked-for match race between
A c. Moran of this city and w G. LIE
Compte of Baltimore is scheduled to take
place next Tuesday evening. and everybody
is looking forward to Il close and exciting
race. The event was originally scheduled
TO come off on May 30. but for some reason
Ii was postponed The distance will be for
twenty-five miles. and during the week both
contestants met and signed articles of
agreement governing the contest The
scene of the race will be on the Coliseum
track at Baltimore, the affair being part of
a night meet. While the local riders feel
confident of the ability of the local man to
win, Ii cannot be regarded a case of
walkaway for him LeCompte is riding in
excellent form, if reports be true. and in an
SXNlDltlOn EluS ne Is Sdlu 10 nave CUNeEcu
five miles in less than 10 minutes. the cor
rect time being Oh and a fraction. For ten
miles LeCOmpte covered the distance in
little slower time than did Counselman in
his ten-mie match race recently with B. T.
Wrenn. This only serves to show that his
condition is good. and that with good pac
ing. which he is quite likely to have. he
will give Moran a very close tussle for the
honor of winning the race.
In connection with the race ii is stated
that Chairman Mott of the league racing
board has been looking into the matter.
The chairman does not think that the rid
ers have been living within the bounds of
the league amateur rules, and accord
ingly is proceeding with investigation.
He Sc enGS inclined to the belief that the
men have not observed the rules strictly
while training for the event. He also in
fers that the prize is something larger
than that allowed by the rules for anna
teurs. or that the pacemakers may have
been paid to work for the occasion The
chairman Of the racing board. while not
specifying the MOran-LeCOmpte race ex
cluSiveiy. speaks of the recent twenty
four-hour race between Henry Smith and
Robert French. both of Baltimore, and ali
other amateur match events that are
scheduled to come off.
In his appearances in this city A. c.
Moran did not appear to be in the best
condition. The fact that ne did not secure
a single first in three race meets has been
taken as an indication that his condition
mistake. 1t is a wel-known fact that
since the beginning of the season he has
been training for his coming twenty-five
mile atch race After working hard for
that distance it is hardly any wonder that
he was not much good in shorter distances
With the other local amateurs, who have
trained and practiced entirely for sprint
races Perhaps the best indication of
Morans condition was his success Monday
at Winchester. Va. when he won al the
open events on the program, the half mile,
the mile and the two-mile open. Wilson
was his chief competitor and each time he
beat out his rival. leaving Wilson to take
second honors- This is the first time that
Moran has been able to finish at the head
of the bunch. Again at Baltimore he sue
ceeded Tuesday evening in winning the
One-mile Openfrom d good bunch, Griffin
Halstead getting second place. This clearly
shows that Moran is in some sort of con-
diticn. and he can be relied upon TO make
q good showing.
The local riders did extremely well at
two meets held the fore part of the week.
AT the opening meet on the Blue Ridge
track at Winchester Moran and Wilson
carried of the first and second prizes in
every open event. leaving the riders of that
vicinity but trifiing souvenirs OF the meet.
At the opening race of the Coliseum track
al baltimore Moran won the only amateur
event on the program, with Griffin Has cad
securing second A Baltimore rider got
third place In the only professional race
=
Sims won easily. with Billy Sims second
the time being 2-02 40. II seems as though
the new Baltimore track is quite fast
course
Now that match races among amateurs
seem 10 have taken u good hold on the
local racing public. a good deal of interest
Would be centered in a series of match
races between Schade. Moran Wilson and
CounSelman. for distances ranging from
ten to twenty-five miles. CounSelman has
SHOWN his excellent ability at following a
good pace a series of events. the first be-
tween Moran and Wilson. the second be
tween the winner of the race and Schade
and the third between the winner of the
second event and Lee Counselman would
undoubtedly arouse the greatest kind of
enthusiasm Schade might possibly not like
to go in middle distance race but Wilson
and Moran have both demonstrated their
ability TO some extent in this direction and
they with tounselman ought to be able to
do good riding 1t is not known if the
management Of the park has made any
steps in this direction. though il NAV he
considering the advisability of carrying out
such idea
One thing which las escaped the notice of
q good mary patrons is the failure to hold
the annual One-mile race for the District
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