Evening star., 1898-07-23
LOCAL RACING CHAT

Despite all reports to the contrary it is
asserted by those who ought to know that
Griffin Halstead, the chief of pages in the
House of Representatives, will not ride
again in any more bicycle races. Halstead
is &. son of Murat Halstead, and his father
is said to be opposed to his returning to
the track. In fact, his father all along op-
posed his racing, but when the young man
was SC badly injured, the final decree came
and young Grif will stay off the boards in
the future. 1t will be remembered that
about July >, while in training at the park
track, Halstead was making an attempt to
lower the quarter-mile track record. Paced
by a triplet going at a fast rate an acci-
dent occurred on the turn. The crew of
the triplet swung out too far, crowding the
rider, and a collision occurred. The rider
was thrown with considerable force, his
head striking the railing at the tarn, the
rebound throwing him on the track and his
body sliding down the incline to the in
field. " hen picked up it found that
all of his front teeth We're broken his gums
cut, a long cash in his chin, his arms, legs
ana back severely lacerated and his whole
body more or less injured. He was brought
into town on an electric car and carried
to his home in a carriage. His condition
has improved considerably since then. He
had already signed as a member of the
Eclipse team, and was to be one of the
stars. He had been riding in such good
form hat a good deal of confidence was
placed IN his ability to win events. His re-
tireme. t from the track will be regretted
by all of his friends. At the time of the
accident some of his friends announced
that he would not retire, but they had no
authority to so state.
There has been SO much matter published
in the daily papers of late regarding mid
dle-distance races, sprint races and the like
that many people do not understand the
distinction. To some bicycle racing is all
whether m
miles While that may be SO, yet in the
cycling world there is a distinction made
which is easily understood. Long distance
racing Is generally supposed to be fifty
miles and over, though by some all over an
hour race is termed long distance Long
distance riding has no END and is simply
test of endurance. Under the head come the
century races, the twenty-four-hour con-
tests, the six-day races of all kinds, and
similar tests, more of endurance than skill
and ability at riding.
Middle-distance racing Is generally con-
sidered to be those distances between five
miles and the hour; that is, where men
may ride for hour in hopes of establish
ing a record. which up to date is a little
over thirty-three and half miles. By
some the middie-distance class is extended
clear up TO fifty miles. Middle-distance
races are generally paced affairs, and of
late have practically been match races,
though in England and Europe it is a COM
mon occurrence to start a midde-distance
race on the same lines that sprint race is
Sprint races are generally those races
running up to two miles, though some
times they reach up to five miles. They
are also termed short-distance races. The
character of races that have heretofore
been run in this city have been in the
sprint class. and it is only this season that
the midde-distance events have been start
ed, proving quite popular.
The Australian style of racing, termed
the pursuit race, which was run off Mon
Park Bicycle Club, proved 20 be an inter
esting event and q pleasing innovation. 1t
was a style of racing which the spectators
readily understood, and the interest III the
race was kept up clear to the finish. The
time of the race, 20 II. was quite fast consid-
ering the distance, meaning faster gait
than 230 for the mile. which was nothing
more nor less than an unpaced race. IT
race of the kind is held at the track there
will even be a larger attendance than at
the last meet.
Billie Sims the brother Of Fred, has at
last decided to ride in this city, and has
now become q member of the Eclipse
team. He reached this determination dur
ing the week and accepted the offer made
him. He signed a contract, which has
been submitted to Chairman Mott Of the
racing board of the League of American
Wheelmen. for approval, and he Is now
started in training with the rest of the
team. This makes a total of fifteen riders
on tho team, not counting Halstead. rep
resenting the pick of the local profession
ais.
The introduction of ladies' nights az the
weekly race meets at the Park track has
proved to be good step. The manage
ment is anxious to educate the general
public To appreciate bicycle races, and this
Is the surest way OF accomplishing this
The reduction in prices is also another
step In this direction. The fact that 500
people attended the meet Monday evening
speaks for itself, especially in view of the
fact that at the previous weekly race
meets 1t was a difficult matter to get over
900 people present.
Speaking Of hood0cs, the management Of
the Park track seem to think that :. Is a
bad case with them. 1t is generally re-
garded that when horse racing comes to 2
city rain Is sure to come. In view of pre-
Nious experience this season. the Same
came very near true regarding bicycle rae
II e. The meet held Monday Was scked-