The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-10
NATIONAL MEET RACES.
Novelties Being Considered--No Pro-
rramme Yet.


One of the most important of all the COM
mittees which have in hand the success OF
the l.. A. w. meet to be held in this city
next August is the committee of which Her
bert w. Foltz is chairman--the race COM
mittee. The work of the committee is in
good hands, and the big meet of Indianapo-
lis will doubtless have a programme Of rae
ing that will make the affair a memorable
one. Interest in the programme is being
manifested in all parts of the United
States. 1t is so great that an enterprising
newspaper reporter in New York published
the official programme in full several
weeks ago, before it was known to the race
committee. The chairman of the committee
sought to profit by the knowledge of other
experienced men in cycling affairs, and adj
dressed letters. to number of them asking
for suggestions as to the programme. 1t
happened that most of his correspondents
sent sample programmes, and one of these
fell into the hands of the New York re-
porter. Either by ignorance or by design
he published it as the official programme,
and, unfortunately, it was copied by num-
Der of other newspapers.
The official programme has not yet been
made up and will not be until the race COM
mittee has studied the matter until the last
moment it will be allowed. The time has
come when it is no small matter to prepare
a programme of races which will prove at
tractive to the American public. A handi-
cap or two and a few open events are no
longer enough to draw the people. They
have seen these things until only the best
in their classes of riders in competition
would prove attractive The time has come
when something new must be offered.
A style of racing that is coming into great
popularity is the pursuit race. This style
has never been seen here unless that race
between two women at Tomlinson Hall is
considered. The Australian pursuit race
would be an attraction to any crowd of
people. Eight men are placed at equal dis
tances apart around the track, and all are
started at once at the snap. of a pistol, and
each man attempts to catch the riders be-
fore him. When a man is overtaken he
drops out of the race. This continues until
there are only two left and then the one
who overtakes the other is the winner of
the race. This style of race causes the rid
ers to exert every bit of strength from the
start and is wildly exciting to the specta-
tors. Sometimes a distance limit of five or
ten miles is placed on the race In this case
the limit of distance has been ridden, the
one showing the largest gain is the win
ner. 1t rarely happens that more than two
riders are left in pursuit race with
limit as much as five miles Team pursuit
races are also in favor. There may be two
or more teams, the members of each OF
which start together.
The middle distance race is another which
promises to take prominent part in cycle
races tHlS season. Inc people OF Ene East
have had a taste of it, 1t Is race for a
distance of from fifteen to thirty miles
and is generally run behind big pacing ma
chimes. The big events of the kind have so
for been won by Jimmy. Michael, and, on
account of their one-sidedness, there has
not been the sport in them that is possible.
But the possibilities have been seen. and
with worthy competition this style of rae
ing will be in demand, A number of new
riders have entered the middle-distance
field The arrival in this country of Henry
Cissac and Tom Linton, two middle-dis-
lance paced cracks, has made 1t possible
for Michael to lose his "cinch" on this
class of races. A number of well-known
distance events. 1t is certain that none
but the best men in the business can
stay in this class Of races
long. for It is very expensive. A
pacemakers They must be good men them
selves and must be well paid 1T is esti-
mated that middle distance man cannot
follow a circuit at less expense than from
$500 to $500 q week. To stand this he must
win an occasional race or he will find him.
self without profit at the end of the season
He would hardly be in the field at the end
or q very long season, however, anG the
public would be relieved Of the chance OF
having to witness a race of poor men. BY
the time of the national meet the Scrubs
will all be out, of the business and any mid
die distance events that are scheduled for
tested for by only the best material in the
country. 1t is likely that the night races
will be devoted 10 this class.
These are two of the leading novelties
which will be seen at the national meet,
and it is likely that the race committee will
discover or invent something else that will
go TO mark the indianapolis meet 9s original
in its race programme. Mr.. Foltz has re-
grammes each of which offers some good
suggestion III the way of novelties.