Evening star., 1898-11-22
A Review of What Was Accomplished
on Local Tracks.
AMATEUR And PROFESSIONAL STATUS
More Events Than Ever Known in
Any Previous Years.
INTE RE STING BLES


for the season 80 far as the sport is locally
concerned, and a review Of the year shows
that it has been by far the best season
ever known in this city. 1t has been a
banner season in more than one respect,
and 1t is likely that next season will eclipse
it in every respect. So far as the number
of race meets are concerned no previous
year has ever known so many, and the
character of the racing has been high
above that of all other years, and the local
followers of the sport have had a chance
of seeing some of the crack riders Of the
country contest on their own course. While
the financial support given to the racing
this year was not all that it might have
been, yet for next season much better re-
suits are anticipated.
Briefly summarized there have been
seventeen meets held this year, including
national circuit dates, holiday meets and
the regular weekday races The opening
race was held May u, and the closing race
was practically October ), when the last
of the outlaw professional races was held.
This number of meets equals the total num-
ber for all of the previous years extending
back to 1890, It is claimed. During the
season the local amateur riders carried off
prizes amounting TO $1,251.50, while the
professionals. attached to this city, sue
ceeded in winning q. total of S193.50 This
makes a grand total of 81, ,057 won by the
local men, but it does not represent the
total value of the prizes offered The cir
cult meets held in this city bring out eX-
ira large prize lists, and most Of this
money, in fact all. is carried away by the
outside cracks, and does not enter into the
above figures. At careful estimate the
total value Of the prizes for amateurs and
the cash purses for professional riders Is
placed at nearly $500.
The Championships.
At the beginning of the year The Star
commenced the compilation of tables, show
ing the standing of each rider and the value
Of the prizes won by him. These tables
covered both the amateur and professional
classes. They were published from time
to time during the year. and were eagerly
read. AS the season is over the compilation
of the tables 10 date gives interesting mat
ter. For the amateurs Fred Schadc is
clearly entitled to the honor of champion
for all around riding. while for the pro-
fessionals the honor is carried off ty w.
Fred Sims. tSEs
While the championship for the District
Is held by c. ]. Mueller, it is for winning
the ene-mile race held June % at the Park
track, in competition with the other local
amateur cracks. Schade was barred from
this by reason of the fact that his home
is in Virginia, and that he holds the cham
pionship of that state, and also the cham
pionshp of the south While an amateu:
in the early part of the year he had every
thing practically hiscown way, and piled up
the score which heads the amateur table.
Despite the fact that he was in The bunch
of leading amateurs transferred to the pro-
fessional ranks early in July. no other local
amateur has succeeded in overtaking his
score. To him. is therefore entitled the
credit of all around champion. In this con-
nection it might be added tnat this is
Schade's last year on the track, and that he
will no longerhride around the oval for
cycle honors. , ;.
For the professional riders Sims has been
as far above. them all as Schade has been
above the amateurs. He took the cad early
in the season and has successfully held it
ever since, coming out at the close of the
racing season with the practical title o. all
around professional champion. He has
shown his ability to defeat any of the local
amateurs or professionals, AMI has also
established three worlds records on the
local track which bid fair to remain for
some time.
In the tables following the matter Of scor-
every first won; two points for every sec
ond, and one point for every third position
secured in race. No places lower than
third are counted. In the tables are count
ed the winners of novice races, tandem and
multicycle events, handicap and open races,
and even match races. Every race won by a
man is practically recorded and he Is given
credit Tor the performance. Since the lead
ers in the tables were thrown into the pro-
1esslonal ranks Hanger has been the only
amateur to make any considerable gain,
and he advanced from near the end OF the
table to fourth place Had more amateur
races been held ii is safe to predict Tat he
would nave come out at the top. Earring
ton Cogswell and Miller also made good
gains, as did Rhine. The other amateurs
seemed to be unable to do anything in
working their score upward.