The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-08-21

There was not more popular win at
Indianapolis than that of little Frank
hraemer in the amateur national cham
pionship. He had become a favorite early
in the week by his sportsmanIike riding
and almost unlimited sped and when he
carried off the honors of the year in the
amateur class by winning the mile race
the stands cheered him to the echo In
the East. where Kraemer is better known,
the greater satisfaction was expressed be-
cause of his success. He has not been
prominent as a star for more than a few
weeks, but in that time he has demon
strated that he is as speedy as any of his
competitors and what is more that with
experience he will soon be in a class to
himself. Kraemer began his racing career
last season, but did not manage to get
to the front. This season he started out
with better training and has gradually
but very rapidly placed himself at the
top of his class. He is one of the best
handicap riders in the country, as is
shown by his frequent winning of this
class of events. He never hesitates to
do his share of the pacemaking and for
that reason and for his fair riding is one
of the fayorites of the Eastern tracks.
He will be heard from in the future and
it may be that coming professional star
is in the legs of the little Newark boy.
The much dreaded, but long looked for
fakirs have arrived in the cycle racing
game, and from now on the public viii
do well TO look well toward the promoters
before putting up their hard-earned
money to see a cycle race. One man cam
not ride an honest race, 1t takes two,
and frequently it happens that one man
suffers for the misdeeds of another When
Michael and McDuffie met at Philadel-
phia, the managers of the former did an
inestimable damage to cycle racing, from
which it will take a long time to recover.
Deliberate violation of the terms of a
race are on par with a welcher in a
game of cards who, after giving his check
or note for a certain amount, declines to
pay ii. The contract called for fifteen
miles-all reports to the contrary being
inspired by the coterie of promoterS-and
with this knowledge the promoters. who.
We're, by the way, the same firm that pro-
NOTED the short track six day race. the
fake Yousouf wrestling matches and other
questionable sports, advertised the meet
ing as a twenty-five mile paced race, and
under this belief the thousands paid adj
mission to see the race. When it was
seen that they had been humbugged, and
that the race was only fifteen miles,
although advertised at twenty-five there
were such mutterings of discomfort as
babe fair to break forth with a fury
heretofore unknown in cycling circles.
McDuffie generously, consented to ride
twenty-five miles, which was the favorite
distance for Michael, but it was dis
tinctly understood by tbs referee and both
contestants that the pacemakers should
be limited to thirty-two. This was all
right until it was found that neither man
was able to get away from the other,
and then with a daring born of despera-
ton, Michael's managers sent out extra
men and won the race, showing decisively
that the scheme had been premeditated
and prearranged.
The referee, after the race, examined a
number of witnesses and one of the UNI
pires on the track testified that a member
of the coterie of race promoters. with
the above reputa ton, freely admitted his
breach of contract. Quite naturally the
referee gave the race tor McDuffie but
that does not end the matter by any
means. for they have both committed a
crime against the honesty of cycle racing.
and as culprits they should be punished
therefor Advertising that which they
have no reason to believe will be given
as a crime in itself against honesty and
against the racing rules as well. Using
more pacemakerS in a race than agreed
to between opponents constitutes another
| crime against craftsmanship. honesty and
racing Try to imagine a baseball team
using eighteen men against an opponent
with nine and we have a similar case
The trouble is these men who have
heen giving these races are nrofeSSional