Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-01-23

when the Percival home trainer ma
chimes were used at the 'Big Four's''
race meet in Mechanics Hail. But down
in New Bedford, the people there are in
door-racing mad. A new track has been
constructed in the rink that is also used
by the roller skating polo team, and
there every week an indoor meet is held.
The track is Is laps to the mile, CON
siderably smaller than was the old Wor-
cester rink track and so tumbles are
frequent. But all this adds to the ex-
cltement and people fairly flock to the
races. The average attendance is
about 1900, and il the association does
not have 1900 persons at a meet, it is
disappointed. The races have been in
progress for several weeks and interest
seems to increase rather than to abate.
That old, old story of rival to the
League of American Wheelmen in the
department of racing is going the
rounds again. Ever since the league as
sumed control of track work, stories
have emanated, first from one source
and then from another, to the effect
that some new organization or syndicate
is to wrest the power over the racing
interests of the country from the l. A.
w. No organization of private indivi-
duals has ever been found clever enough
to beat down the influence and prestige
of the league in its years Of domination,
nor is it likely that one can be success
fully started so long as the L. A. w.
showns any tendency to preside over the
destinies of the sport. AS usual, this
talk of new controlling power comes
largely from persons or places with
grievances.
But leaving aside the question Of who
is to control it, cycle racing itself has
seemed to weather the hard times in
very good shape in the east and bids
fair to be as great sport as ever in the
coming season. The same cannot be said
of the west. New York is seemingly the
center of activity on this line the COM
ing year. and the number of tracks that
are being projected in that vicinity is
surprising. The sport has been brought
down to a strictly business basis, as
might be expected after the years of
professionalizing it has undergone. 1t is
no longer the club era in racing, but the
era of race-promoters and managers.
What has become of the movement,
of which something was heard last fall,
of building cycle track in this city?
1t is too good a scheme to sink into OBJ
liVion for lack of the necessary push to
make it a success. Worcester, with its
boasted love for everything in the way
of sport that is clean, is pretty badly
off in the matter of grounds. There is
no really good public base ball park and
the same is true of a cycle course. There
Is the half-mile horse track at the fair
grounds-as good a track of it's kind as
any in the country-but in these days of
improvements the big riders of the
country cannot be induced to enter at
ntcs h61 an nfh
The first question one encounters when
attempting to secure entries for a local
meet is: "What kind of track have
you got?'' and when the answer comes,
nine riders out of ten decide they will
not enter.
Worcester in the past three or four
years has turned out some mighty good
men But it has not been over the local
track that they have sprung into prom
inence. To be in the swim, bicycly-speak-
ing, city must have a cycle track. That
is what Worcester lacks; and what Wor-
cester wants and ought to have. The
presence of banked track here would
add greatly to the quality as well as to
the quantity Of the entries received and
would increase local interest, which is
now really surprising, considering the
conditions that have existed. The man
track and conducts six or eight good
meets during the season is sure of quit
ting way ahead of the game.
Never in the history of the cycle busi-
ness has there been such an uncertainty
among the dealers in regard to the
trade. Those who have not failed OF
been compelled to retire can be depend
ed upon not to do any wildcat business
! 41,;- FOL cid Of be
trade has been losing its ground, and
this coming season, wheels will eel
nearer their honest value than hereto
fore. The public will be but slightly
influenced by records, etc, made upor
certain makes of wheels, and, in conse-
quence, the manufacturers will not cut
50 large a figure in cycle racing as for
merly. The public will purchase a
wheel, much as they would any other
article OF merchandise. The standard
of value will be actual merit rather than
enforced and temporary popularity
With the price of wheels nearly halved
it will be interesting to see how much
a man who paid $100 for a wheel a year
ago, is going to be allowed in trade this
spring. He surely will not get $50, nor
$50, nor S40 as he did year ago.
Jimmy Michael evidently does not in
tend to live up to his assertion, made
SO stoutly all last season, that 1897 was
to be his last season upon the track. He
is now in Chicago and is going to give
up his idea of an European trip. In
stead, he will very likely go down to
Florida and there join the other cycle
racing men. Michael does not intend
to resume actual racing, however, until
March or April, when he will be called
upon to meet Tom Linton, Chase, Tay-
lor and several of the American crack
middle-distance men. In q recent news
paper interview, he expressed the opin-
ion that Taylore was undoubtedly the
best man he had ever met.
Arthur Chase, the English middle-dis-
tance champion, was naturally much
disappointed at not being able to sign
to remain in this country next season
He is of a surly disposition, and, owing
to his failure, he intended, when sailing
to give America a black eye with any
| and all riders intending to come tc
America. Rivierre, by his winnings
upon his return to France, did much
harm to prospective invaders, and Chase
may complete the work in England
That is, of course, provhling the mer
| who intended coming over will believe
these riders who, failing to meet with
| success against our own men, thanked
providence that they were out from un.
| der the Stars and Stripes, These for.
| eign sportsmen seem inclined to show
the white feather most of them.
MR. KNIGHT a MEWREP