Evening star., 1898-04-30
S % ME CYCLE CT AT

the course at the International Athletic
track is being pushed as rapidly as possi-
BILE. 1t was hoped to have the entire new
| track completed by the first of next month,
but 1t now begins to look as though the
matter will be delayed, possibly a week
longer. This is not due to any miscalcula-
| ton in the work at the beginning, but is
caused entirely by the bad weather since
the work of laying the boards was COM
menced. The large number of rainy days
have necessarily retarded the progress of
the work, and as a result it will take that
much longer to complete the course
The new track, which is now pretty
nearly completed, has been inspected by
nearly all of the racing men of the city,
who quickly see it's good points. While the
board track will not be as large as the
former dirt track, the difference in width
being noticeable at a hasty glance. yet it is
plenty wide enough for racing purposes.
The frame work of the new track for the
third of asmile has been completed and
most of the flooring laid, but good deal
of work yet remains outside of this in the
way of finishing up the labor. In order to
Keep the exact distance of the old course,
the new track closely follows the old pole,
leaving all the additional space on the out
side edge. This space will be fixed up and
leveled> off, especially at the turns, to keep
the riders from going off when rounding
the curves This is done for safety sake.
A spill at a race meet spotls the pleasure of
q e,ooo iASAS SpeCtdtoTS, lnOuSE II HluSt Uc
admitted that there are many persons in an
ordinary audience, some belonging to the
fair sex, who like to see spill, never once
thinking of the danger to the contestants.
1t now begins to look as though this city
Will not have national circuit meet this
year. At least that is the Indication, judg-
ing by the list of sanctions for such already
granted by the chairman of the racing
board If this be the case the local public
Will have to be satisfied with the two grand
circuit dates. one of which will be run off
in June and the other in October. At the
beginning of the present season Chairman
Mott assigned two national circuit dates
for this city. both being given in the name
OF the District of Columbia division of the
League of American Wheelmen. The first
OF these meets was scheduled to come off
some time about the middle of next month.
That there has been no acceptance of these
dates is shown by the fact that they were
not included in the list published a few
days ago by Chairman Mott, which as
signed only the two grand circuit dates to
this city. AS the time set for announcing
the acceptance of the original dates has ex-
pred, 1t is likely now that any other date
may be assigned in case it is desired to
have at least one national circuit event in
this city this season.
The dual meet which was to have been
held May at Georgetown University field
between the local university and the Uni
yersity of Pennsylvania has been declared
off, despite the fact that tickets of adms-
SlOii Iiiu DeSH pIllttu d lull set OF OHlCla'S
secured and a regular program made up.
This will mean that the two bicycle races,
which have been eagerly looked for, and
which would bring out the three leading
amateurs of the city for the first time this
year in competition event. will not be
run off. The cause of the cancellation of
the date is said to be due to the fact that
in the other athletic events Georgetown
University would be represented only by q
limited number. scarcely a corporaTs guard
Though earlier in the season many of the
students started In to train for entering the
dual meet the number gradually diminish
ed until not enough was left to justify the
Nolding of the meet, and hence the action.
last Saturday at the ninth annual handicap
games of the Princeton University Track
Athletic Association. held at Princeton, N.
j. He entered the only bicycle event on
the program, the one-mile handicap. Fred
Schade was also an entrant, the latter be-
Ing on the ten-yard mark, and the former
having thirty yards. Only one man was on
the scratch. and he was Princeton man.
having fourteen other riders ahead of him.
At the start the local boys began to over
haul the field. and in this they were sue
cessful. Schades chain jumped on the sec
ond lap. throwing him out of the race. but
Moran kept on He gained the lead and
held it for the last half mile, making all
of the pace, and winning in good style. The
time was 2.19. He represented Georgetown
University in the meet. pti..
Oh ldT tHlS season little mas Deen nearQ
of the local professional riders, but they
are to be heard from later in the season.
Ball, Mudd and Throop are keeping quiet
but in the meantime they getting into
condition. Mudd is after somebody's scalp.
Recertly he was a visitor to the club of
the Levant Wheelnen, and while there
match race was proposed between himself
and member Of the club. Capitol Hill was
selected as the course and Mudd lost.
statement was published under the club
notes at the time, no names being given.
Mudd has since come out with a challenge
to race any member of the Levant Wheel
men for any distance, and for any amount.
He is in earnest about the matter but so
far as known his challenge has not been
accepted.
John J. Nelms, the Petersburg Va, cy-
clist. who was discovered last year by
Schade. and brought to this city has an
nounced that he has retired from the cycle
track. Ill health is the grounds upon
which such an action Is based. Nelms held
the title Of champion of his city. and in his
appearance in this city rode several good
races, though. so far as known, he. was
only able to capture one event. and that
handicap affair. A few weeks ago the
management Of the International Athletic
Park wrote him letter asking him to
enter the meet which is scheduled for May
II at the park. The Petersburg boy de-
clned to accept the invitation. and an
nounced his retirement from racing.
Henry Smith. the Baltimore long-dis-
tance rider. was to have made an attempt
last Sunday to lower the American twenty
four-hour record, but the weather inter-
fered with the attempt, and a postpone
ment was made necessary. 1t is likely that
the attempt will be made tomorrow II the
weather should prove favorable. Smith
broke the American twenty four-hour road
record about year ago, riding 314 miles
within twentyfour hours. He accomplish
ed the feat easily that it was thought
he could have done much better had he
tried. He was single-paced most of the
distance. few months afterward Elmer
Davis succeeded in adding two more miles
to the record, and there it has remained
ever since. Teddy" Edwards, the crack
century rider. claims to have ridden $50
miles within the twenty-four hours. but
his claim for the record was not allowed.
1t Is thought that Henry Smith will put the
record near that figure this time