The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-07-16
HAPPENINGS IN The WORLD OF SPORT

at the circus. The approaches to the
entrance were not lighted and the big
crowds had considerable difficulty in
finding their way to the ticket offices.
The grounds will be sprinkled for the
next meet and lights will be placed
at the entrances so that these annoying
details will not be encountered next
Thursday night.
The position of the racing men has
been gradually changing n a conJec-
ture as to the outcome of the seasons
racing and as to who Will be the pros
pective champions in the several
classes at the end of the season, can
now be reasonably INDUCED in.
J.. p. Gum leads h percentage ia
BILE of professionals and there is none
of the local men who cares to dispute
with him at the present time, his claim
to the short distance championship OF
the state. He has clearly proven his
superior sprinting ability in the last
few races n has shown a degree or
speed that has surprised his friends and
associates. Much of the credit for his
splendid work is due to the work of his
trainer, Mother Cushman. Cushman
took hold of Gum early in the season
and Gum has followed his trainers in
structions faithfully up to the present
time. 1t was expected early in the sea-
son that Emery would prove to be n
of the leaders, but he has not been in
the fight for short distance honors for
the past month and il is doubtful If he
will again be among the top notcherS
in the short events this season. Emery,
however. has proven himself TO be by
far the best slayer of any of the local
men in the middle distance game and
as that seems to be his forte he Will
probably look to long distance events
for his honorS and winnings. 1t is sell
dom that a racing man is good at both
short and middle distances and Emery's
ability lies in the latter direction.
The fight for the championship has
not yet closed, however, and it is pos
sible that Gum may yet meet his equal
or yer a rider who will be able to gain
decisive victories over him. Holger
Jensen has ridden but little this sea-
son and he is an unknown quality. His
unpaced mile record of 2:13 made at
Beck's track four years ago when he
was still a slip of a boy, and which
time still stands as amateur record
how that he has the stuff in hin and
he has finished up well in front in The
few events in which he has already rid
den his season.
Tod Game rode in very much i'm
proved form Thursday night and if he
shows the same degree of improvement
the next meet that he has over the last
races he will be a hard man for Gum
~ S0N SSbAS AAoo t-S Ao0
upon his ability to get into condition in
quick time, but the racing this season
is a game which means hard work for
those who would win and Game is be-
ginning TO appreciate the fact that to
win he will have to train hard and
faithfully.
Sharman is still the victim of I'M
fortunate circumstances He was riding
faster han any of the local men about
Decoration day, when a bad attack of
tonSilitis put him out of the race. He
had just about regained his old time
form when a bad spill on the Palace
track in his first race, laid him up with
a nasty leg and he is only now again
getting into shape. When in condition
there is no man more feared as a COM
petitor han Sharman and Gum says
he believes that Sharman, if he gets
into his best condition, is the most Ike
ly of all the men on the track to beat
him out.
The contest for amateur champion
ship honors is not so equally divided as
in the professional class. John Ensign
has not been once defeated in an open
event and there is no one at the present
time who shows any indications of be-
ing able to give him ven a hard race.
1t looked July 4 as though Meakin was
going to be able to turn the trick, but
he disappointed his admirers Thursday
night and Ensign reigned supreme.
Some aspiring amateur may come to
the front, but a champion to wrest the
title from Ensign does not seem to be
in sight at the present time. OF course
either Meakin or Samuelson may i'm
prove and wen HeagTen may with eX-
perience develop into a champion, but
Ensign himself is improving with each
race n keeping the rest at his rear
wheel.
The fight will be a good one and
means much for racing interests in this
city.
John Lawson, the Terrible Swede.'
seems to be in a class by himself. He
does little training. has no regular
trainer n his long "a trips on a
bicycle throughout the territory on
"Ole Olson business, are contrary to
the laid down rules of track racing
men. Still his riding is a nine days
wonder. and the faster the locals ride
the faster the Swede goes. Glenn Tur-
vile is a popular rider with the racing
men, and his splendid riding and fire.
quent wins of late are well merited. He
came here very much out of condition,
and had trained faithfully. and is be-
ginning to ride like the Turville Who
was a favorite with the Philadelphia
audiences a few years ago.
Oscar Julius, the champion of Swe-
den," does donkey work for the crowd,
and is one of the most obliging riders
on the track He is a long distance
man, and does not claim to be a sprin-
ter. but nevertheless manages to pick
up a prize occasionally, and his pacing
money is netting him considerable, and
he is consequently well pleased with
Salt Lake City. Julius is a gentlemanly
fellow. and all are pleased to see him
win.
The n. C. A. which bears the same
relation to eastern racing as does the
c. A. c. C. to Utah racing, is gaining
repeated victories over the L.. A. w. in
the east. st. Louis was advertised as
one of the cities loyal to the L. A. w,
and a two davs' l.. A. w. meet was
scheduled as part of the L. A. w. ma
L.. A. ". ace was advertised to be held
IN the St Louis track. and Nat and
Tom Butler. who. with Taylor, are
about all the stars left in the L. A. W.,
went to st. Louis to ride. The race was
on the percentage plan, and the Butler
boys Melted each a trif1e ove $40 for
their work n expenses. They were
disguised. and Nat Butler re-
marked hat he guessed the days of the
L. A. W. were numbered. The n. c. A.
authorities claim that the track has
given up the L.. A. w. dates, n will
turn owe to the n. C. A. the manage
of the national circuit dates next
Arthur Augustus Zimmerman, the
one-time champion of the world. was
defeated in several events at Asbury
Park, N. j., upon the occasion of his
on the racing track. He
was still the same old favorite, how