The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-02-10
REPORT
Of Year For Racing
Board.
FACTS AND FIGURES
Chairman Mott Makes Many
Recommendations.

Baltimore, Nd, Feb. s.-The annual
report of Albert Mott, chairman of the
racing board of the L. A. W., is as fol-
lows: Sanctions were granted for 1899
race meets. There are 621 professionals
registered, and the records show that
over twenty thousand wheelmen en-
gagged in racing. either as professionals
or amateurs. With the exception of a
few of tho larger cities, bicycle racing
has been a financial success to both
promoters and racing men.
The classification of the racing men
as professionals or amateurs still gives
rise to the same conflict as had existed
since the amateur definition was first
incorporated in the constitution Many
amateurs, after they have been trans
ferred to the professional class, have
frankly admitted that they preferred
to be amateurs simply because they
could command larger revenue in the
amateur class than they could in the
professional. The records of the racing
board will show that in some cases their
preference is we'll founded. 1t has been
found that some amateurs were en-
ployed by manufacturers or dealers
subsidized by them directly or indi-
rectly, or that they were given certain
sums for winning positions in heats
and races, graduated in price with the
prominence OF the place, whether a.
first, second or third.
Many so-called amateurs who were
by false pretenses robbing actual anna
tours of prizes, were Investigated,
caught in the act and transferred to
the professional class. Other so-called
amateurs were without visible means
of support, going about the country
from race meet to race meet, travelling
in palace cars, putting up at only the
best class hotels, and were fitted out
with racing paraphernalia consisting of
wheels in wheel trunks, trainers, etc.
in the style usually adopted by the
most prosperous professionals, at the
expense only of some manufacturer.
Action usually causes friction with
the friends OF the men so transferred.
In some cases the friends, misunder-
standing the case and not knowing the
board record, become quite violent.
Many, sometimes including whole
clubs, of whom the transferred man is
a member and the racing hero, become
seriously offended. The usual method
is to demand of the board the names of
the informers and the evidence but 1t
has to be explained to these that to
comply with their requests would bloc
kade all channels of information for
ever thereafter, as the board has no
power to summon witnesses, or compel
evidence. This, in brief, is an outline
of some OF the amateur troubles.
The board is composed Of so few per-
sons, the territory it has in charge is
SO vast, and the work so enormous,
that full and complete explanation of
the facts upon which all its actions are
are based, would be almost absolutely
| impossible. Therefore, there is much
misunderstanding, much unjust criti-
eism which has to be borne in silence,
and worse than all, some falling off in
League membership on that account.
The gain to League membership due
to its racing department is by far
greater than the loss to it.
The registration of amateurs is even
more necessary in the work of the
board than for professionals They are
SO many and so widely scattered, so
many of them race under assumed
names and eyade the Handicapped. and
so many Of them in the same manner
| escape the consequence of repeatedly
entering as noYices after winning many
prizes, that it has become one of the
most common, unfair, and even repul
sive racing crimes. The only way to
establish the identity OF all these thou
sands of amateur racing men and cor
rect the evil, is to require them to reg
lister with the board.
There are nearly 5000 professionals
upon the records, but only 621 partici-
pated in racing last year. There was a
large falling off in the number of race
meets in the west, and there was no oc-
cupation for the thousands OF the 621
registered professionals, SO are under
suspension for participating in INSANE
toned races.
The last National Assembly in its
wisdom again refused to amend the
constitution so as to admit profession
ais to membership. 1t was but a re-
petition of the action of former assem-
blies, but the professionals had counted
strongly upon different result at st.
Louis, and in their disappointment be-
came very much embittered. Their
common complaint was that they had
been branded as unfit to associate
with members Of the L. A. w"
The national circuit of 1898 was one
in fact--the only one ever worthy the
name-where the professional national
championships were run and where
commensurate prizes were required.
Before forming the national circuit 1t
was Of universal understanding with
racing men and promoters-even so
much as in effect to amount to a con-
tract that if promoters assumed such
additional large expenses, the racing
men would follow the circuit. The rae
ing men were held to their part of the
contracts by the refusal of the board
to grant special permits to other pro-
motors to exceed the prize limit where
II would conflict with a national circuit
meet. an every case where u national
circuit meet was given the promoters.
faithfully performed their contracts
and promptly paid their prizes to the
men winning them. The men (be it
said to their credit made few attempts
10 get bonuses OF appearance money
peIore entering for these races, and
only once were they tempted to violate
their implied contracts, and this was
promptly checked.
The position Of the chairman should
De as approximately permanent as that
OF the secretary-that is practically to
be dependent upon good behavior-and
he should be required to have no other
occupation. The temporary character
OF the position is now such that he
must perform other duties or business
as a means of livelihood. He Is, there
fore, handicapped by plurality OF
business. and the wear and tear Of the
performance of dual duties will about
SAiieuSt the average man IN the space
OF two years. BY that time he has only
just become sufficiently educated to the
requirement. to do the best service
The members Of the board should be
numerous and should be composed OF
the handicappers throughout the coun-
try who have had experience as such.
These handicappers come in direct con-
tact with the racing men and promoters
and could speedily and easily be edu-
Gated to the dutiea n ,taa,nlarr L..
ing comparatively small territories ia
gunRrintendent thaN ca,lId a.i... u -.