The times., 1899-05-21
TIE CYCLE RACING
season PROSPECTS
Two Bodies Warning for Con-
troll of the Sport.
Promoters and Track Owners Slow
to Take Sides.
Introduction of the Motor Cycle Pace
increases the Number
of Riders.

In spite of the present state of cycle
racing affairs, with two great bodies war
ring for the control of the sport, there
never has been season which promised
as much real sport and as keen competi-
! tion as does the cycle racing season of
1899 This interest is already alive, and is
| being manifested in a number of ways.
Meets are being scheduled all over the
! country, racing men are entering into
! training with zest and confidence in the
outcome of the present trouble. new race
| promoting associations are being formed,
| new tracks are being constructed in a
number of cities hitherto uninterested in
the cycle racing game, some abandoned
| tracks are being reCpened, old timers are
again taking lively interest in the port,
| and the Two organizations which control
the sport are each finding difficulty in
J securing places for the numerous meets
scheduled on their respective circuits.
Larger purses are being offered, more
teams are being employed than last year,
in the face of dire predictions, and facing
| in general is to be confined to more
limited area than formerly. guaranteeing
| larger following.
The Introduction CT motor cycle pace
! for middle distance races places in the
| field many good riders who Will make a
| good showing at that class G: the sport,
| and at the same time clears the way for
| a number of riders formerly employed on
/ the large pacing teams who VIII now fol-
low the circuit. The circuit party will be
! increased, owing to q determination on
! the part of the promoters to bring about
a more equal division cf the money through
/ the introduction of class races and of
| handicaps. in which large purses viii be
! offered The sweepstakes contest viii be
! popular and as every CLINT is always
ready ito take a chance" these races
with large entry fees viii prove attractive
alike to the riders and the public. Meet
promoters will take greatly increased in
| terest in sprint races, and viii boom that
! class OF sport the coming season. Last
| year they were disposed to place ell their
reliance in the middle distance as a money
| maker. That money was almost always
| lost on the middle distance events and
generally realized on sprint matches last
! year is a wellknown and acknowledged
fact.
i Unless the inside facts are known the
/ indications for the coming season hardly
| appear as roseate as admirers Of the sport
would like. Perhaps the total appliea-
! tons fer meets on the big circuits Of the
two organizatiCns would not number as
many at the present time as had been re-
ceived at this time last year for the ma
| tional circuit OF the League of American
! Wheelmen. This is explained, however,
| by the waiting tactics OF many promoters
| who are watching carefully the outcome u
the battle for control and who viii finally
make application to that body which has
the greatest strength and the largest fol-
lowing of racing men. 40 track owner or
| race meet promoter is anxious to place
| poor attractions before his patrons On
| the contrary. every track owner or pro
moter is anxious TO secure the star riders
for attractions. and at the present time
these may be secured in only one wa, and
that is through a membership in the Ma
tional Cycling Association or by app!ica-
| tion for sanction TO that body.
The racing men Of America. with almost
unanimous accord believe that prosperity
and ample remuneration .or their work
| lies upon the side Of the new body, the or
| ganization of which they brought about
by their action at Trenton last summer.
| The Canadian association summed the SIT
uation up when il said that seven Laen
! comprised the real strength Of the L. A..
| W forces, and that all the Test belonged
to the opposition.
One of the seven has said that his re-
ported return was myth Nat Butler
says that he was offered the opportunity
| to train on the Charles River Park track,
provided he would agree TO pay his fine
in the first L. a. ". race in which ne
competed. Butler is open to u. c. A.
races in the middle distance class
Meanwhile the race nee; promoters are
awaiting the final outcome of the action
i,,f,l l,gt ~ff .
| nent track owners and promoters have
not applied to either body Cor sanctions.
| but have opened their tracks 10 all riders
| and are preparing for an active season. The
manner in which the racing men banded
| together and held together, rather sup
prised the promoters. and the doubting
ones are anXiously awaiting for the break
which the racing men say Will never come
| When the acticn CT McDuffee and a few
others did not disturb the equanmlty of
the outlaws" a great amount of conf
dence in the y. c. a. was instilled into
| several Of the doubters. VINO quickly al
| lied themselves with the so-called out
law organization.
In whatever way the racing tangle is
| finally settled prosperity is promised. The
| L. A. W. has been taught lesson, and
now realizes the value Of the sport as an
adjunct to the big organization. Should ii
regain the control of racing every effort
will be made to please the public, and the
racing men will be made to prove the
virtue of the fight. which is admittedly one
for the good Of the sport Should the n.
C. A. obtain complete control, which is not
at all likely this year there is assured the
| finest sport possible run On business-like
basis, in order that it may he shown that
the best interests centred in the fight for
control. AS it is, beth sides viii cCatinue
to wage warfare during the entire season
of 1899, and in this very opposition the
| sport viii thrive as il never thrived before
Neither organization will dare drop be-
hind as a race promoting association.
When the battle of the dollars starts
sentiment will cut little figure. The out
laws" will naturally return to the l.. A.
| w. providing their own side does not hold
| its own as money maker. The l.. A. w
riders not blackiisted by the " c. A. Will
watch the opposition with interest. and
will jump the dividing line once the as
! surance is given OF greater profits on the
other side.
| 1t is this feature as much as any other
that promises most for the success of the
coming season, and which guarantees to
| the followers of racing much profit through
the enlargement of purses, the doubling
up of the circuits and the division OF the
money between an increased number Of
men, followers of both sides.