Evening star., 1902-04-19
COL|SEUM'S OPENING
First Race, About May 81, to
Be a Banner Occasion.
MANY IMPROVEMENTS
ALL STAR RIDERS OF THE coUN-
TRY WILL BE HERE.
Amateurs to Be Well Cared for-Friday
Nights Will Probably Be Specials
in This City.

Inc COllSeum bicycle track, 18th and East
Capitol streets, will open on or about May
81. This statement was made today by
Manager Whitman Osgood of the Coliseum,
and it is his intention to open the racing
season in this city with night meet on
that date 1t will be a banner occasion
when the track opens and the scenes which
will be presented this season promise to be
most startling and sensational, and such
as nave never before been presented in this
city. The racing last season was pro-
nounced to be rather sensational, but with
the track in better and faster condition
records and scenes which took place on the
boards last year will be eclipsed in every
way.
The local track will be one of the first to
open its season of racing and will be fol-
lowed week later by the opening of a sim
liar track at Pittsburg
All the Stars to Be Here.
On the occasion OF the opening night
Manager Osgeod stated that he intends to
have all of the star riders which can be
obtained at that time at the opening race
meet and an excellent program Of events is
promised. This meet he said, will be fol-
lowed by big night meet on decoration
day and then the season will be fairly in
Surated in Washington.
After the race meet today in Boston Al
bert Champion will return to this city and
VIII continue to reel off miles behind his
motor machine in order to keen m his
speedy qualities for the remainder of the
season. He is at the present time riding I'm
fine form, but as the season is a little
early to Judge the riders he is predicted TO
make things hum on all of the eastern
tracks where he appears this season. Nc
Farland, Hall and Julien will also go into
camp shortly at the track. and the other
professional riders will soon commence to
put IN their appearance preparatory to the
seasons work.
Manager Osgood informed a representa-
tive of The Star today that the work on
the bleachers is progressing and will be
pushed as rapidly as possible in order to be
ready on the opening night. The seats will
afford ample room for every body and every
attention will be given to their comfort and
welfare while witnessing the races 1t is
Mr.. Osgoods intention to organize box
parties and make them feature The tun-
mel which connects the center field with the
racing rooms has been widened and well
lighted for the riders in passing beneath
the board track previous to going on the
track. The entrance to the track will be
kept clear at all times, and no one will he
permitted to enter the infield during the
races.
The Improvements in View.
The contract for painting the entire Coli
scum inside and out has been let by Man
ager Osgood, and the work of the painters
VIII shortly begin. The exterior will be
painted white and gold, with aluminium
caps to the twelve pillars at the main en-
trance. while from the highest points at
short intervals surrounding the entire Coli
scum will be banners. streamers. flags.
&c, floating. The front will be brilliantly
illuminated with incandescent lights and a
long line of lights will surmount the entire
n In, itS E-at
spectacle similar to that presented bv tba
summer resorts on Long Island The con-
tract for the lights has been awarded TO the
kltson Hydro Carbon Lighting Company.
and similar system to that now in use ar
the Worcester. Mass, track will he in
stalled at the local track. The track will
be better lighted than any track in Ameri
ca over 10000 candle power being used to
give the proper effect at night $1,000 being
devoted to the track and the remaining
candle power being used for lighting the
rest or the grounds and the exterior of the
building. W
The erection of wind shields will he a,-
otner feature to be introduced at the track
They will be erected at the exposed narts
OF the track, where it is not shielded by the
grand stands and the new stands which
Will be erected on the north side of rbe
track Every protection will be given those
VINO participate In the races. and every
thing VIII be done to encourage fast time
The police arrangements will be greatly
enlarged at the expense of the manag, ueuf
and to this end additional special police viii
be on the grounds at all times to preserve
perfect order. Major Sylvester has prom
lsed to give additional facilities
The police pursuit races which were SO
popular will be given again and several
features will be introduced The ten-;nile
medal awarded by the American Bicycle
Company has been received and has been
presented to Officer c. l.. Plemmons of the
bicycle squad of the first precinct who es-
tablished a record for that distance AT the
track last season. The medal is valued ar
$40. Similar medals from the same COM
pany for one, two and five miles were pre-
sented recently to Clarence Miller and
Johnny Hill, the holders of these records 4
Looking Out for the Amateurs.
In speaking of the amateurs Manager Os-
good said that they would be we'll taken
care of and that Messino, Wilson. Cogs-
well, Rhine, Miller and several other riders
had already begun training and that the /,
field would be materially Increased within |
the next few days. He believed that this
would be a racing year. and that the larg-
est field of riders ever brought together