Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-10
READY FOR THE RACE
The Great Coliseum at Four
teenth and East Capitol.
INTEREST IN MAY 2lST
FREEMAN AND FENN's CONTEST
WILL BE DECISIVE.
Amateur Wheelmen Are Working
Hard to Be in Shape for Local
Competitions.

Wildly enthusiastic for racing honors are
the local amateurs since the announcement
OF the grand opening of the great Coliseum
cycle track at 18th and East Capitol streets
| northeast, which has been set down for
Wednesday night, May q. Riders who had
| decided to quit the hazardous game have
| begun to get their racers into shape and
have already started the preliminary grinds
by which they expect to fit themselves for
the contest which the local management
proposes putting on for their benefit during
the season now SO close at hand. Indeed,
1t looks as though Washington was to have
a record year in cycling, so intense is. the
interest manifested by the District anna
teurs.
Meetings of the several bicycle clubs have
been held and action taken looking toward
the backing of men who shall represent
them in the cards that will be put on at the
track this season. Every rider who can show
any speed and whose capabilities warrant
the expense and time is being urged to begin
framing at once. AS result Of this earn
estness and enthusiasm the disk at 14th
and East Capitol streets presents a lively
picture each day with the half hundred or
more riders speeding about it's surface.
Already the rivalry between the representa-
tlves of the various clubs in the field, which
is pound TO become intense as the season
progresses, has begun to crop out, even in
the brushes in which the men engage dur
ing the training sprints
The Admiring Fans.
And this spirit Of competition has infect
ed the many spectators who journey to the
track to watch the men work out, and
riders are urged into extending themselves
by the shouts and plaudits of the admiring
fans, all this fOr q
full season in cycle racing Washington has
ever experienced. People who were unable
to attend last seasons races have begun to
realize the great sport they overlooked and
show their early interest by their attend
ance at the preliminary work of the anna
tours. Fans of last season are anxious for
the opening meet, and in their desire to-
again watch the fast wheeling machines
an catch a spark of the fire that burns
within SO many thousands all over the
country simply can't resist the opportunity
afforded them by the local management
In throwing open the gates and permitting
training. Manager Osgood has been beset
by the public for seats for opening night al
ready, but has been compelled to tell all to
await the printing of the little cards, which
Will be on sale at Tappan's, on F street,
and at Stevens drug store, on the avenue
a 9th street, on Monday.
There is but the single conclusion to draw
from all this. 1t is that Washington will
of meets anything that has ever been at
tempted OH the cycle tracks of the District.
1t is to be the banner year if one may read
the signs Of the times correctly.
ALI in Readiness.
Everything is now in readiness for the
crack Of the gun, that will start the first
grind of the season. It remains only for
the management to turn on the lights and
open its gates to admit the, crowds OFF,
Gals for the meet have been selected. The
stars of the opening card have been signed
The entry blanks for the novice and anna
teur events await only the filling in. of
names and the assignment Of position and
handicap. Howard Freeman. the artist
cyclist" from Portland, Ore, and w. s.
Fem, the midget speed merchant from the
nutmeg state. will be here next week, where
they will finish their training over the local
saucer and famiiarize themselves with the
peculiarities Of the track. The whole man.
moth plant has been recently CARRIED in a
new dressing Of paint, and the main en-
trance. on 14th street has been sheeted with
galvanized tin and finished in gold and white
Hundreds Of incandescent lights will ra-
date above and around the doors at this
end. while all over and inside the immense
structure myriads of lights, equaling 10000
candle power. will make night day, adding
to the weirdness that somehow always at
taches itself to cycle racing in which the
mighty motor pacing ma chine Is an impor-
tant part.
The Track Made Safer.
The track itself has been the object Of the
closest scrutiny by the management 1t
has been all gone over from top to bottom
and rough places planed down, protruding
knots displaced, and anything that might
cause accident has been removed The
new bleacher seats, constructed Of finished
boards and panking, are all in position Ad-
ditional box seats to accommodate the
IA StidiOnS have hppO cd
are ready for occupancy. Immense wind
shields have been erected at exposed points
along the track. thus affording shelter from
wind both to the rider and spectator In
short. there has been left undone nothing
that could be desired or that would serve
the best accommodation of the enthusiast
or the rider who takes his life In his hand
every time he mounts his wheel.
Unless old J. Pluvius is too obdurate the
present arrangement of pulling off the
weekly meets on Wednesday night is a
guarantee that one race will be held every
week. The selection Of Wednesday night
was made with a view to allowing for wet
and stormy nights. Thursday night is gen
orally accepted as off night on the eastern
management for holding postponed meets
Only continued rain on the two succeeding
days will deprive Washington enthusiasts
Of witnessing a race at least once a week.
local track will be bound by their contracts
to ride here on Thursday night should it
rain on the regular date. Manager Osgood
proposes that the supporters Of the sport
shall get a full run for their money, and
interrupted races will be made good by the
issuance of rain checks at every meet good
at the next succeeding date.
Amateurs Encouraged
Local wheelmen who desire to make
themselves known to theiracing world have
found ready co-opefation from Manager Os-
good. Training quarters have been assigned
to the clubs at the track, and every induce
ment held out to them to get into their best
form. The list at the track already in
cludes most Of the stars Of former sea-
sons and several noyices who show likely
qualities. The Arlington Wheelmen have
the largest number. including the three
Miller boys Ray Cogswell, E. L. Wilson J.
O. Bardroff, w. N: Ward. Loeff1er and Al.
Thoran c. L. Miller has already begun to
show some of his oad-form sprint and gives
every promise Of being as fast, il not faster,
than ever. Wilson and cogswell are rapidly
rounding, into shape and expect to pull
down a large share OF 1the prizes at each
meet. .ahs[99
Other riders are TsgCP (1oodin0 of tba 80