Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-22
OPENING THE SEASON
First Of Cycle Racing at the
Coliseum.
IMMENSE ATTENDANCE
MANY IMPROVEMENTS SINCE
LAST SEASON.
Contests Between Local Riders Es-
pecially Observation-Disclosures
Easily Defeated Fem.

The local cycle racing season was opened
last night at the popular Coliseum In
blaze of light and color, and heralded by
the enthusiastic shouts of one Of the larg-
| est crowds that has ever turned out to such
| an affair in this city. AS early as o'clock
| the lovers of cycle sport began selecting
| their favorite seats on both sides OF the
| splendid oval track, and an hour later every
| inch of seating and standing room was &C.
| cupied. The opening event had been well
| advertised, and among the regular attend
| ants at the sport were many who were wit
| Messing their first bicycle race behind mo-
| tors.
| The management has made many i'm
| provements over last season, the popular
| quarter 'bleacher' seats being a good
idea, as it takes the throng away from the
center of the track and gives the officials
and riders a better chance to work freely.
| Heretofore crowd gathered around the
| starting stand and a continuous yelling
| prevented the announcements from being
| heard. The bleacher seats are almost as
good as the higher-priced stand, with the
exception that they away from the
finish line. and this fact was quickly recog-
nized by the big crowd Additional boxes
have been put in back of the regular line
and every one was filled last night. Every
| thing passed off without a hitch, the police
service being excellent, and the attendants
|
and dispatch.
The races were interesting, especially the
| contests between the local riders, the chief
event being an easy win for the speedy
| Freeman.
The Ten-Mile Race.
Shortly after o'clock the stars of the
evening, Howard Freeman of Portland,
| Oregon. and w. s. Fem of New Haven.
Conn.,, made their appearance on the track
for warming-up and were greeted with
yells of approval and general handclappng.
The motors were sent out for short trial
spins and after a few minutes rest, the
| two men caught their motors and began
| jockeying for the start. After whirling
around the bowl several times, the starter
got them away in good order and the first
| heat of the ten-mile race was on. 1t was
seen at the start that Freeman was much
| the better man last night, as he darted to
| the front, picked up a lap and held this
position until the finish. In a race of this
sort there is everything in having good pace
| workers and the two motor men in front
of Freeman knew their business from every
| angle. They kept Freeman going at mer-
ry clip and not for a second did the clever
westefner slip back from his pace. On the
| other hand, Fenns PAGERS seemed to carry
| the little rider off his feet several times in
their endeavor to catch Freeman, and in
stacking up additional ground was lost.
| 1t is moot question whether there are
any pace followers in the country who
! could have beaten Freeman last night. He
|
and life. He was continually calling
his PAGERS for more speed, and In the fifth
| mile of the first heat they reeled off the dis
| lance in 1.26 %, breaking the track record
| by fifth of second.
| In the second heat Freeman did even
| better, from racing point of view he
| Tapped Fem twice, the beautiful spurts in
| passing being cheered to the echo. No rec
cords were broken, as Freeman had such
good lead over Fem at the start and all
he had to do was to trail his opponent and
civ Mic I, Il; "a
| was not necessary.
Half-Mile Novice.
The first event Of the evening was the
half-n1ile novice race, and it started off in
splendid shape, the contesting riders doing
their best all the way. AS result a very
close finish came about. and the spectators
rose to their feet in body to cheer the
| riders. The entries were A G. Prosperi R.
Shinn. j. P. M. Haas and J. Linthcum,
the first named winning by short length
| with the last named close second.
| Another interesting event was the mile
| open amateur race, all the crack riders of
the District being brought together The
| finishes were exceptionally good, every rider
| taking his turn at pacing, and as result
| there friction and the best work of
the different contestants was forthcoming
| w. N. Ward carried off the first heat with
| Miller second and Marshall third In the
| second heat, Johnny Hill won by a length.
| with Cogswell second, and the crack Wilson
| third. In the finals five riders faced the
| starter and a great contest resulted, the
| boys loafng on each other and jockeying
for position for the final squirt. The Off
Gals were quick to see the drift of affairs
| and putting time limit on the events two
of the final heats had to be run over. By
! the time the third final came up the riders
| were pretty well winded and every one de-
| cided to finish the matter up and as a
| result, Ward and Cogswell put up a great
battle in the last half lap and a dead heat
| resulted.
Ward Won Easily.
After short rest 1t was decided to settle
the contest with a half-mile squirt, and in
this event Ward won easily
George Leander, who rides at the Coli
scum next week, was an added attraction,
this clever rider going an exhibition mile in
an endeavor to lower the track record
Leander went along swimngly for a time
and it looked though he was getting
down to record figures but he lost his pa &c
1872 3-5.
Following are the summaries:
Novice, half mile-Won by A. G. Prosperi:
second, ]. Linthicum. Time LA.
Mile open. amateur-First heat won by w.
M NJ Ma1d . T%s L L, Miller; third D E.
Second heat won by J. Hill: second, Ray
Cogswell; third. E. L. Wilson. Time. go
Final heat, dead heat between w N.
Ward and Ray cogswell: third John Hill.
Time. pa 49,
Ten-mile heat race. motor paced-First
Ore. Time, 1898 As
Second heat and the race won by Howard
d freeman, Portland, Ore. Time. 1925.
ExniDiti @s,n mile. motor paced. by George
FRISCO GETS BIG FIGHT.
Jeffries-F itzsimmons Contest to Come