The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-11-20
AGAINST TEN HORSES.
Joe Nelson VIII Pedal at Race Track
To-day.

Joe NelSOhl w race TRACK
To-day.
With the closing to-day of the six
day meeting of the Savannah Racing
Association, will come one of the most
exciting events ever offered those in
this city who enjoy clean and healthy
sport.
Joe Nelson of Newark, a lad of only
II years, will endeavor to ride a bicy-
Gle for ten miles faster than ten
spirited running horses that will re-
lay each other every mile. The Fly
ing School Boy is called upon to ride
every mile of ten faster than fresh
running horse of blooded stock. The
nut that he must crack to quit the
game to the good is a hard one, and
Nelson will find that he has a more
difficult job than he has anticipated.
The management of the association
expects the largest attendance of the
meeting, and it is thought that the
capacity of the grandstand win be
taxed. Nelson will reach Savannah
this morning over the Central, accom-
panied by his PAGER. Bennett, his mo-
tor cycle, the White Ghost, and Jack
Prince, the promoter. The men come
from Atlanta and Nelson will go to
the track and warm up Immediately
after breakfast. He. realizes that he
will have his hands full when he goes
in against the ponies, but intends to
bend every muscle in an effort to land
under the tape before the tenth
horse.
Some idea of the wonderful speed
of Nelson may be gained from his
mile made at Vailsburg back of sin
gle pace in 1:21 2-5. The fastest mile
back of single pace previous to this
ride had been just one second slower.
Howard Freeman made that mile
back of Walthour's celebrated motor
which the Southerner is still follow
ing, and upon which he depends to
hold for him the championship. Nell
son followed the White Ghost. He
made the mile on a threatening day,
when the air was heavy and damp,
naturally slowing the motor some
what. Bennett. his motor man, was
arrayed in as few clothes as he could
well wear, and in riding the motor.
did not sit up for protection, but laid
low down, thus robbing Nelson of that
protection considered so necessary to
success. Nor was this mile the lest
of which Nelson was capable, for the
first three-quarters of the fifth and
last mile of the ride was made in one
minute, or a gait of 1920.
In the last lap of the terrible mile
a competitors pace maker ran the
midget high up on the bank, and his
motor breaking through the boards
made a hole into which he ran and
nearly fell. The accident slowed him
six seconds and he finished the mile
in 1925, the five miles in 6:56, a. tie of
the world record then held jointly by
Freeman and Butler With the acct
dent Nelson lost the opportunity to
place the record at a mark not
reached by other pace followers.
Jack Prince watched Nelson through
the race at Vailsburg when he liter
ally rode Freeman, Butler and Maya
out of the contest in two straight
heats, and Prince termed it the great
est win of cycling history which COM
ing from a man of twenty years ex-
perience meant much. From this race
Nelson came on a thirty hour journey
to Savannah. and upon his arrival
without experience on the track rode
five miles in I'll. but one second
slower than the Coliseum paced track
record, a most meritorious perform
ance for rider just starting hard
road work and campaigning, a lad of
only II years of age.