The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-06-01
BIG CROWD At
SAUCER TRACK
Bicycle Racing Season Opens
With Large Field OF
Pedal PuSherS.

Before a crowd of 1000 cycling fans,
with a night perfect for both riders and
spectators, the summer bicycle racing
season opened at the Salt Palace last
evening. The new track and greatly i'm
proved lighting system presented a far
more beautiful picture than the famous
race course ever has in the past, and on
all sides compliments were heard on the
prospects Of the game this year. II was
an evening without sensation of any kind,
and the program passed off like well
oiled machinery. The same band played
its popular airs, and the same old Off
Gals went about their work, learned dur
ing years Of experience, in manner that
cannot be equaled on any other race track
in the world.
1t is not the same old bunch of riders,
however, and the Wisest fans in the city
were at loss last evening to name the
winners While many OF the old faces
appeared, there are many new ones, and
one has to be a good guesser to tell who
VIII win the races. In the professional
class, as well as in the amateur divi-
sion. there are at least a dozen men who
at the present time have a license to
win, and il will take some weeks to de
VeiOp a star, II such a thing Is possible
during the season. As Il IS now, the
public will never know who IS the win
ner when the race starts. as it has many
times in the past and for this reason II
is believed the game VIII be even more
popular than ever,
Gardner Handicap a Feature.
The J. P. Gardner handicap. in which
800 was hung up for first money, was
the feature event Of the evening. Erne
Pye and liver Lawson on past form were
put at scratch. but the winner developed
in Walker, riding from the 2-yaTd mark,
while SamuelsOn showed a flash Of his
old speed and took second money from
% yards. 1t was one bicycle race from
start to finish, and the 81 lap hung up
at the end of each mile did not permit OF
any lOafirg. Four laps to go, 1t looked
as though Whiskers DevOnivich was pull
ing the winner in Young Crebs, but the
speedy Salt Lake boy was unable to de
liver the sprint when a sprint meant VIC
tory. Instead. Walker jumped from a
protected position. with Samuelson on his
wheel, and this pair fought 1t out TO the
tape, the field well up. with Pye coming
in third and Palmer fourth
The time, 1888 2-5. showed remarkable
speed for this early in the season. and
goes TO prove that the track is faster than
ever since it has been rebuilt
Crebs Springs SURPRISE.
In the haIf-mile open. after three heats
in which a winner was a problem, young
Crebs surprised the bunch by winning in
a hair finish over SamuelsOn. Sammy
was pulled over by Iver Lawson and
turned loose after Crebs, who jumped the
bunch two laps to go. Samuelson made
a great ride and by many 1t was thought
he had nosed out Crebs at the tape, but
the judges placed the youngster in first
position by the narrOWest margin.
Twenty amateurs lined up in the two
simOn-pure events. It was one or the
largest fields that ever started at the
saucer track, and incidentally the anna
tours put up a great fight in the mile
handicap. The back markers did not
get up until sprinting time arrived. Phil
Wright worked his way TO the lead from
Q oh IN ? a nal nah Al noe
enough to carry him over the tape, with
Brodbeck fighting him every inch of the
way.
ed again, and Wright again won. With
five laps TO 90. Mccormack started with
Mayer on, and for a few kicks Of the ped
ais It looked as though the combination
would land first money. Just then Jack
| Hume and Wright came up with a rush
and jumped into the lead. Wright best
| ing Hume out at the tape.
New Rider Developed.
A new bicycle rider was made last night.
| His name is A Rodberg, and he won the
novice race He gets a gold medal and
/ from now on viii be known as a full
| fledged bike rider. with the right to kick
at the decisions Of the officials.
The meet ended with a match motor
| race between T. N. Samueison and Whit
tier Whittier had the same old wOb-
| bier, but has had a new motor placed
on the machine, and II proved TOO IaSt
| for SamuelsOn last night. Whittier win
ming in the fast time of sos. although 1t
was announced as SOS by mistake The
motor race showed the effects Of the
| change in the banking, the machines TAX
| ing and leaving the stretches without the
| jump so plainly noticed before.
The summary;
Mile nOvice-A. ROdberg won. Time,
/ z:11 LIS.
| Mile handicap. amateur-Phn Wright
/ (scratch); BrOdbeck go YARDS; Mayer
/ tscratch). Time, 1:5S Is.
l. Half-mile open. pTOfesSiOnal-flna
/ Crebs. Samuelson, Wilcox, Palmer. Time,
/ l :01 2-5.
/ FIve-mile lap, amateur-Wright, Hume
/ Mayer. Thomas. Time, 1927
Two-mile lap, handicap, professional; ].
P. Gardner handicap-Walker, 20 yards;
| Ssmuelson, A. yards; Pye, scratch; Sen
/ house, 20 yards; Palmer, 50 yards. Time,
/ 1888 2-5.
| Five-mile motor match-Whittler beat
! T. M SamuelsOn. Time, OBS Is.