Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-05-25

When II came MacFarland's turn to
relate the big thrill. the old gentleman
had, to stop and think before he could
decide which of the many exciting
moments that have marked his career
was the most exciting. lie finally de-
cided that the real tense was
In the running of the $4,000 race at
Sydney. Australia, in 1904. The race
Is known as the "Sydne. Thousand
and there was more money hung up for
this event at this time than any other
event in cycle racing.
Mcfarland and Major Taylor had
qualified for the NAL and were the only
scratch men. There was a big field
strung out for $50 yards and the dis
lance Of the. race was one mile.
Mac" knew that Taylor would not
set hts share of the pace to catch the
long-marke.s. and if Mac" went out
and caught them the colored boy would
surely sleigh-ride and beat him at the
finish. So he went to Larry Corbett, ii
rider OF fair ability. and told him he
would split with him if he won the
race, and Larry agreed to split with
Mac" if he won. Mac" was riding
like a streak of lightning at the time,
and it looked like a good .etfor Larry.
When they lined up for the start
Mac" asked Taylor If he would change
off pace with him and try to catch the
bunch, The major agreed, but Mac"
knew what a staller the negro was,
and when the gun went off Mac de-
cided to do no more pacing Than Tay-
Tor did. Mac" took the first pace and
went a half lap hard. Then Taylor
came up and went a quarter of a lap.
In Macs turn the ig fellow went
one hundred yards and Taylor went
fifty yards. Mac then DOL about
twenty yards of pace and Taylor did the
same. By this time they were hope
lessly out of the race and Mac began
to look around for Corbett. Mac" a
speed enough to have won the race
easily a Taylor played fair, but now
his only chance of getting anything
out of the race rested in what Corbett
could do. When Mac located the
Australian with his eyes he had not
caught the limit men VT and it looked
as though there would be no part Of
that $1,000 purse coming to him.
The riders up in front were going
strong. n there seemed to be n we'll
formed combination among them.
On the start of the .ast lap Corbett
and the three riders with him began
to gain ground, and just as they werG
about to get the long-markers there
was a spill. Mac" thought SUI Cor
bett vas one of the men who went
down. When the dust cleared Mac
saw that Corbett was still in the race.
and once more his hopes besan to rise.
Larry caught the limit men entering
the turn into the home stretch, and
instead of going around on the OUTSIDE
he chose the inside on the pole. Whe
the riders cleared the turn for the final
dash down the stretch Corbett was
hopelessly pocketed, and Mac" says
he would not nave given a smooth dime
for his chances. Mac was kicking
himself for not having taken Il
chance. even if Taylor did beat him
out, for Mac" could not have gotten
worse than second, whic' was worth
$1,000, but now he was not going to get
any part of the big money.
But as the group of riders were with
in fifty yards of the tape the men near
est the pole opened just enough for
Corbett to squeeze through. The little
man shot through quick as a flash and
dashed for the tape. He had one man
to beat-a rider on the extreme out
side of the track who was Lutting up
a great sprint for the big purse. He
had a lead of three lengths on Corbett.
and as Mac" stood and watched the
pair ace for the tape it was the most
exciting monlen of his career. Corbett
finally crossed the tape the winner AMI
he split half of the purse of s., 900 with
MacFarland.