New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-02
Raymond Hitchcock VIII
Fire Starting Gun-Band
Concert a Feature

ne SlN-O2y Dixie race ~ Win Us once
more. The annual winter sport classic
starts one minute after midnight to-
night, and historical Madison Square
Garden Is again the scene Of tho week
long grind. This will be the twenty
ffth renewal Of the event and Il prom
Uses 10 be the greatest race in the his
tory Of the sport
Fifteen teams, composed OF the
worlds best riders, will pedal away on
their seemingly unending journey when
Raymond Hitchcock fires the starting
gun shortly after i o'clock tonight.
The Garden doors viii be thrown open
at s o'clock this evening, and patriotic
band concert will serve 70 keep the
crowd in good humor until the start of
the race.
With The exception Of three or four
newcomers in tho grind all the riders
have international regulations. In the
list are six men who have shared first
prize in ten Of the eighteen previous
team races IN the Garden. Egg won
last year; Root finished first in the
races Of 1904. 1905. 1906 and 1910; Wal
thour accounted for first place in the
1901 and 1903 events; Goullet won IN
1913 and 1914; GrenGa was on the win
ming combinations in 1914 and 1915, and
Fred Hill was s. member Of the leading
team in 1915.
Genuine Six-Day Race
This is 20 be a genuine six-dsy race.
For the first time since team racing
came into vogue this weeks race Is TO
be OF IA hours' duration, lacking only
two minutes Of six FULL days. IL will
start "a minute after midnight tonight
and wind up a minute before midnight
next Saturday.
The quality Of the riders entered as
sures an interesting race. But there
are 70 be other features for the specta-
tors. Several turns" will hold their
attention every day Of the race. Miss
Joan Sawyer. New York's famous terp-
-ichorean artist. will give dancing ex-
hibitions twice daily, at 3:45 in the
afternoon and 1915 IN the evening.
Then there will be the Masked
Comet" who will furnish q real
thriller The Comet" will dive from q
chute of q bicycle twice daily at
,. m. and II p. m. In addition, Arthur
C.. Holden, the Ladies Man of the
Air" will perform his spectacular back
tall INTO the tank twice each night, at
S and 10 o'clock.
A factor that will make this race the
fastest and most spirited, from a com
pettive standpoint, is that there will be
number Of specified spirits daily.
There will be an hour sprint every af-
tcrnoon and a two-hour sprint every
night. The points will be so appor-
toned that no team can cinch the race
before the final hour sprint Saturday
unless 10 steals lap on the field
The afternoon sprint will be from
2:30 20 $3.50, while that in the evening
viii be from $3.50 10 1910. These are
the sprint hours guaranteed by Pro-
moter William Il. Wellman, who spent
many weeks in assembling this great
field of riders, and who has made a
lavish expenditure in providing new
innovations for the race. Wellman is
offering $4,000 in cash prizes, which
exceeds by fully $4,000 the highest
amount ever offered before.
Bonus System Eliminated
The promoter has eliminated the
Gus races the riders were content 70
Keep in the race in order to earn their
guarantee. The final prize money was
so meagre that the riders made no spe-
cial effort TO steal lap. This week,
however, the capital prize will be $4,000,
and there is expected 70 be merry
scramble early in the week 10 gain the
coveted lap and hold 1t 70 the finish.
Great interest attaches 70 the three
coruered match involving Frank hra-
mer. world sprint champion for sixteen
consecutive years; Arthur Spencer, the
new titlcholder, and Alfred Goullet, re-
garded as the best Of siX-day riders.
This will be Sponcer's first six-day race.
He is teamed with his brother Willie,
who gained some experience IN last
years grind.
Kramer and Goullet were pals up 10
the time the latter refused 10 accept
the veteran champion as 8 partner Tor
the grind. Kramer Is now out TO OBJ
tain revenge and each has threatened
20 ride the other into the ground be-
fore half the journey is completed.
The combinations OF Gouilet-Magin,
Tgg-Kramer, Root-Drobach and Mad
den-Corry are classed as favorites. The
last named pair won the recent siX-day
race 10 Boston and are considered the
dark horses" Of the treadmill which
starts tonight.
Drobach rode the final hour sprint
last wear all alone when his partner
quit. and his riding was one Of the SEN
sstions Of the week. Egg won the 1915
race two hours before the finish, when
he stole a lap practically unaided.
Harvard Track Teams