Page:The fastest bicycle rider in the world - 1928 - Taylor.djvu/120

 In these two races I received the worst deal that was ever handed me by the riders but they were not even censored by the officials for their unsportsmanlike tactics. I felt it was the price of being the world’s champion and also because at the moment I was leading in the race for the American championship. In this latter competition the season was fast nearing its close and my nearest opponent had but a single chance of beating me out. The entire field in the Boston races was evidently in sympathy with my rival, and they were out to stop me at any cost in order that he might possibly beat me out and the officials seemed to be working hand in hand with them.

On the next day, however, I regained whatever prestige I may have lent in the preceding afternoon’s races. I quote from a Boston daily concerning the second day’s program:

“Major Taylor Turns Tables On the Butlers. Shows His Rear Wheel to the Butler Boys in the Half-Mile L. A. W. Championship. Major Taylor is the Champion half-mile rider. It was a field day for Major Taylor as he turned the tables very neatly on the Butler boys with his wonderful, fast jump when within a few yards of the tape, which demonstrated again, that, with fair treatment, he can ride rings around any of the professionals enrolled at present in the L. A. W.

“Although the program said that the first three men in each heat of the half-mile professional championship were to qualify for the final, they made it three in the fastest heat, and two in the slowest heat, but Major Taylor made good this time by winning his heat, in which there were four other contestants. Hugh McLean started to cut out a hot pace from the pistol, but Colgan accepted his challenge. Major Taylor hit up a sharp sprint and led Colgan by three open lengths at the tape.

“In another heat Frank Butler and Coleman rode at the front of the bunch watching each other. Urquhart started to shake the whole bunch but Colgan would not have it and took first by inches only, Frank Butler being third. Nat Butler was shut out in his heat by McCarthy with Carman second.

“The starters in the final heat were Colgan, Urquhart, Coleman, McLeod, Bowler, McCarthy, Carman and Major Taylor. Bowler jumped to the front and started to sprint, and Taylor worked his way ahead also, then went out in the final sprint, fighting it out with McCarthy and Jimmie Bowler. Major Taylor won out by a length at the tape with the other two finishing in the order named.”

Notwithstanding my hard luck on the first day, I did manage to win one of the two championship events, and made many new friends because of the unfairness of the other riders. I was fortunate to finish up without a scratch or serious injury, and was in wonderfully fine physical condition for the last championship race of the season which terminated in Brockton, Mass.