July 1, 1893 – It was a beautiful day for a bike ride! At least in San Francisco where on this day they opened the first American wooden bicycle race track. Velodrome is the proper name of the venues that started popping up all over the world in the late 19th and early twentieth century as people racing bikes around a wooden oval track was all the rage.
According to Wikipedia, the first such cycling stadium was built in 1877, the Preston Park Velodrome in Brighton, United Kingdom, constructed by the British Army. Some of these sites after that were purpose-built just for cycling, and others were built as part of facilities for other sports; many were built around athletics tracks or other grounds and any banking was shallow.
We have talked about football fields being placed in the infield of these velodromes on many of football history podcasts on SHN.
To find more great daily sports history make sure to check out the Sports Jersey Dispatch and Pigskin Dispatch.
More From Sports History Network
The Incredible Run of the 1966 to 1971 Baltimore Orioles
For nearly twenty years (1966-85), the Baltimore Orioles were a team to be reckoned
How Did Miami Win Super Bowl VII? By Losing Super Bowl VI?
A former running back for the 1972 Undefeated Miami Dolphins spoke to me recently
Sports History On This Day: July 11
July 11, 1950 – In Chicago at good ole Comiskey Park, the 17th All-Star Baseball
Sports History On This Day: July 10
July 10, 1968 – The National League of Major League Baseball announced that it would
Sports History On This Day: July 9
July 9, 1877 – The First-ever Wimbledon tennis championship tournament began. It was truly a
Sports History On This Day: July 8
July 8, 1989 – It was the end of a brutal era in the world
Sports History On This Day: July 7
July 7, 1900 – Boston Beaneaters pitcher Kid Nichols notches his 300th career MLB victory
Sports History On This Day: July 6
July 6, 1929 – It was an amazing event no matter what era it took