The preliminary races of the classes were held yesterday on Holmes Field. This is the first time that the new track has been put to actual use and records made upon it, everything hitherto being but practice and not counting as a record. The times made were good and the track gives good satisfaction. The number of spectators was small, as is usually the case at these preliminary meetings. Besides, yesterday many were attracted in town by the desire to see the class races. Mr. T. J. Coolidge, '84, had the races in charge and acted as starter. The order of races was as follows :

100 yards dash for members of '85. Two men, Billings and Brandt came to the scratch. Brandt is a new man, but Billings has run in several races. Billings won in the fast time of 10 1-2 seconds. Next came the mile walk for freshmen, which was contested by Bemis and Shattuck. Bemis led throughout and won easily, as his opponent seemed to weaken near the finish. The time, 4 min., 47 sec., was the best which has been made at Harvard for some years.

The 220 yards for juniors followed. F. W. White and A. S. Johnson ran. This race was the most exciting of any, the men coming along neck and neck. Johnson won by six inches, but fell from exhaustion just as he crossed the line. Time, 23 3-4 sec. Wendell Baker, '86, then ran 220 yards against time, and made it in 22 3-4 sec., within an eighth of a second of the collegiate record. In the 100 yards race for '87, Rogers and Todd ran. The event was won by Rogers, time, 10 7-8 seconds. Next came the half-mile run for juniors, which was contested by Brandt and Root. The former dogged Root around the track until within a few rods of the finish, when he ran ahead and won easily in the time of 2 min., 11 and a fraction seconds. The last race runwas a 220 yards, between Hardy and Rogers of the freshman class. Hardy won after a hot race during the first part of the way. The rest of the races which were not walkovers, will be decided on Saturday, at the university meeting.