The Evening post. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1888-1889, 1888-12-24


Saturday last visited the Ivy City
race track in search of information for
the readers of The Spirit, writes Charles
II. Babbitt, Washington correspondent of
The Spirit of tic Times, and found that
the anticipation of the early fall respect
ing the number of horses that would
winter here has not been realized. In
stead of seven or eight stables that were
expected to take up quarters for the win
ter in the commodious and excellent
buildings but three are represented,
viz. w. b. Jennings, Davis & Hall and
Z. ID. McDermott.
The Jennings string consists of Telie
Doc, Swift, Frank Ward, Biggonet,
Utility, Formosa, Ted Foley, Jessie Rank
towned by Oyster Il Ross of this city,,
Hangar, an unnamed 2-year.old chestnut
| FLY by Democrat, out of Mary L.. two
| yearling fillies, sired respectively by
Hillyer and Billet with Rosary and
/ Wieland for dams; one yearling chest
nut colt by Onondaga, out of Ballet; II
yearling bay gelding by Ten Brock, out
of slipper, and brown Nolturno colt,
! dam Red Bonnet-ffteen in all.
Davis & Hall have seven, viz. ORR
| flame, DuX, Roma, Lita, Fad, Little Ella
and Bavarian. The first-named is 5, the
next three 3, and the last three years
old. Patrocles and others belonging to
this firm are now at the farm in West
! Virginia, but will be brought here in
! January
McDermott has four horses here, FL
! phin (steeplcchaser and Epicure, years
old each; Little Nell and Joe Mackie
aged and 2 years, respectively.
Swift was wearing yoke or crate
about his neck to prevent him from biting
his recently blistered fore legs, but
seemed to be in good health and getting
fat. Frank Ward is restless at night il
allowed the freedom of his entire box,
but sleeps well when penned into one
half the space. Mr. Jennings says that
he seems to have acquired a habit of
walking, probably contracted in the eff
fort to keep warm during the cold snap of
a few days ago, but that he is otherwise
all right. He looks well, has great APP
petite and is accommodating flesh. The
Ten Brock Slipper gelding has been
troubled with a cough, but is nearly re.
covered, though his eyes still have dull
look. lie was feeding with apparent
relish when ! saw him. All of the other
horses here are apparently in perfect
health, and with such quarters as they
have should come out in the spring in
prime condition.
CONDITION OF THE STABLES.
The buildings now used for stables are
of brick, with high roofs, well ventilated
and very light. They were erected for
exhibition halls by the Fair Association
which owns the grounds, but, as the
holding of fairs proved to be non-pro-
ductive of financial results, save on the
wrong side of the ledger, the association
joined hands with the National Jockey
Club, and for some time have devoted
the grounds exclusively to racing, and
have converted the halls of mechanics,
fine arts, etc. y into palatial equine hotels.
The central portion of the stable is occu-
pied by numerous largo boX1stalls, while
around the stalls is Il space several feet
in width, in which, during bad weather,
the horses may be given walking eXer-
else
AT present there is much talk, and ap-
parently strong probability, that q
number of the members of the Jockey
Club will secede from the consolidated
{ organization and set up q rival track in
the vicinity of Highland, just outside OF
the District of Columbia in Maryland.
For long time there have been bick
erings ami disagreements between the
l Jockey Club and the Fair Association
. each of course, alleging that the other il
in fault, and as the association owned
, the grounds and buildings, it possessed
Q an advantage, and from its point of view
|. made justiflable use of its power at the
r last election of officers by putting it
| friends in places of authority.
| THE NEW JOCKEY CLUB.
Beside the trouble among the factions
= several of the members more interested
= in racing than any other sport, became
c alarmed by the action of Congress IL
, prohibiting pool.seling, bookmaking
| etc., in the cities of Washington ant
j Georgetown, and fearing that the inhibi
ton will be extended over the entir
4 District of Columbia, thought that the,
!, saw their investment at Ivy City leopard
G lied, and disposed of their stock with
It view to organizing new club and tn
i location of track outside of the Dis
r trict, beyond the danger of Congressional
o interference. They have secured tin
" cooperation of others not heretofore in
8 terested in racing matters, some o
v whom are quite wealthy, and propose
r, to carry their idea into execution. The
e have two sites offered them, both desira
5. BILE, and no doubt will soon have tangi
g, blc organization.
&c The proposed locations are on the sam
$, railroad line that passes Ivy City Il littl
e more than two miles beyond that place
/ and less than five miles from the CapitC
i building, with splendid carriage roa
Is already constructed. "Adair" gave 20
l. good description Of the Highland pac
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