New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-11-25
East TROTTERS ON THE ROAD.

FAST TROTTERS ON THE ROAD.
Mayor-elect Grant has announced the sale
of his fine stable of fast trotting horses. His
familiar form will be seen no more speeding
along Jerome-ave. or passing through the gates
Of old Fleetwood behind Kenilworth, Sweep
stakes or any other Of the clean-limbed and
ouick gated trotters that he has owned and
driven. There will be general regret among
the frequenters of Seventh-ave. and the long
stretch of road above McComb's Dam Bridge
and among the visitors TO the Gentlemens
Driving Park that one of the sturdiest, broad
est-gauged and most generous supporters OF
trotting and racing proposes to retire from an
active share in these sports. Mr.. Grant has
shown an intelligent interest in the contests
both of the thoroughbreds and Of the trotters
whenever and wherever these have been carried
on in fair and honest manner. on Respectable
tracks and under respectable management. lie
has given freely of his time money and labor
to advance the interests of racing and trotting
on the plane of their best achievement, and has
set his face like flint against anything which
tends to faint, degrade or corrupt these sports.
Constantly and consistently he has done all in
his power to raise the spirit and the substance
Of racing and trotting to promote the par
ticipation of influential and upright men, to
keep out the INSCRIPTIONS, and to make these
diversions so free from reproach that the best
elements in the community shall feel no re-
luctance to encourage and stimulate them. One
of the reasons for the immense vote which MIR.
Grant received at the recent election was the
admiration felt for him by the young men of
the city who are jealous for outdoor sports.
And now the new Mayor proposes to devote
himself to the duties of his office with such
assiduity and energy that he will have no time
for driving on the road. We think he is
making a mistake. Although endowed by
nature with wel-proportioned frame and
fair degree of muscular strength Mr.. Grants
health has been at various times somewhat
weak and uncertain He needs precisely that
form of exercise in the open air which has made
rugged and powerful Mr.. Bonner's formerly
feeble frame, and has brought health and vigOr
to many wealthy and prominent men in this
city Certainly the gentleman who will fill
the Mayors chair after the 1st of January
ought not to feel that it would in any way
derogate from his dignity to continue to drive
in Jerome and Seventh avenues. Many
Mayor before him has INDUCED in this delight
full and wholesome form both of exercise and
entertainment. Many of the conspicuous and
respected citizens Of the metropolis indulge in
it to-day. But we do not suppose that the
lofty position which Mr.. Grant will soon fill
leads him to look with any GOODNESS or aversion
upon that IN which he has previously shown so
much interest.
The truth of the matter is that the change
and the stimulus derived from spin behind
Kenilworth is precisely what he will need most
on pleasant afternoons, after the strain, the
worry, the anxiety, the wear and tear Of the
Mayors duties. During his term the city gov
eminent will be revolutionized. lie will have
a greater number of important appointments to
make than any man who ever entered the City
Hall. Pressure upon him of candidates and
of conflicting claims will be tremendous He
will need all his frmness, all his obstinacy, all
his power of resistance, to bring about the best
results. To maintain robust health and stub
born resolution, which are necessary for sue
cess in his high office, he will probably find in
dspensable the practice of those habits OF
recreation and exercise which have been
beneficial to him in the past. Hence we do not
believe that the goodbye which the new Mayor
proposes to give to Fleetwood and McComb's
Dam Bridge will be more than feeting He
must 90 back to the road to keep himself in
such physical condition as to grapple with the
problems that will assail him on all sides, and
if he is not seen on sunny afternoons hereafter
behind Sweepstakes or any other of the noted
trotters now in his stable, some younger and
even swifter stock may take the place of the
present favorites and our young, handsome
and genial Mayor may 60 flashing by Gabe
Cases or Judge Smiths behind pair that will
equal or even srrpass the best records made
by the famous teams of William Ii. Vanderbilt,
Robert Bonner and Frank Work