New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-06-19
WORK OF THE TROTTERS.
RISE AND FALL OF A DRIVING PARK-GEN
ERAI4 Gossip

IL wise step when the DRIVING PARIS coihpoo-
ing the Southeastern Grcult organized in 1890 de-
cded TO extend the route Of that series and take III
three New England tracks, at Boston and Hartford
May early for the Northern trainers except IN
which unusually advanced. and the meet
ings az Baltimore Philadelphia have had to depend
on horses from the Southern and Middle states rs
yet the breeding interest has become extensive e
the Atlantic side of the continent below PennsSl'
vania, and the stock from Virginia, the CareiinSs'
Alabama and that section have In most cases snort
pedigees. Shis means that they seldom train on anu
few weeks place them where they are Of little vaiue
in any class. There few addilohs 10 the hcfs
that started at Baltimore weeks ago. when the
scene shifted to the Quaker City, and the recruits
that came In for the meeting at Fleetwood Park IN
this city were sufficient 10 make the contests inter
esting At Albany, however, there was compete
change, and Island Park was most unfortunate III 's
eIdeavor 10 revive harness racing, for II WAS reeh
OF favoites with only one exception when the New
York entry. orphan Lass met defeat from palsy H.
another mare owned In the metropolis. Albany NJ
one period was favorite spot for that portion OF the
trcttng world the TALENT, for the speculative
spirit has always been strong at the capital as well
US In the adioiHiHg town Of Troy.
Ten years ago Island Park hung up large purses Tor
both spring and meetings, the Cfay STAKE
which was feature ef the former, being the hist
important fixture of the year. The track WAS never
fast, and when the West began TO construct sheu
lightning those at Clevrland, lefrS HSur
and Lexington the crack performers, especially muse
owned by the breeders deserted Their former haunts Inc
last really week at Island Park was curing
The Grand Circuit Of 1856. when oliver X. and other
sensot,ons OF that year took part The picturesque
Old track Oh the held its place for three more
seasons and then dropped out aitosether. h'estu7
Corning the millionaire iron manufacturer, owns lae
property and prefers to keep for racing anu IL "as
little value for anything else. h'lu he herses
acoultted themselves more credaby this spring there
bor heap chance for the revival or local
interest bnt the tame sport threw fresh camper
on the smouherng embers Of Indifference IN almost
every class the merest novice conld PICK the winner
and after q heat the ODDS were about prohlntlve
The exhibition OF c. j. Hamlin's triple team brought
out the largest attendance of the week. with plenty OF
money 10 invest had there been any opportunity
That was a particularly dull day. however and 1t IS
likely that the golden moment for the restofaeoh VI
the sulkies nt Island Park has passed. The pool
sellers and bookmakers lost by their visit there ana
tho lessee Of the track could scarcely have fouhd e
balance on the right side.
When the stables moved TO Boston, however, 'here
were endorsements which worked complete trans.
formation The absence OF c. J. Hanllln ana MS DIE
string was scarcely noticed. though the Village Farm
lot had been prominent In the earlier part OF the
circuit At Mystic, Beacon, Franklin and other diiv
ing parks near the Bay state capital there are toters
md PAGERS in abundance, n result OF the heavy
investment which the NewEngland breeders have been
making within the four five years BEFORE the
day of Rysdyk's Hambletonian and Mambrino Cnef
the strains of trotters in Vermont New Hampshire
Massachusetts and Connecticut carried of the palm
for speed the Morgans being the recognized champions
Ethan Allen, the first stallion to beat $50, traced
directly to Justin Morgan and Fearnaugh who after
ward held the record for his kind was Of the same
blood. 1t is quito In keeping with the proverbia
business foresight of that section that the most fashion
able breeds of this period should find a ready market
among the Yankee hOrsemen. Eleazer smith,
mi acf 81 Lee
most happy selection in Alcyone and Acantara two
leading Sires of the younger generation of George
Wilkes, and even such champion as Aron was not
too valuable for New England.
Besides these many more representatives OF
families that have produced racehorses Of the first
quality the most important addition since ArOn being
Ralph Wilkes. The latter. like the great Californian.
Is three years old. and in almost any season
except one such that OF 1891 would have been
marked sensation. Ills speed was not developed so
carly as the OF Arion and Monbars, but when
C. w. Williams took him 10 Independence from Lex
inston late in october he gave him record OF 2:lS
after q brief acquaintance with the colt Had Ralph
Wilkes got into such competent hands n few months
before he would doubtless have scored further down
In the teens, but to equal the time made by ounel at
the same age was in itself achievement.
The result OF the selections made by the New
England turfmen was apparent in the 40 class
which opened the meeting at Mystic Park last Tues
day. OF The ten young trotters which started in this
contest eight are owned In that section and all showed
good breeding Pansy Blossom the winner, is OF
Wilkes blood, as Caprice and Alice Wilkes. Merry
Drd brown stallion by Jay Bird, is splendid type
OF bighborn trotter and other sircs represented in
the field mentioned are Harold, Acantara and
Parks Nvew~<-sP Of Alden Godsmiths famous
horse better-fnshed lot are seldom seen
On a track with plenty more to bid for supremacy,
as at Mystic Park there are in the neighborhood Of
800 In training.
IN Naefp tOttprS
Tho rilded dome of the State House Beacon Hin,
Bunce r.. a Kentucky-bred sidewheeer, with mark
of :13 IL, being the fastest by the records Jewett
a veteran well known to the Grand Circuit, Is now
owned In suburb of Boston, and Chesterfield,
chestnut celding that came into prominence last year,
is perhaps the fastest at his gait in that neghborhood
This PAGER went IN . II "a last August at Mystic
Park but this spring he has shown speed which shoud
carry him close 10 ~ IN race dnis rIno , me1i
Franklin Park next Tuesday IN the IRE ior;h
OF the numerous trainers about Boston. the vet
older than most professional rensnen stili on the
Class, which began last Tuesday and was finished
the next day, showed that his mind Is as Eee a. WEN
geldng Jesse Hanson in this race, and the ifotter
has been working fast that he seemed pretty sure
winner blue bells black mare ARE from D a sarsd
g. RSw mo-, P sasI S a a yhC a ns se
that the other drivers quickly followed This mad. made
the gelding such a pronounced iavorite that Bowcn
had TO give q little more than money FOR him.
something he had not counted or. .
To add 10 this Turner and the rest kept so respect
fully In the rear that the first two heats were IN
moderate time, and the odds rose proportionalcy;;
When the race delayed by storm and carried
over till "Wednesday Bowen saw chance t9 get even.
He talked plainly TO Turner in his GRIM way for
making his horse such favorite and not trying to
drive him ont. and told him no might get caught
after all Before the third heat somebody had Wills
pered the judges that Blue BELLS could ot close TO
2 90. and when Turner came out with the mare ne
was warned that he make q better showing.
The shrcwd little General knows better than 70 take
too much risk and promptly complied BY setting
much more rapid clip in the first milo on Wednesday.
Jesse Hanson kept In the lead. however. and being
u fast 1nsher seemed 10 have sure victory when al
the distance post he stlll ahead Of Blue Bells.
suddenly the gelding lost his stride. and though
handy fellow rule he did not catch, but
for about fifty yards TO the wire. He was scant
aAr % Ilalls IL