Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-08-02
The DRIVING PARK-The Alexan-

IHE DRIVING PARK.-Ihe AleXan-
Gria Driving Club last night handsome
l. entertained large number of their
friends at the Diving Park, near this
city. Mr. J. NJ Hill, the manager of
the park, acted as host, aud right roy
ally did he banquet his guests. The
AleXandrians, numbering upwards of
iitev, left here about eight O'Clock III
vehicles, and were soon driven within
the enclosure of the park. Here the
grounds and spacious buildings were
brilliantly Illuminated with electricity.
The guests We're shown every thing
connected with the park, and ii was
the unanimous opinion Of all that ii
was one of the the most commodious
and best arranged driving parks in
the country, and that its success is as
sured. It is situated on the railroad
between this city and Washington, on
she main artery of travel between the
North and the South. 1t takes but
fow minutes for people from this city to
reach the track, and the fare is the
same as on street cars, while the run
can be made from Washington in about
twenty minutes. The buildings and
grounds are fitted with every modern
appliance for conducting race track.
After the visitors had made careful
inspection of all there was to be seen g
splendid collation. was spread in the
shape of oysters on the half shell, oyster
soup. soft and deviled crabs, lobster,
chicken and other salads, cakes, iced
fruits, punch, wine, coffee, &C., which
was highly enjoyed by all.
After full justice had been done to
the feast Mayor Strauss, who acted as
toast master, complimented Mr.. Hill
aud the managers of the park, for the
enterprise they had shown in atlording
such resort to the people of Alexan
dri;. and wished them unbounded sue
cess in their undertaking. Speeches
were also made by State Senator Mush-
bach, Delegate Bendheim, Corporation
Attorney Brent, Postmaster Carlin,
Col. L. c. Barley, City Sergeant Smith,
Chief of Police Webster, of this city;
Messrs. Frank Hume and c. n. Thomp
son of the county and others, all of
whom wished the park and its mana
gers success. The evening was en-
livened by music by the Alexandria
brass band, led by Mr.. Henry Nails.
After spending most delightful
evening the Alexandrians reluctantly
left for their homes, arriving here at
about 1880 o'clock.
Captain James F. Webster, of the
Alexandria police force, who was one
of the guests, and who responded to
calls for an explanation of some pleas
antry in connection with Il conjuration
case in which he described the modus
operandi Of upsetting the conjuror, had
improvised speech Astounding in rem
iniscences had ne had the time to de-
liver it. Fifty years ago the captain
witnessed within stones throw OF the
Driving Park and on the site OF the
present Del Ray race between Boston,
WILTON Brown and Prior for the best
two in three. Half q century ago the
neighborhood of the Driving Park was
used as race track and in our day and
generation it reappears as such.
In speaking of the park the New
York EccniaQ SIN says: The meeting
of the Virginia Jockey Club on its new
track nearAlexandria will begin directly
the racing season closes in this State.
It is expected that q meeting ofunusual
brilliancy will open the new track.
Secretary Mcintyre is busy arranging
several stake events that will bring to-
gether some of the very best horses in
training. 1t is more than probable that
the Alexandris Handicap will have
field second only Importance to those
that tried conclusions in the Brooklyn
and Suburban Handicaps.