New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-30
GOSSIP OLE THE TROTTERS

GOSSIP OF THE TROTTERs
PROSPECTIVE MAKEUP OF THE GRAND CIRCUIT
FOR lsse-A SPRING MEETING AT FLEET
WOOD PARK-DEATH OF SWEEPSTAKES
Secretary Hedges OF the Driving Club of New
York. has requested the stewards OF the Grand Cir
cult TO hold their annual conference early next
month, so that schedule may be arranged at once
Tor the trotting of 1896. The stakes offered
oy the New-iork Club for the Fleetwood Grand
Circuit meeting close February Il, and 1t Is i'm
portant for the interests OF the club and the
owners. who wish TO make entries. that the exac:
dates for the races should he before the entries
close There IL considerable doubt about the make
up OF the Grand Circuit next season. owing to the
uoupuui outlook for harness racing at Buffalo and
Rochester. two of the oldest tracks In league
e. j. Hamlin. who controls the Buffalo course has
said that he would attempt more meetings there.
so long as the anti-betting laws remain in in
New-fork The same thing has been said about
Rochester but in spite OF these statements IL is the
common belief among Eastern horsemen that the
bunaio track. and perhaps the Rochester
well. will be found In line as usual when the time
comes for making up the circuit. This arrangement
would probably bring the campagners to Fleetwood
the third week in August. unless some new members
are admitted TO the league. and get dates preceding
the series in NewYork. II Buffalo and Rochester
should drop out, 1t is probable that two or more
New England tracks will take their places In the
Grand Circuit line. Mystic Park and the new track
now being built in Boston by the New England
Breeders Association 10 be the natural sue
cessors TO Buffalo and Rochester. with the other
Boston track, Franklin Park, and Narrag ansett
Park. in Providence. among the possibilities
Boston is now the stronghold of trotting in the
East. and with four tracks in operation there the
coming season almost continuous harness racing
Will probably be seen. Dates have already been
claimed Tor the first six weeks of the season. begin
ming June g. at Combination Park the half mile
track, and continuing succeeding weeks at Mystic
4 md Eyop k1f, Iparl
Breeders track will be ready for in August. and
after that time these four tracks will form a local
circuit around the Hub. John Z. Turner, OF Pha-
delphia. Frederick Noble. of Fleetwood and several
other well-known trainers. have announced their
intention Of going to Boston with their trotters
soon as the campaign opens. and spending the sea-
there
The chances are that Spring circuit will be ar
ranged In the East. leading UP the opening of the
Boston series with meeting at Fleetwood Park the
first week in June. John Mariner, who controls the
half-mile trotting track at Norfolk. Va. has
nounced an early meeting there, and has engaged
Secretary Hedges. Of the New York Driving Club to
manage the series. Norfolk will probably lead off
about May l. followed consecutive weeks by the
Gentlemen's Driving Park. Pimco and the Airing
ton course, In Baltimore. There is little likelihood
that either of the Philadelphia tracks will Join the
spring circuit or the Grand next season, the Petz
law having made profitable harness racing about i'm
possible in Pennsylvania and the trotters likely
on the Spring campaign toward Boston.
Many rumors aioat concerning the probable
plans OF the well-known Western reinsman NJ f.
McHenry. for the coming year One report has II
that he will join forces with Monroe Salisbury and
drive the trotters campaigned by the California
turfman in 1896 Salisbury and McHenry have been
dickering for years. but have thus far failed to
come to terms. mainly it is said the former
wants TO direct the training and driving OF his
horses as closely as the running horse trainers do
while McHenry objects thus sinking his own
identity Another report is TO the effect that the
man from Freeport will campaign a select string
OF harness for Frank Rockefeller. Of Cleve-
land and third story has II that he may train
public stable in New-York. McHenTy is going to
sell all Of his trotters at W. B. Fasig g. Co.'S
auction sale in this city next February. One OF
the animals is Phoebe Wilkes. 2:Oslz for whom
Colonel Lawrence Kip offered 5000 about a year
ago when he was buying uotters for James Gordon
Bennett
Frank Rockefeller is likely TO have Of the
stables the trotting turf next year Besides the
fast mares, Maud c.. 210A.. and Rezpah 2i312. he
the sensational FLY. Fanny Foley. that
trotted half-mile in l0Sle yearling last
son, and that w. b. Fasg says is the Designated
trotter he Mr.. Rockefeller has recently
purchased from A J. Alexander. OF Woodburn
Farm, Ky. the chestnut geding Extractor by Ex-
petition, 215a.. out Of Rosebush the sister Prin-
ceps. Extractor has no record but he trotted the
WOODBURY. Farm track in 2ls2. last season as a
three-year-old and is regarded a prospective
2:lO trotter. Rumor has it that the crack Cali
fornia three-year-old zombro may be campaigned
in Mr.. Rockefeller's stable In 1886 This son of
Mckinney made remarkable campaign on the
Pacific Coast tracks last season. starting out green
In July and trotting hftyfve miles In before
he into winter quarters a month ago. He
thirteen races of seventeen starts, and
only unpaced. closing the with
record of 2:l3. If the colt had been entered in
the Kentucky Fuurity and other rich stakes
this side of the Continental divide he would prob
ably have headed the list of winning trotters in 1895.
for. after Larabie went wrong In August there
Campaigned in California and Oregon, Zombros
winnings aggregated only $3.50.
Rysdyks Hambletonan. ended his career
trotting sire Goshen, Orange County last week.
He nearly twenty-nine years of age. and
partially disabled owing 10 an injury TO one or his
hind legs, which occurred a few years ago. Other
wise the old horse appeared TO be about as well as
he has been any time during the last ten years.
George II. Mills. his owner had him painlessly put
to death. Although his opportunities were not the
best Sweepstakes ranked among the greatest sons
George Wilkes Egbert, Strathmore, Dictator Aber-
deem and Harold surprising him in the number OF
paigners Sailor Boy. his first 2:3O trotter. did
enter the list until 1882 when Sweepstakes was ff-
credited with thrty-sx performers Of standard
speed. and his daughters had produced fifteen more
o osds9 X 2 We're the fastest of his
get Sweepstakes a small bay horse, foaled
in 1867 the year that Dexter lowered the trotting
blood TO the king OF the turf, being by Rysdyks
Hambletonian. out Of a daughter Of Seely's Ameri-
can Star Harrison Mills the father Of George IL f.
in the Mills family.
NETWORK TURN vEREIN OFFICERS.