The San Francisco call., 1896-11-29

| Horse Show Association of the Pacific
| Coast, expressed himselfs as varv much
| pleased with the outlook for an exhibition
this year that will compare favorably with
| the New York show in many respects.
Mr.. Crocker is to the association largely
like what Napoleon was during the French
army's famous march over the Alps. He
keeps everything in motion while the an
nual campaign is making.
The statement that there are eleven en-
tries in the four-in-hand classes Will ex-
cite the interest of the gentleman drivers.
A. B. Spreckels has offered "a prize of $500
in plate for the best performance of an
amateur in driving a four-in-hand through
obstacles, which corresponds with othe
prize offered by John Bradbury of $500 in
plate for the best performance Of an anna
teur driving tandem through obstacles.
The large first prizes for which compete
ton will be sharp are as follows:
The Huntington challenge cup, solid silver,
offered by c. P. Huntington for the best
thoroughbred stallion, three years old or
over, the terms of competition being that the
cup must be won three years in succession by
the same exhibitor before becoming his prop
erty, and in the meantime to be held in trust
by the association.
Silver cup, offered by the Pacific Coast
Jockey Club, in addition to the $50 prize Of
fered by the association, for the best thorough
bred colt, two years old, the value of the cup
being $3.50.
The Morrow challenge cup, value $500, for
the best four-in-hand Pacific Coast bred horses,
to be shown before coach, body break or
wagonette, the cup to be won two years in sue
cession by the same exhibitor before becom-
ing his property.
There are many prizes of $500 and less,
and among those who offer these prizes
are Henry ]. -Crocker. George A. Pope,
Joseph d. Grant, Walter s. Hobart and
tue California Jockey Club, all of whom
offer valuable and leading prizes.
Of course, it must naturally follow that
II the standard set this year in San Fran
cisco shall be materially higher, as
claimed, than it was last year, the. horse
show next year must be even finer than
the one OF 1895, and SO on progressively.
a well-known writer, John Gilmer
Speed, reviewing the New York show of
1886, agrees, in Leslie's Weekly, very We'll
on several points with the observations
made by, Walter Hobart concerning the
same. "The Improvement for several
years past" says Mr.. Speed. 'has been
more marked. perhaps among the classes
In the breeding of which we have not been
particularly distinguished. 90
1--WE have been trying for long time to
breed runner who would not only hold
his own but surpass his cousins in Eng
land. In this direction we have had some
success, and the trophies of the Derby
and the Grand Prix have come to. us.
But we have, as. breeders, worked even to
more purpose in our efforts to produce a
trotter that would clip the few remaining
seconds from two minutes to the mile.
The trotter has become Americas greatest
achievement in horsebreeding."
Mr. Speed also has the following to say
of interest to gentlemen drivers: 1T NAV
be that not greater skill is required in
taking horse cross country than in tool
ing coach with that dash and observance
of good form Characteristic of the best
whips who wheel about the tanbark of
Madison square with complete control
of their animals and an amiable content
with themselves. There is one advantage
that the coachman has over the hunter.
and this is made con spicuous each
autumn when we gather in Madison
square to see the horses. The hunter, if
he have the misfortune to get stout, NAV
soon have to give over his hunting en-
tirely, for few horses can shoulder more
than 200 pounds and get very far from the
level ground. But a coach can hold ali
the fat you can put upon it, and a man
can drive unworried by avoirdupois so
long as he can lift himself to the box.
Considering that nine out of ten of us
begin widening in the girth so soon as we
come to 40 year. this advantage of driving
over riding is not to be underrated."