The sun., 1896-01-27
RACING FOR AMATEURS.
ONCE THE LEADING FEATURE AT
FLEE7WOOD PARK.

W
some Members OF the Driving Club Think
1t rs Getting to lsc Too Much OF - Rac.
ing ntion-Tbey Want More Trot-
ting Contests TO- Members Hond Horses.
While New York horsemen witnessed about
the best harness racing last year that has ever
been seen nj Fleetwood Park. there was n
noticeable falling or in the quality and OK.
tent of the amateur sport. which for many
ye- RS formed the principal attraction at the
old trottng course in Morrsania. Beyond a
few impromptu match races and poorly man
aged matinee on the twenty fifth anniversary
OF the opening of the track, all OF the trotting
was done at the regular meetings and by the
professional element. Even the Sunday morn
ing exhibitions Of speed. which used TO attract
"A big crowd OF road riders and club members
to tho track, were almost wholly done away
with. the result being that the trainers had
the club house piazza to themselves good
share Of the time during the summer season.
In their effort to make the race meetings
successful the officers OF the Driving Club ap-
rarently lost sight OF the main object of the
organization rs set forth in the by laws, namely,
to afford pleasure driving to Its members. and
tho development Of speed trials and contests
between members horses. Everybody praised
the enterprise which brought Robert j.,
John II. Gentry. Joe Patchen, and Mascot to.
getler for the first time at the grand circuit
meeting in August, but some of the members
thought the club was drifting too far In the
direction of n purely racing association when
1t failed to arrange an occasional afternoons
sport for the home talent, with cups and other
prizes offered for races between road horses.
A majority of the 400 horscmen who make UP
the membership roll of the Driving Club have
no direct interest in harness racing. other thnn
lnt af fiufl mi nrnt col n
them campaign trottcrs through the circuits.
but nearly every one owns road horse OF
more or less prctcnsions and the spirit OF rival
ry is exceedingly keen among them. This was
brought out very plainly in 1894 when the inter.
city races took place between the chosen repre-
scntatives of New York, Philadelphia, and Bal
timorc. Everybody wanted to represent the
Driving Club of New York. and with this end
in view number OF members bought single
horses and double teams expressly to compete
IN the preliminary trials at Fleetwood. Al.
though nothing except glory was at stake In
these preliminary races. they were fought out
with an cnrncstncss which is seldom c1nallch.
exciting contest between the rival pairs belong.
ing to Matthew Riley and Fred Gcrkcn. The
insrsity i city race races were hnrreslS arranged 1nn and
season; too early to admit Of selecting the best
horses from each of the clubs represented; but
the! gave an impetus To the sport. stimulated
the market for trottcrs and brought into prom.
incnce some great road horses and a number of
skilful amateur rcinsmen.
Probably more fast trottcrs are kept for
pleasure driving AZ New York than at l'hi!a-
lclphia and altlmorc combined. with Chicago
ana Cleveland thrown in, but few of the met
rOroitan flyers are ever seen in publ now
!l,at amateur sport has been releGated to the
and trials of speed between members horses
ar" made the leading features of the Belmont
Park club Philadrluhia. Baltimore has the
like ,organizations., with frequent races for
members during the trotting season. There
are similar clubs Mt Chicago. Hartford. st.
l.onis. Detroit. Cleveland, and dozens Of other
strong as it Is Mt New York. In Cleveland
the Driving club is n separate organization
from the company which owns the trottinl
track. It was formed last year for the purpose
in series OF saturday afternoon matinecs.
Frank Rockefeller. Col. William Edwards,
Harry DevcrauX, w. +. Dutton. y. q. Kent.
WI B. FaSiE, D. r. Hanna, 9. h,n. F. Emery and
among those who took part in the sport.
Four or five races At mile and repeat TO road
wagon were given every week from June to
October. with a nunher Of matches and sweep
stakes additional. Tie ,lub provided chnl-
lcnge cup TO br awarded TO the owner of he
trottcr making the fnstest time during the
season. and another for tha fastest PAGER
New York has the horses, the rcinsmcn. and
the track. and it would seem as though the ncw
officials of the Driving Club might do n good
deal for the trotting interests. and something
for the clul. by inaugurating similar series
of mcmhcr5' races at Fleetwood next season,
provided by the Cleveland Club last year,
with suitable trophies for the winners and the
trott"r making the fastest time in Il race. The
summers sport would give good line on The
merits of the different horses. and toward the
end of the season Il series of return matches
might be arranged with the Belmont Park Club.
Philadelphia, or with the Parkway Club Brook