The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-08-29
BUSINESS MEMS TRACK
OPENING OF THE NEW DRIVING
CLUBS GROUNDS YESTERDAY.
Several Impromptu Races. with
Quire Use 10 Improve IL.

Yesterday afternoon witnessed the open
ing OF the new track OF the Business Mems
Driving Club. at Central avenue and Twen-
ty-second street. and, as IL was thrown
open to the public for free use. there were
many speeders on the track during most Of
the afternoon. Visitors began to appear in
bugsies about ? o'clock. and seeing no one
on the track except one man driving a pair
OF mules hitched TO a drag. they did not
venture in. but lined up in the shade on
the north side of Twenty-second street.
where they remained until 3 o'clock, at
which time Secretary Arbuckle. OF the
club. arrived and invited them over TO the
track. where they were all soon trying the
speed OF their horses.
The track is a half-mile stretch. with a
slope of one-half inch TO the foot at the
ends. 1t is not in the best condition as
yet. being slightly undulating in places,
and on the north stretch there is a bad
rise. but 4 few weeks driving will remedy
most of these rough places. Some of the
drivers complained of the rise at the ends
being too steep. but it is no greater than
Is necessary for safe speedy driving with
a buggy and il relieves the danger of the
buggy tipping up on two wheels and spill
ing the occupants out. The building of the
track cost the club $3.50. and Timothy
Hussey, who built both the Terre Haute
and fair grounds tracks, is the contractor
and builder.
All sorts of horses and all styles of rigs
were TO be seen upon the track during the
afternoon, horses with records and horses
without records. Some OF the green
horses exhibited remarkable speed for their
class. There were only two pacing con-
tests that were timed and started regular
ly, and while many were ready to strike
In most any place on the track nnnon Tor a small small
were but few who would consent TO race
and start of in race-track fashion. Pat
rick Dickson acted as started and time
keeper in the two events. In both events
the following four horses were started;
Pat Murphy, hitched TO a heavy buggy.
owned and driven by Alvin Cavett; Little
Dick. a Delineator colt, hitched to an
ordinary sulky owned and driven by VIII
liam Dickinson; Tony Boy, owned by Ar
Billy Briggs. owned and driven by DIR.
Short. DR.. Shorts and Mr.. Newby's horses
were each hitched TO a ninety-pound bug
gy fitted with bicycle wheels. The time In
the first half-mile race was 1:l51a. with the
horses in the following order: First. Pat
nniTrEphyS ou sssona s,,, Ton Hrir B0y' T fhtrd time Lstt is
the second event was LIS. with the horses
finishing as follows: First. Pat Murphy:
f feS g s hittl1 Rrl Risk; T Th,gd w,n mony of SG fSe
two events received for his stake the
cheers of the crowd. There were two other
impromtu races without starters or time
keepers. the one between Charles Showers
brown mare. hitched to a buggy and haul
ing Mr.. Shower and his wife. and Mr..
Dickinson's Little Dick, hitched TO a sulky.
Mr.. Showers horse finished first The
other was between Mr.. Arbuckle's mare
Kate and j. c. Persons Keen Cutter.
Kate finished first.
The track will be open to the public
again this afternoon from 3 o'clock until
such time as the people wis 10 cease driv-
ing. The club extends a hearty invitation
to the public to come and try the track.
as the driving will not only benefit the
drivers and their horses, but also the
track. Bicycle riders are excluded from
the track and will not be allowed to ride
on ii at any time, for. as the club members
say, it is the only place where they can
drive their horses without being interfered
with by wheelmen. A sprinkling car was
run over the track last night after the
people left. and the way will be in better
shape for fast driving this afternoon than
it was yesterday. The club expects to
build an amphitheater on the north side of
the track next year. The club is incor-
porated for $40. 600 and now has a member
ship of about eighty. The officers are:
President, DR.. w. n. Short; vice president,
Henry Lawrence; secretary, Benjamin Ar
buckle: directors. Horace Woods. j. O..
Spar, Henry Lawrence, Mr.. Lewis and DR..
W.. n. Short.