The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-26
AMATEUR HORSE RACING.
Business Mems Driving Club Incor-
porafors Have a Dinner.

porators Have n Dinner.
The Business Mems Driving Club, an in
stitution which will probably prove to be
one of the most important clubs In this city,
was formally Incorporated yesterday, with
a membership OF sixty prominent business
and professional men as founders. The
following men constitute the board of di-
rectors: f. NJ Lewis. Horace f. Wood,
Henry Lawrence. w. N. Short and John o.
Spahr. The president is w. N. Short; vice
president, Henry Lawrence: secretary, B.
VI. Arbuckle, and treasurer. James r.
Henry.
Mr.. George II. Brice, manager of the Com
mercial Club restaurant, and one Of the
members OF the Driving Club, entertained
about thirty members of the club at dinner
last night, where plans were discussed and
committees appointed to further the project.
The purpose Of the Business Mems Driv-
ing Club is to establish driving course
where they may-entoy the Pleasures Of am
ateur horse racing. AS soon as a site is
secured a half-mfie track, together with
clubhouse. grand, stand and other adjuncts
of carefully equipped driving park will
be built. Professional horsemen are barred.
Only members OF the club will be allowed to
use the track and each man must drive his
own horses. 1t - the intention to MAIN
tain the club ON a purely amateur basis.
One site has been offered. and it may be
accepted 1t is the tract of land known as
"Bruce's Park" on Central avenue and
Twenty-second street. Other sites are be-
ing considered which are regarded just as
favorable for the, project and which can be
obtained at a less price than that asked for
the Bruce tract, $l25 an acre. B. Nj. Ar
buckle said last night that two committees.
Is Ipfrs.-
Brice, and Messrs. Richardson. Dierdorf and
Roth, have been appointed to look at sites.
Both committees Will report at the next
meeting of the club to be held a week from
tonight, when choice will be made. AS
soon as the site is selected the work of
throwing up a half-mile track, building the
clubhouse, grand stand, etc., will be COM
menced. Mr. Arbuckle says that the first
drive will be given on the afternoon of July
4, if not sooner. Driving matinees will be
given at least one afternoon each week.
While the object of the club is to provide
for the pleasure and amusement of the
members and their families, primarily, the
public will be admitted 10 the matinees for
a nominal fee. On other occasions only the
holders of membership cards Will be adj
| mitted to the driving park. The club is not
il is hoped that 1t will prove seif-supoort-
| ing.
The idea of establishing driving club
originated with Mr.. Arbuckle, who first
thought of the plan two months ago. After
finding that available sites for the construc-
ton Of a course could be secured, ne pre-
sented the matter to others, and was agree
| ably surprised by the readiness witt which
| the scheme was approved. He says that he
| hopes to see the Business Mems Driving Club
| take rank with similar clubs at Cleveland
| PittsOurg, Philadelphia and other large
| cities. A great many men in this city have
| blooded horses with records ranging under
| three minutes, and Mr.. Arbuckle says that
| there is TO reason why the driving matinees
| should not prove an attractive feature Of
| summer amusements. No betting will be al
| lowed, but prizes Will be offered at the mat
| inee drives.
The capital stock Of the Business Mems
| Driving Club is 600, divided into 100 shares
of 800 each. Each member must subscribe
| for share Of stock. The membership is
therefore limited TO one hundred. At present
! sixty subscribers have been secured and q
| number OF other well-known men have sig.
| niied their intentions of taking stock Up &c
| date. those VITO have become Identified with
| the club are: 5 w. McMahan, j. II. Slater
W. y. Short, E. G.. Dferdorf, j. c. Sipe, Henr,
j. Huder. Charles Wood. Sterling X. Holt
r. NJ. Rottler. Thomas Taggart, w. III. Co
burn, H. B. Rowland. ]. K Sharpe ir., II
| X. Bliss. Horace f. Wood. George II. Bryce
Burge Blair; John II. ,Spahr, II. W. Law
| ford. Edward Schurrmann. Albert Lieber
| Charles l.. Shower, ID. A. Richardson, Will
| lam H. Schmidt, V. Graham Brennan, Yves
| Stalcup. A. ID. Perdleton, F. w. Lewis, w
| r. Christian, John knight, DR.. T. z. Marker
| INobert Landgraf. Charles Mayer. Edwin F
| Moore. y. NJ Harrison, o. s. Lehman. III
| III. Gibbs. Jesse Fletcher. John O. Spahr, DIR
A: +; Sterne, John G Dunn. T. Smith Graves
| w. w. Baker. j. c. Pierson, denry Cavett
! Jonas F. Johnson. James r. Henry, Silas c
| Dean and John w. Fort. Governor Claud,
| Matthews expressed himself - Mr.. Arbuckl,
| as favoring the plan and said that he woul,
| become a subscriber. j. y. Milikan, Lin Mil
1 likan and others have also decided to becom,
| identified with the club.