New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-11
GOSSIP OF THE TROTTERs.
END or BUFFALO PARK AS A TRoTTING TRACK
CONTESTS WHICH MADE THE OLD



CONTESTS WHICH MADE THE OLD
COURSE FAMOUS.
The recent destruction Of the grandsiand at the
Buffalo Driving Park will. it is said, end the ex-
istence OF this famous old place training and
racing ground for trotters. c. J. Hamlin, the
owner of the course and the leading spirit in all
meetings held there was ready 10 abandon all
further attempts at harness racing in Buffalo when
poolselling became unlawful. and now that fire
has licked up the clubhouse. stables and grand
stand leaving only the bare track and the fences
inclosng the well-equipped driving park. the
millionaire breeder and turfman says that he will
cut up the property into city lots and sell il for
building purposes. II Is estimated that the eighty
acres embraced in the park will bring nearly
100000 Mr.. Hamlin bought sixty Of the eighty
for $500 about thirty years ago.
or all the trottng tracks in the Grand Circuit
the one at Buffalo was perhaps the best known.
and il the scene of many notable tro,tng con-
tests Pop" Hoster. old-time Buffalo horse
man. built the course in 1867 but II not until
four years later. when Mr.. Hamlin. Chandler j.
Wells Myron Z. Bush and other representative
men formed the Buffalo Park Association, that
trotting meetings of National Importance were
held At tho opening meeting in 1866 O. w. Dmick
won the first race on the course with the
brown mare lie Blonde. by Ethan Allen, afterwarl
presented by Mr. Hamlin Henry y. Smith, Of
New-Ycrk. and now noted the grandam o. Pix
ley 2Osi, At the same meeting Budd Doble rode
Dexter % a record of 2S under saddle.
The red-etter occasion in the history OF the old
track was in 1871 when Colonel James Fisk. jay
Gould H. y Smith George Hall and other Wall
Street went to the Grand Circuit meeting
by special train from New-York accompanied by a
famous military band. They played the part tina;
fashionable society now plays at the National Horse
Show. and there immense crowd At the
course to the visitors and the trottcrs. After
the first heat in the 5000 for 2:;o trotters
Jim Irving an old time Ncw-York sporting man
who had backed the then unknown horse Judge
Brigham. complained to the judges that he was
being pulled let Dan Mace win with Judge Fuller
ton Fisk Gould ana Hall that the horse
was q wonder and they bought him the spot
for $50 90 The driver then informed that he
WAS responsible TO the new owners and that if he
failed TO win the next heat he would be taken out
OF the sulky Judge Brigham won the next three
heats with troting in 2:22 and equalling the
best time record for stations His name was
afterward changed to jay Gould. and he became
turf champion On this afternoon Thomas
jefferson defeated George Wilkes in Il contest for
the title of champion stallion and Goldsmith
turf won the free-for-all from Lucy and American
Girl, making the then remarkable time OF 2:lsa.
2:l9. 2Is In her three winning heats
IL was at Buffalo in 1861 that Dexter trOted TO his
then unequalled record OF 2l1l4. and OH the same
course. eleven years later. Rarus lowered the
worlds. record TO 2:lSl. The total amount dis
existence OF the Driving Park was upward OF
$4,000 Usually only one meeting OF -four or FIVE
purses ranging from $1,000 TO 5000 each. In 1868.
however. purse of $4,000 was hung up for troters
and was won by Fearnaught and In 1893 a purse
OF $4,000 for trotters. with another OF $1,000 for
PAGERS were features Of the Grand Circuit pro-
gramme. - g,