The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-08-08
DULL DAY ON SPEEDWAY.
FEW CRACK JROTTERS AMONG THE
TURNOUTS IN EVIDENCE.

Robert j. Shows Old-Tinie Speed in n Morn
ing Spin Above the BridEes-His Owner
Complains That Nobody Will Brush with
Him-A Levcl-Hended Little Trotter.
Nearly all New Workers. who drive crack trot-
oers on tho road are out OF town at present, and
those who remain appear TO be somewhat shy
about taking their valuable stcppers out for a
long drive whom the mercury is up In the nine
Ties, so that nothing like n representative turn
out OF road riders and road horses was in evil
dence yesterday on the now Speedway. How
ever, q large number OF pleasure drivers in
road wagons. runabouts. phaetons, and other
light vehicles thronged the picturesque road
along tho banks Of the Harlem, and. barring the
rather poor speed display, tho scene was q
lively one late in the afternoon.
Since the new driveway has been opened =
remarkable change has been observed In the
route followed by Sunday pleasure drivers
above the Park. The stream OF vehicles which
formerly poured across the Central Avenue
Bridge on reaching the end Of Seventh avenue
is now for the most part turned westward at
the bridge approach. passing over the 15Oth
street viaduct up TO the Speedway entrance.
Not ono in 1--WE crosses the bridge. and Jerome
avenue and tho roads on the other
side are nearly deserted. Many OF the
men who dislike to drive trotters over tho
stone block pavement on the viaduct avoid
0OluR so Dy turning Ol DtNeuLh uNchuo Nv
10th street and following st. Nicholas and
Edgecombe avenues to the Speedway entrance.
This is regarded as the better route. although
not everybody has found 1t out. The road Is
macadamized all the way from the Park to the
Speedway. and barring q few blocks OF very I'M
even footing Just below 125th street Is in fine
condition.
A group OF half a dozen horsemen afforded
most OF the sport that was seen on the $ peed-
way yesterday afternoon. One Of them drove a
plain-looking little old bay trotter that pos
sessed Just speed enough to beat the party by
the hardest kind OF an effort, and the others
tried time and again to make him take. their
dust in the drive from Washington Bridge to
the north end, Something like q 80 gait was
II OF 30 steady and true from end to end, in
every brush. never lifting his nose, that his
many another horse Of far superior speed.
The lookers-on at the roadside were with him
more applause than q Grand Circuit winner
every time he led the way from the bridge to
pyckmqn street. More than once ne best ot
lead. but the ~constant little trQtter. with the
heart Of q racehorse: never taitered; After
amarch and get the lead by starting his horse
trial Of speed. He was too eager. however, and
drove his horse to a break before he was fairly
Hey, mister, YOU couldn't drive a hot nail in
= snowbank." was the sally that, came from q
younEster on the sidewalk as the horse went
Into the air.
Lewis G.. Tewksbury turned Robert J. loose
on the north end in the morning. and the, few
spectators who saw tho great PAGER rush down
the gentle decline from Washington Bridge
were quickly convinced that not all of the fast
road horses are out of town. The ex-champion
can pull a wagon very fast. and the road being
clear. his owner let him sail along at top speed
for the best part OF a mile.
S"There is one DISADVANTAGE in driving a
horse like Robert j. on the road" said Tewks-
Bury to the reporter Of The Sun. "Everybody
peems to know the horse. and they won't tackle
him. guess shall be compelled to buy a
second rater to have fun with up here"