The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-05-01
MATINEE RACES.
Horsemen Plan For
Gathering of
the Clans.
FULL MOON TRACK.
Fast Ones and Skates to
to Mix 1t Up on
July 4.

A number of enthusiastic horsemen
induced by the conviction that Wor-
cester Driving Park Company Will De
unable to furnish lovers of the sporu
with anything in the line of light mar
ness racing this summer, are agitating
a plan for matinee racing at the Ola
Full Moon track. July 4. Inc schene
is meeting with marked favor. The
success of the soldiers matinee races
at the fair grounds last summer is
pronounced encouragement to the De-
lief that horse racing can be conducted
in spirit Of sport and a rafting good
card put I'D sufficient to insure an after
noon of rare sport among local horses
without the necessity of hanging un
big purses.
Charles II. Pratt and number Oh
prominent horsemen who are in SYM
pathy with the movement, are of the
opinion that the affair should be ar~
ranged as a social occasion, and q gath~
ering of the clans for right good times
emphasizing this feature of the after-
noon of sport rather than its merits
as an exhibition of horse-raclng, pure
and simple Worcester will be repre~
scented on the race track this summeF
by the largest and best string of old~
timers and new prospects that has gone
out from the heart of the common
wealth for dozen years, and to induce
some of the good ones to remain ab
home on the national holiday, suffi-
cient purse will be hung up to insurs
strong field of entries. Millbury,
BoyIston and Holden may be called on
for three interesting and ardfought
races, and a gentlemen's driving race
to wagon would complete a card strong
enough to call a good crowd to the lake
for cracking good time.
The expense of putting the Full Moon
track into presentable shape would not
be great. The famous old track that
has seen many of the best Of the old
timers put in fast miles before big
crowds. needs only picking of the
stones and a general brushing up, to
be in good condition for an afternoon
of sport. Refreshments could be
served. slow or skate races arranged,
and the addition of a number of spe-
cial features. it is believed, would in
sure a card strong enough to call out
a big crowd for a royal good, free and
easy time, brim full OF enjoyment.
Matinee races at the tracks near Bos-
ton have proved one of the most pop
ular forms of amusement in the cate
CORY of sports. The races are trotted
two in three and for fun more than
money, for the latter element is decid-
eddy lacking The races, il arranged for
the old track, should prove strong
enough attraction to win Worcester
horsemen over to the matinee race
idea If Worcester is to have anything
by way of horse racing this summer,
for
unite for at least one day of sport. A
number of prominent horsemen who
have been approached are in sympa-
thy with the movement, and 1t is not
at all unlikely that the plan now in
embryo will be matured before many
days.
Worcester Driving Park Company
has made no move looking to the aban-
donment of the series of dates claimed
from the National association for two
race meetings, one in July and the
other in August. Neither has any
thing been done to advertise the races
nor solicit entries. The plans of the
company as formed at the annual BAN
quet are in statu quo, awaiting the re-
port of the committee which was APP
pointed to look into the question Of
new site for track. This COMMITTEES
shows an inclination to await the ac-
ton of Worcester Agricultural society
on the all-important question OF new
location before mapping out it's plan
for a race track. A cooperation of
the two associations, the horsemen and
the Agricultural society, is not un-
likely.
Meanwhile. the outlook for harness
racing is decidedly gloomy The be-
lief prevails that Worcester will not
hear the sound of the starters bell nor
see the horses go this season, unless
the plans for matinee races at the old
Full Moon track materialize. The out
look for these, however, is of the
brightest.