Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1900-02-23
WHERE FAST HORSES MEET.
High Glass Trotters on New
York's Great Speedway.
A RARE SIGHT FOR ALL

More Fast Horses Can BE Seen There
Than on Any other Drive in the
Worid-A Recent Sunday Morning
meet-The Exclusive List.
Ever since the trotting horse became
q recognized product OF this country
New York has been the great centre
toward which each breeder turned q
longing eye. hoping some day to pro-
duce world beaten that should find
q market there. In the early days OF
breeding the trotter the road riders OF
the metropolis absorbed the champion
performers, and in q certain sense this
Is true to-day.
or course. with the immense growth
or breeding light harness horses, when
thousands are produced annually. no
one section or city can absorb all, but
II In safe to say that at the present
time there are more high class trotters
IN New York than all other cities in
the country
The reason Is not far to seek New
York naturally attracts a class OF men
VINO have the means and wealth to
crafty desire for whatever they
wish. For many years the great draw
back to harness sport was the lack ola
suitable place for fast driving. Few
men care to own a fast horse unless
they can crafty the ambition to have a
iast one and excel some competitor In
point Of speed.
Now all this is changed. The owner
and lover OF the light harness horse
has free access to the finest drive de,
voted to fast driving in the world. 1t
IL q boon not alone accessible to the
man Of wealth, who drives a champion
that perhaps represents an outlay of
many thousands OF dollars, but equally
so to the man OF humble means who
probably finds as much pleasure behind
his modest priced trotter as falls to
the lot Of the wealthy devotee.
Again. IT is not alone those who drive
that vote Speedway Park one Of the
brightest and most enjoyable spots In
Greater New York. Thousands who
make the journey by car to enjoy the
beautiful scenery and watch the sport
derive fully rs much pleasure as those
who drive.
The visitor who had not seen the To-
caltty In ten years would scarcely rec
ognize the place to-day. What was
then rough. unattractive spot Of
wilderness has been transformed into
q lovely park stretching for two miles
along the banks OF the Harlem River.
The rugged beauty OF nature has been
softened and made more attractive.
The rugged beauty Of nature has been
softened and made more attractive.
The sheltered hooks and overhanging
cliffs present an ever changing piano.
rama that alone would make a visit
well worth the journey.
When to this Is added the most mag
ntficent speeding ground man ever con-
structed. over whose surface one can
see almost daily the fastest harness
horses in the world competing In spir-
tied contests. what could the lover Of
nature or sport desire that is not hero
provided for his enjoyment?
The approach from the Viaduct at
156th street has been hewn for the
greater part OF the way out of solid
rock. This part Of the drive has a ma
cadnm stone surface. The broad walks
on either side invite the pedestrian to
Join the throng and view the sport
Many. however. prefer to make the
journey up Amsterdam avenue, leaving
the car at Washington Bridge and
passing down the broad stone steps
that lead to the drive.
At the end OF the approach the
Speedway proper begins, and extends
for tribe over a mile and q half to
Dykeman street. which is really a ma
cadamized extension. The construction
or the roadbed Is similar to that Of the
tracks where harness races are held,
and no track has better care or is kept
In more perfect order. The first stretch
extends to High Bridge. From this
point to Washington Bridge there Is a
slight descent as the upper stretch is
reached.
1t is here that the drivers usually
congregate and the majority OF the con-
tests take place. The lower stretch IS
rarely used for speeding. except on the
homeward journey. when q party Of
friends indulge in q grand scramble to
see which shall irst reach the macad-
am.
Sunday morning. from ten to twelve
o'clock, is when the drive is liable to
be most attractive to the lover OF har-
ness sport. The visitor may then see
not only many OF the fastest horses the
skill OF the breeder and trainer has
produced. but prominent visiting horse
men from other cities who sojouln here
to enjoy the advantage OF the famous
drive.
At recent Sunday morning meet,
among the many famous horses seen in
the tbrong. was Robert J., 2:01 1-2, the
champion harness horse of the world
ht tHe tii1e ne was transferred from
the race track to the road, and Bumps,
2:o3A. that now holds the worlds rec
ord to wagon. Among others scarcely
less noted were Bessie Bonehill, 2:05X;
Roy Wilkes, 2:0s 1-2; Darrell. 2:O7H:
Lizzie Wilkes, z:o8H David B., 2:e9K;
James L.. 1909 IL; King Egbert, 2:0s&;
Lucille. 2:oSK; Nettis Jefferson, 2:10H;
J. B. D.. 2:1ek; Ambidexter. 2:11K;
Iron Ban. 2:11K: Jack, 2:12h: Chanty,
2:131: West Wilkes. 2:1sk: Glen Mere
Boy. z:14A; Sir ED, 2:14%, and per-
hape others which figure as members
OF the exclusive z:I5 list.
This was not any special occasion,
either. but 10 such common occurrence
that many Of the regular spectators
come to knew. all the Speedway stars,
which of course. adds greatly to the
enjoyment OF witnessing the contests.
Those present that morning saw tho
famous Cracks" Robert J., POI 1-2:
Bumps. 2:osA; Darrell, z:07A, and Jack
x.l2 ~ In ~ -