Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-23
OUR SPEEDWAY.
Perhaps the Realization of Dreams of
Local HOrsemen May he Realized.

Il came down on the train from New
York" said Washington merchant whose
fancy for trotters Is well known, to Star
reporter, with rich banker, who was on
his way to several of the stock farms Of
Maryland to purchase trotters fer driving
on the speedwa Of the metropolis. He
asked me what the owners Of horses did
when they wanted to spin behind their trot-
tiers at the capital
Il was forced to reply that while many
record horses were owned here and that
the meetings at Brightwood track were we'll
patronized we were at present living in
when possessed a good straightaway
speedway of our own upon which a mount
ed policeman would be stationed to preserve
order only, and not restrict the speed of
the horses driven by their owners In a pas
time which has been aptly described as that
of kings
washington Is large and rich enough to
support such a course devoted exclusively
to so admirable and praiseworthy a pleas
ure. and We believe that Congress will ulti-
mately heed our DESIRES Exact figures are
not obtainable. but the speedway in New
York has given an impetus to the breeding
and training of trotting horses which has
heen felt to a greater less degree upon
every trGtting stock farm in the country
and right here in Maryland especially. for I
know Of my own personal knowledge of
| many promising trotters shipped from that
state and from Virginia to New York to
meet the strong demand for good. speedy
young trotters. A few years ago this for
efgn demand did not exist to SUCH an ex-
tent in fact. the trotter was in a languish-
ing condition and our local breeders suf-
fered with the others.
But speedway trotting is now a craze in
New York. and we participate in gathering
in the dollars which are annually scattered
among the breeders for new material The
recent parade on the speedway in that CITY
c oh VI l fnrfr 1911,
to witness in company with a Montgomery
county stock farm owner. and 1t was long
chain Of magnificent horsefesh. which
would have stirred the blood in the veins If
the most phIegmatic of men who had no
for horse other than for service
New York spent several millions upon
this splendfa, wide drive. which follow. the
placid Harlem river for couple of miles
and which Is kept as smooth and soft as
velvet for the lightly shod feet of the cost
lest and finest collection of horsetiesh in
the world. Floor-hke avenues debouch
from the upper part Of the city and from
Central Park. coirTerging 1t the main en-
trance to the speedway at 10th street
Mounted policemen are stationed at inter-
walls, but no restraint is placed upon the
speed of herses. Brushes between million
aires, in which the horses are driven at 2I5
and better. are to be seen any fair day and
hundreds OF sightseers line the pathway for
pedestrians If the appropriation committee
would take I'm this sight some day in body
they would incorporate in the next appro-
pration bill clause setting aside 800. 900
for a speedway for Washington, and con-
slider the n1oneyl'well apportioned. Other
cities have ismulated New York, some of
less size than Washington. while others
have converted driveways which had been
used for other purposes into speedways
Our Conduit road is a fine drive. but the
speed thereon 1s limited. there are several
hills. and the straightaway stretches are #
insufficient length. while all sorts of We
hicles are permitted its use. now suggest
In The Star that at the next session of Con-
gress an organized effort be made on the
part of the owners of trotting horses in
Washington to secure a sufficiently large
appropriation for a speedway which will be
in keeping with the other improvements
and beauties Of the capital"