The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-06-24
THE 200 TROTTER hEREf
NEW Possibilities FOR HARNESS
HORSES Nv SIGHT on THE SPEEDWAY.

NEW POSSIBILITIES FOk HARN ESS
HORSES Nv SIGHT on THE SPEEDWAY.
Many Indications That the Best Performance
Made ON the Tracks May BE Far Surpassed
on the Driveway-Air Currents as an Aid
and an impediment TO the Trotting Horse.
Now that a second survey Of the Harlem
River Driveway has proved beyond doubt that
the Quarter-mile posts along the road were
planted in the right places by the original engi-
neer. expert horsenlen have been forced 10 look
about for a new explanation Of the almost in
credible flights Of speed shown by some Of the
crack ~trotters and PAGERS there. SO many
marvellously fast quarters. halves and miles
have been reported from time 10 time that the
majority of hor-emen long ago made up their
minds there must be something radically wrong
somewhere. and most Of them jumped to the
conclusion that the quarter posts were not a
a quarter OF a mile apart.
More than a year ago the question was raised
a. % how fast Cobwehs, PIP. could trot II quar-
Ter Of q mile dow the Level stretch from the
bend 10 the end Of the stone wall north OF Wash
ington Bridge, One day when tho chestnut
horse was feeling particular clipper and the
wind was nor mo west Nathan Straus sent him
scudding before the breeze with all sails set
over this stretch OF road. An experienced
horseman stood on the sidewalk exactly opposite
the quarter post and snapped his spiit-Second
chronograph In response TO the drop OF a hand
kerchief up the road as Cobwebs passed the
starting point. As the horse rushed past the
post at the end OF the quarter the timer snapped
his watch again. The hands had stopped at
2ox seconds-a 1877 gait. The man who held
the watch was laughed at and accused OF in
tentionslly fayoring the horse. Nobody be-
lieyed for a moment Cobwebs had actually
shown anything like a 200 gait with a road
wagon behind him. Several days later he WAS
timed again In the same way, with two horse
men holding their watches on him.. This tino
one watch indicated O29hl and the other watch
indicated O2o fiat. Aiterward he was timed a
half mile in 1897 and quarters IN go, DAVID
r. was timed a half in 1909. and Darrell in los
Bumps stopped the hands at O2g for a quarter,
his driver taking the time by starting and stop
ping his watch rs the horse passed the posts.
SO many fast performance caused the wise
ones to change their tune, and they began TO
question the accuracy OF the measurements
in setting the posts. Then came the perform
ance of Il. \. Crawford's trotting mare, Alice
Dorman, 2,l5H. Drawing two men in a pneu-
mate road wagon she was started one even;
Ing at the first post south OF High Bridge and
was drl.rh d nh hnILhMatu in naar nrcr9
man street, A strong wind was blowing IN the
direction she trolted, and though the road was
was uphlI ana GOWN a snou pay oi ~ NJ II
time Of 2l2, according IN the watch held by a
poIssniau 9I IoIS resS 49, - 10 s,ory
poslue ner nrlver, ~ puplnoa,I9n ot uu umy
In a thousand gave credenco TO the report, ~
pointed out that the best time ever made by
uotter 70 waSVn "iui oIaE the uil'rf aoooard
was 2Ot,. ana the uotter Ilht ilTae .ne aecutu
had a mark OF aOs 70 stlky, Inc man Mho
GROVE hhce Hofman W Heb i,Voiuo i93Inn,
SAID she couont uot a mle 70 SUM ~ ~
On ths tas}sst macA , In .n nor Toi'i tho p ide ~ thai fatt
she mad puued tWo men Ia u "asoh hAn
2l2 over the SPEEDWAY. All,
ye asS' fSoi2iIse, aSeS, nav" was tim tined in los for
half IA mile when she beat C9pweos a iorllisn.
ago; Page, 2W%. stopped me Watches a,
30 ioI q quarter one Gay mo. t1nR liz nsa n SSaaiHf
In the remarkable time OF W. Inc cilInaA
was capped. however. when the pacing mare.
Dariel. 20!n. MOVING WIN me WIND ir2ln DyG n1
man street 70, the post near the Speed"sy nm
covered the mile in 200. according " the watch
Of her driver, and Little Gem. 2l53i. on me
same day went over the SAINT ground IN 2lltii
Capt. ". II. Boyce. who drove BON pagers ana
timed them a. they passed the poet,, has llnleo
hundreds Of i miles sefHga'e oB the ~ e t1seky a .hSS
neither his skill nor his word i doubted by
those who know him. let NOBODY oeileVes
that either PAGER IS capable oil making sueh
time on the fastest track In the country SO
early in the season.
A second survey last week having shown that
the, horseo travelled the rulI distance N AL Eases;
and nearly all oil past raIs haVihs oeen llIlev
by competent experts, a growing hutll1er OF
horsomen are coming around 10 me pelei that
the true explanation OF the seemingly lnGreuanle
speed les in the fact that the course = virtually
straight and that a horse ma 60 pelore me
wind from END 10 END, ntu the hlr!ehi lsiVor