Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1900-01-15
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
a recognized product of this country
New York has been the great centre
toward which zach breeder turned
longing eye hoping some day to pro-
duce world beaten that should find
a market there. In the early days OF
breeding the trotter the road riders of
the metropolis absorbed the champion
performers, and IN a certain sense this
is true to-day.
or course, with the immense growth
of breeding light harness horses, when
thousands are produced annually, no
one section or city can absorb all, but
il is safe 10 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
who have the means and wealth to
gTatify a desire for whatever they
wish. For many years the great draw
back to harness sport was the lack ora
suitable place for fast driving. Few
men care to own a fast horse unless
they can crafty the ambition 10 havea
fast 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
is a 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, il 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 as much pleasure as those
who drive
TIE visitor who had not seen the To-
cality In ten years would scarcely rec
ognize the place to-day. What was
then q rough. unattractive spot OF
wilderness has been transformed into
a lovely park stretching for two miles
along the banks of the Harlem River.
The rugged beauty of nature has been
softencd and made more attractive.
The rugged beauty of nature has been
softened and made more attractive.
Inc kHtllfItu HUNS anu oNti
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
nlGccnt speeding ground man ever con-
structed, over whose surface one can
see almost daily the fastest harness
horses in the world competing in spir-
itel contests, what could the lover OF
nature or sport desire that is not here
provided for his enjoyment?
The approach from the Viaduct at
l55th street has been hewn for the
greater part of the way out of solid
rock This part of the drive has 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 a trifle over mile and a half to
DNkemau street. which is really a ma
cadamized extension. The construction
OF the roadbed is similar to that of the
tracks where harness races are held,
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.
Ii 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
home ward journey, when party of
friends indulge in grand scramble to
see which shall first 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 or the breeder and trainer has
produced, but prominent visiting horse
men from other cities who sojourn here
to enjoy the advantage of the famous
drive.
At a recent Sunday morning meet,
among the many famous horses seen in
the thronc, was Robert j., 2:01 1-2, the
champion harness horse of the world
at the time he was transferred from
the race track to the road, and Bumps.
2:O3I,, that now holds the worlds rec
ord TO wagon. Among others scarcely
less noted were Bessie Bonehill, 2;05&;
Roy Wilkes, 2:o6 1-2; Darrell. 2:O7A:
Lizzie Wilkes, 2:0SA David B., 2:09&4;
James l.. 2:O9 IL; King Egbert. 2:O9&:
lucille, 2:O93;. Nettie Jefferson, 2:1oA;
J.B. d, 2:10%: Ambidexter, 2:1A;
Iron Ban. 2;11&: Jack, 2:12ls; Chanty.
2:I3i.: West Wilkes. 2:1Sis Glen Mere
Boy, 2:14]4: Sir ED. 2;14&, and per-
haps others which figure as members
of the exclusive 2:15 list.
This was not any special occasion,
either but Is such common occurrence
that many of the regular spectators
come to know all the Speedway stars,
which of course, adds greatly to the
enjoy ment of witnessing the contests.
Those present that morning saw the
famous cracks" Robert J., POI IL;
Bumps. 2:0SA; Darrell. 2:07A, and Jack
2:l2 IL, in one of the best contests ever
seen over the drive.
Add to the spirited scenes of speed
the long line of pleasure vehicles NOV
ing in an endless chain up one side and
down the other the thousands Of spec.
tators that line the walks on either sid,
and one has an ideal picture of wha
the Speedway has done toward contri .
buting To the pleasures of those FORTY
nate enough TO dwell within the Circ-e
OF it's magic influence.