New-York tribune., 1902-05-11
THOUSANDS SEE PARADE.
SPEEDWAY TROTTERS AND DRIVERS AT
THEIR BEST.
PARTRIDGE PINS MEDAL ON BRAVE PO-
LICEMAN-QUEEN WILKES WINS PRIN-
CIPAL BRUSH OF THE DAY.


LICEMAN-QUEEN WILKES WINS PRIN-
CIPAL BRUSH OF THE DAY
There were about four hundred light harness
equipages in line yesterday afternoon at the an
nual parade of the Road Drivers Association
The meeting of the men who drive fast trotting
and PAGERS was at Seventh-ave and One-hun-
dred- andtenth-st., the various divisions forming
in the side streets near the entrance to Central
Park, and awaiting the command of the grand
marshal of the occasion. Alexander Newburger.
to fall in line and start for the Speedway. which
was their objective point.
Headed by a platoon of mounted police to
clear the way along Seventh-ave.. the glittering
procession Of fleet, mettlesome horses. hooked to
light pneumatic road wagons, moved gayly away
after o'clock, and reached the reviewing
stand at the road drivers clubhouse, on the
Speedway, at One-hundred- and sixty -ffth-st..
about half an hour later.
After traversng the length Of the soft earth
road and countermarchng back from Dyckman-
st. to the entrance the parade was disbanded
and the prearranged brushes began
All along the line of march, four miles or
more, thousands of spectators were gathered TO
see the passing show. They stood four deep at
the curbline skirting Seventh-ave.. just above
the Park and they grouped themselves every
where on the rocks and ridges and cliffs of the
picturesque hillside overlooking the speeding
ground. The reviewing stand below the club
house was packed with invited guests and city
officials and all about 1t the rocks were black
with people who like to look at the fast horses,
although they own none.
Men experienced In estimating the magnitude
of great throngs placed the number of persons
within sight Of the clubhouse and reviewing
stand at forty thousand. and some said there
were ifty thousand in the crowd. IL was easily
the greatest assemblage that ever saw trotters
measure strides in the vicinity OF this city. How
many thousands more were in the throngs that
walled in Seventh-ave. and the route to the
Speedway entrance II would be difficult to guess.
but it is not unlikely that seventy-hve thou
sand saw the horses at one point or another.
The parade moved in divisions. each under
the command of marshal and at the head of
the line. Immediately following the mounted
police were city officials and guests of the as
sociation in surreys. Among them were ex-
Mayor Thomas F. Gilroy. who suggested the
site and welded the shovel that turned the first
bit of earth in the building of the Speedway;
Colonel John y. Partridge. Police Commissioner;
William r. Wilcox. president of the Park De-
partment. John f. Eustis. Commissioner of
Parks for the Borough of The Bronx; Jacob 4.
Cantor. president of the Borough of Manhat-
tan and John McCullagh. State Superintendent
of Elections.
Arriving at the reviewing stand. the guests
left their carriages and took the seats reserved
for them overlooking the speeding stretch where
the brushes were TO take place Before this
feature of the programme began Commissioner
Partridge formally presented, in behalf of the
Road Drivers Association. a beautiful gold
medal and a set of resolutions to Mounted Po-
liceman Isaac II. Weiner. of the Speedway
Squad
Weiner achieved distinction three weeks ago
by daring rescue in runaway the Speed
way, and the Road Drivers Association seized
the opportunity their parade presented of thus
showing their appreciation Of the hluecOat's
brave deed. Commissioner Partridge said after
reading the engrossed resolutions. that he
proud to have such men Weiner the force
whereat the policeman looked embarrassed and
blushing, thanked his superior officer for his
kind words. saying. he put on his helmet and
started to remOunt:
Il did the best I could Mr. Commissioner but
I'll try to do better the next time"
This was but one of many pleasing incidents
that served to make the day delightful for every
one who was fortunate enough to be there A
comedy feature was furnished by W. II, Graley's
chestnut road horse Bonny Brook as the long
line Of paraders was passing the stand Hearing
the band play at the clubhouse. the knowing
animal which turned out to be a trick horse in
disguise suddenly shifted his gait and began to
waltz in harness keeping perfect time to the
music. in a way that tickled the sightseers.
shortly after this incident John J. Quinn. the
sunerintendent of the Speedway. who, it is
feared is suffering from a fatal malady, came
cheeriIv along with the COors of Ireland stream
ing from the name and from the harness of his
handsome chestnut road horse. The bandmaster
saw II. and ir an instant changed the tune to
THE Wearing of the Green greatly pleasing
the .opuIar horseman. as Well as the crowd
There was another hearty laugh when Fred
erick Cerken. owner of The Monk. 2OSL.. the
fastest trotter that ever set foot the Speed
vav. perhaps rolled by in a luxur Gus victoria
with tvC servants in boots and breeches on the
box and pair of bobtailed English hackneys
snapping their knees before the fashionable
riagc.
Conspicuous in the parade was Mrs James f.
Souder of Jersey city, driving the sp rited gray
pscer Pavy Crockett. 2:161t, to light pneu-
matte wagon Of the Speedway type.
An ENJOYABLE luncheon was served to all mem
Continued seventh page.