Evening star., 1903-12-07
FAST STEPPERS OUT
FINE SPORT ON THE NEW PoTO
MAC DRIVEWAY.
Friendly Contests Over the Course
Prominent Horsemen Behind
Their Favorite Nags.

That the new Potomac driveway has had
the effect of stimulating interest In the
sport of the horsemen cannot be questioned
Not since the speedway opened has there
been such a fine display of horse flesh as
was seen there last Saturday afternoon.
The members of the Riders and Drivers
Association of Washington and other horse
men Of the city made good use Of the drive
way Saturday afternoon. There was no
lack of spectators. The line of interested
non-participants stretched along the greater
part of the driveway. The spectators in
cluded a number Of the fair sex of the city
and the officials of the government. The
temperature, which was somewhat "bitey,"
with indications of colder weather. put
horses and drivers in perfect form for
speeding. All the afternoon there were
hot contests between the various turnouts.
Early Completion Of New Speedway.
Col Symons, engineer officer in charge
of public buildings and grounds, a member
of the Riders and Drivers Association, and
an enthusiastic horseman. expects to have
the new dirt speedway finished within the
next six weeks. His plans have been ap-
proved by Col. Allen, engineer officer in
charge of the Washington aqueduct. A
movement is on foot to raise the funds for
TIE coHSlTuCtlOI Ol luc speedway
Mr.. Harry Lansdale has become so in
terested in the movement that he has pur-
chased the well-known PAGER Happy, with
record of 2.0SA, and the racing mare of
the 2.14A species Mr. E. Z. Taylor of +
street has also negotiated the purchase of
a trotting gelding with 2.09A record.
Among the many exciting brushes Satur
day afternoon was that between the Jim
Wilson gelding Beecraft, 2.34A, and the
sorrel gelding Silver Socks, that has trotted
half mile ring in 2277x. To a fair start
they came down the first quarter of the
speedway at 20 clip; but when near the
middle distance the Wilson gelding got his
nose in front and gradually drew ahead
until at the finish he had opened up gap
of six lengths. The white-legged sorrel geld
ing held on like grim death, however. and
with the noted trainer and driver Thomas
Canonn up behind him he went the mile
of his life. The pair will come together
again next Saturday afternoon, when Mr..
Cannon expects to put it on Beecraft by
giving the Socks gelding more road work
In the interval.
Another Speedy Brush.
Another brush that aroused a great deal
Of interest was that between the sofrel
gelding Bathgate, owned by Thomas ].
Henley, and John Dugan's Joe d. Each
horse is bread in the bluest possible purple
Bathgate being by Lord Russell. a full
brother to Maud s., and dam by Brown
Wilkes, while Joe d. Is by Roy Wilkes,
2.O6A and his dam by Wilson'S Blue Bull.
Roy at one time held the champion stallion
record to high wheels. Joe had all his
speed with him and made a game try to
head the son of Lord Russell, but 1t was
no use, although Joe, when at his best. can
show close to a 2.30 clip.
When Everett L. and Interstate Com
merce Commissioner YeOman's gallant son
of Joe Patchen, George r. Peck, 2.17la, were
seen coming down the line shout went up
from SEQ throats. Every one present knew
they were out for blood. Peck can score
two-minute trot, and hitched he to
a heavy wagon and drawing two people. he
made the sorrel gelding step the mile of his
life. Peck was rapidly overhauling the sor-
rel at the finish when, no longer being able
to stand the strain and weight, he stepped
on his gilt-edged pedigree. went to
tangled break and John Seely. his driver
and trainer, pulled him to a walk.
General Nelson A. Miles was cons5icu-
Gus figure on the driveway Saturday. He
rode his two flyers, Gold Pebble and Happy
Tie. Colonel Symons drove a handsome
geiding, which he recently purchased in
Canada.