Evening star., 1904-02-01
EAGER sTEEDs RACE
FAST srEPPERs IN sLEIGHING
CARNIVAL ON WHITE LOT.
Regulations Against Fast Driving
Temporarily Suspended, but Precau-
tions Taken Against Accidents.

The White Lot was the scene Saturday
afternoon of the nlerrfest sleighing carnival
that Washington has seen in long time.
The intention of the Road Drivers and
Riders Association In calling upon the
members of the organization to attend
meet was to have 1t on the new driveway
along the Potomac. but when the first OF
the contingent arrived there it was dis
covered that the snow was in no condition
for fast driving and the scene of the sport
was transferred to the lot between the
White House and the monument Fresn
nid-afternoon to midnight the hundreds OF
sieighs that participated in the fun there
made the frosty air ring with the clash OF
their runners on the hard-packed snow to
the accompaniment of jingiing silver bells
Through the courtesy of Col Thomas ".
Symonds, superintendent of public buildings
and grounds. the ellipse was for the time
given over entirely to the speeding horses,
the regula tions against fast driving being
temporarily suspended, and there was many
dash between rival road workers spe-
cialists before the runners. Policemen were
stationed at intervals along the course
where 1t touched other drives in order that
unsaspecting persons might not get In the
way of the aiers and have their vehicles or
their lives endangered
Procession on Pennsylvania Avenue
From the Capitol to the White Lot there
was procession of about hundred
sleighs, which was joined by other sleigh
ers not members of the association at the
ellipse, and as soon they came the sport
began. On the outskirts OF the flying
sleighs there was large gathering of other
sliding vehicles. and many persons who had
come to the place on foot to watch the
of a great driving carnival, and every time
particularly, fast horse or pair passed an
entrance there was a hearty cheer as an
encouragement to better things Many Of
the drivers of the sleighs were women, and
some of the latter took up the gauntlet
thrown down by men drivers and gave
them run for the privilege of keeping to
the front. In several instances the women
were victorious, and then the cheering was
louder and more prolonged than ever.
Among the fast horses out were: Gold
Pebble. driven by Lieut.. Gen. Miles, a
splendid brown horse, which challenged
with perfect impartiality all comers and
took up the pace with most of them. Gen.
fur cap pulled down to his eyes. almost
meeting the upturned collar of his over
coat. obscured every vestfge of the face
that has been so long familiar to Washing
Of the army. Other horses that were there.
accompanied by their owners as Sec
ondary consideration. the horses being the
central features OF the attraction, were:
Nellie R., driven by William r. Rackey OF
Georgetown; George, a beautiful sorrel
PAGER. owned and driven by B. F. McCaul-
ley. Argo. accompanied by P. V. DeGraw,
who gave some of the fast ones all they
wanted: Becraft a fine horse. which
brought John Gheen to the meet with him
and was SO eager to beat everything IN
sight that he forgot to trot, and several
times broke when travelling around the
ellipse against brown mare driven by
Jesse Brown. Pat. a magnificent brown
horse. owned by John r. Mclean. was
there in company with E. W. Ash. Col.
SymondS had a turn or two around the track
behind a high stopper. and Robert Il.
Graves drove two sorrels. which did tine
work cut out for them with grace and
driving Billy Buck: H. W. Kern. with Nor
rsll; John Stoutenburg, Dr. r. A. Warner,
B. F. Wrenn and many others.
Horses and Men Enthusiastic.
The distance around the track is one
mile. and the horses were SO eager and the
drivers SO enthusiastic that the latter had
frequently to be called to account by the
police. who were counting the times they
circled the course. One driver went around
fifteen times before his horse showed the
least indication Of weariness. and then lie
was told by the police the number of times
he had done 1t. He was astonished and
Immediately quit for the day. II the pre-
diction of the weather bureau Is correct
there will be more OF the same sport today
and tomorrow. but no preparations have
been made and if there is meet it Will be
on the driveway. The indications fo- snow
are good and if 1t falls on the foundation
now laid the sleighing will be even better