Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-24

The decadence that Ii falling over Bright
wood track as a racing attraction and the
almost total abandonment Of the new and
beautiful century speedway are matters
which are alarming every true light harness
horse lover in the District of Columbia
While 1t is easy to understand why
Brightwood is losing the popularity 1t once
enjoyed, 1t Is not easy to account Tor
the neglect of the speedway on the part OF
local horsemen. The horses IN training are
not the only pebbles on the beach. There
are others. but the new speedway Is not
patronized by them. Even President De
Graw is nonplussed and mortified at the
indifference shown. AS for Col. Bromweli-
he is simply waiting to see whether interest
in the course is permanently on the wane-
If he concludes that it is, one OF two things
viii happen-either the track will be turned
over to the patrons OF the automobile GER
tain hours of the day, or 1t will be thrown
open to the public at all hours of the day.
Should the latter course be pursued the
horsemen of the District of Columbia Will
have, only themselves to blame. If they
do not appreciate the grand opportunity Of
fered them at present, they deserve no bet
ter treatment than that which is liable to be
accorded them. A meeting of horsemen or
the District should be called at once to
consider the matter. The apathy of the
present board of management cannot con-
tinue much longer without endangering the
future of the course, s far as the horse
men of Washington are concerned.
The statement made a few days ago by
President Daniel ]. Campau of Detroit that
the meeting at that point has been abaR-
doned on account of the pronouncements of
the prosecuting attorney of Wayne county
that pool selling would not be permitted Is
ominous in the extreme. For more than
twenty years past the grand circuit has an
nually opened at Detroit in a blaze of glory.
The M. and NJ and the Chamber of Com
merce stakes classics in their way) aver
aging upward of $40 600 in purses to be con-
tested for, brought to the track the
shores of Lake st. Clair the best horses in
the country. The purses hung up for the
four days meeting have aggregated as high
as $4,000 were never less than $4,000 and
the meeting was patroniZed by the elite of
Detroit. Indeed, the week of the meeting
was great event in the local history of
the city of the straits. AS high 10000
people daily filled the grand stand and In
field, and breeders and prominent horse
men from all over the United States fiocked
thither to witness contests that never failed
to stir the blood and exalt the light har-
ness horse in the affections of the people.
Last season 1t was Cleveland, one OF the
main props of the grand circuit, which
dropped out of line because Mayor Tom
Johnson refused to permit pool selling. This
year the horsemen of Cleveland assessed
themselves to the amount of $1,000 and re-
solved to hold a meeting with pool selling
eliminated. President Campau of Detroit
has handed over to the Cleveland manage
ment the entries for the NJ. and M. and the
Chamber of Commerce stakes and the con-
tests for the same viii take place over
the famous Glendale course which Maud S.
made historic by her performance of nearly
thirty years ago by trotting over II a mile
TO high wheels In the unprecedented time
of 20f%. A shoe worn on the day of the
great event was tackled over the main en-
trance of the track and there it hangs to-
day, and there it will continue to hang until
some horse speedier and greater than the
peerless daughter of Harold and Miss Rus
sell shall lower her time under like con-
ditions