The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-09
FUN Ar GYMKHANA RACES.
society Circus Held for Charity N New
Windsor.

CoRNwALL-oN-HUbsoN, Sept. s.-A 500
ciety circus" drew a large crowd 10 New
Windsor, Orange county. yesterday. II
was given IN the large estate Of Mrs. z.
Frank Coe. and the proceeds were pre-
sented to the fresh air fund Of New Wind
sor. For several weeks the affair has been
under way, and during the entire week re-
hearsals have been held daily under he
direction Of J.. Blackburn Miller, assisted
by DR.. Leonard r. Nicoll and J. Morgan
Browne.
New Windsor il famous. Il Is here
that Washington and Lafayette danced at
KnOX's headquarters at the top OF Forge
Hill, where blacksmiths fashioned the links
from iron out Of the Forrest Of Dean mine
and made the chain that was stretched
&cross the Hudson 10 check the passage
OF British ships: the Valley Of the Moodna,
through which runs Murderers' Creek,
where the Indians massacred he white
families: the ruins Of the old Ettrick man.
sion, where the Tory and the savage con-
spired to capture Washington during the
dance on the hill by Turing him into the
gloomy valley on a false errand, where
he vas 10 be seized, silenoed and carried
in an Indian canoe to the British General
In New York. New Windsor, with it's
history, was a fascin sting setting for tho
entertainment. Farmers stood in the fields
and gazed with amazement while the auto
mobiles, four-in-hands, tally-hos. buck
boards, andems and every pattern of
running rig drawn by horse or moved by
power rolled past them o n the road 10 the
scene OF the circus. where the exercises
started at 1 o'cloc with an automobile
parade on the half mile track for the hand
some cup given by Mrs. Coe.
Then came the equestrian parade, riding
In column and in couples. under the direo-
ton and head OF the marshal, j. Blackburn
Miller. q Of the most intrepid horsemen
in the State Of New York.
This was followed by the tournament
scene, fitting for rings by ladies and gen.
tlemen after the fashion OF the knights in
the lists mimic theatrical empicture-
ment in the open field, ar exhibition Of an
Gent chivalry-the most daring sport known
TO history. But this was gentle and no blood
was shed. Contestants started promptly
when their Ame were called, rode at a
gallop down the course and deposited all
rings taken with the marker at the enc
Of b course. Then they turned sharply
to the left and returned on the outer side
Of the track to the starting point. The
course was ridden twice by each contestant
and all the tied scores were ridden OF.
The celebrated gymkhana races Of India
were then begun. These games offer a
great variety OF opportunity for skill In
horsemanship and while the sport Is full
OF amusement and often productive OF
great laughter and applause throughout IL
all is displayed dexterity and talent in
riding. The first was the thread n
needle race. The contestants stand dis
-nA,nka1 kAA0~A NAA kw1Ann and naaA rANa
a thread and needle. At a signal they
mount, ride around the track, dismount,
hand thread and needle to a lady partner;
the ladies thread the needles. stick them
in lapel Of gentlemen's coats Gao they are
OF.
The second was a potato race. Each
contestant received four potatoes and at
signal rode round the track, dropping the
potatoes into four baskets from the horses
backs, and continuing TO ride until all po-
tatoes were dropped. There was a whole
lot Of fun In this race and some merry
blunders. The third was the manikin raoe
by men, Astounding in excitement and good
riding. Then came the egg and spoon
race. The contestants, mounted, each had
an egg and spoon, and on signal raced to
turning point, spoons held only by handle
with egg balanced in the BOWL and not
touched by hand. Those who dropped
their egg had to go back TO the starting
point. get another egg and go the entire
course 0ver again. Contestants had to
finish with egg intact in the spoon. There
was much merriment In this game. Eggs
were broken, OF, course, but that happens
with every good family.
Then came the Saturday to Monday race.
Dress suit cases, each containing a night-
shirt, were placed on the ground at starting
point. In this ace the contestants had to
prepare for bed by taking OF coats and then
to ride in night shirts and take them of,
box them up in suit cases, put on coats and
arrive at the judges stand all dressed.
1t furnished a grotesque and hilarious scene
This was followed by the umbrella race,
in which umbrellas had to be opened and
closed while the rider was in motion After
this came some fine tandem driving Then
the fun closed with the Virginia reel on
horseback.
The men and women who took part in the
contests were:
c. f B Mile gnT William MI [. SNiOoli, E: cos " Kerr,
Charles Curie, Jr.; Gray Now. Bryan. A.
E. Weller, Bryant Odell, X: M. Cameron,
p " Walker raf j. p' ia nDos M Hrif HIks %,l Yam
Duzer Burton, Howard Sherwood. Miss
Catherine 8. Burton, Miss A.. f. Harris,
Miss Helen Harris, Mrs: John Harper, Mrs.
J.. Blackburn Miller Miss c; L. Burton
Mics Evelyn Waldron, Miss Florence Alker,
Mis- Marie Matthieasen, Miss Dorothy
Stone. Miss Alice Fellowes, Mrs William
h. Walker, Miss Emma WalkerI Miss Mar
guerite Walker.
These were the winners:
Automobile parade, H. A. Weatherbee;
fitting for rings, Miss Evelyn .Waldrou,
Miss {. L. Burton, l.. v. p. Schwab, Bryant
OdeIl Cson OF B.. B. Odell, Jr.), Frank Bur
Harper, c. B. Miller. Dwight Partridge
and L. v. P. Schwab; potato race. Mrs.
John Harper, Miss G. L. Burton, Miss Evelyn
Waldron; manikin race, j. d. LAnnon, Gray
| New. Bryan, c. B. Miller: egg and spoon
race, Mrs. John Harper. g
NILRsE ELGHTS ElR HORSEG.