Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-16
By L. D. Sale.

Wherever two or three horsemen are
congregated the matinee OF the Drivers and
Riders Club of the District of Columbia,
held over the new speedway last TUESDAY,
is a matter OF discussion. and the consen-
sus of opinion is that it was great sue
cess from every viewpoint. The day was
clustering and the cold winds when
swept over the infield from the far-or re-
gI9ns Of Manitoba pierced the marrow.
But the 300 light harness horse lovers
stood gamely by the sport, and it is well
WITHIN the limits of truth to say that II
the wca her had been genial as one the
day following, Wednesday. the nuEloer OIL
people present would have been not far
from 1000.
The meeting relieves much of the discour-
agement felt Of late by some local horse
men as to the future of decent light har-
ness sport in the District of Columbia. IL
has been asserted that only small seq
ment Of Neutrality-suspicious. care for trotting
and pacing races: that the running horse
dominates everything at the national capt
tai in the way of sport. This is not true,
and the meeting Of Tuesday last dfsproves
the assertion. What the people Of Wash
ington want TO see, and which they VIII
always patrOnize, is clean and honest
sport: every heat horse race; trials of
speed between horses that are not fiYed in
advance by drivers, and prizes not Ovid
cd in advance of the race. They demand
sport where high officials are not openly
charged with inducing drivers to pull their
horses in order mat they may cash bet.
Once convince the public that all of these
objectionable things are to be eliminated
and they will give light harness sport the
patronage it deserves.
1t IS just this very thing that members
OF the Drivers and Riders Club propose to
do. and the meeting of Tuesday last is
a sample of what they intend to give the
public in the future. In addition to giving
the public amusement, the efforts of the
club will do good in another direction by
intoxicating love for road driving behind
a good horse which is the healthiest and
most exhilarating of pastimes. Physicians
have recommended 1t and many men nave
been restored to health by practising 1t.
Tuesday next another matinee will be given
over the course. and December % will take
place the last of the series which will de-
eide -.e important matter as to who shall
have the beautiful speed wagon AS mat
tiers now stand f. +. Taylor and l.. A.
Mccormick are in fierce rivalry for the
prize.
rhe selection of Charles P. Stohlman as
starter at the matinee Tuesday a most
happy one. He controlled the spirited
horses in a mastery manner, and gave as
fair starts as could possibly be given under
the circumstances. Had he been given a
couple of assistants he would have been
spared much arduous labor, and matters
would have gone forward even more
smoothly than they did AS II was, how
ever. there were no tedious waits, and the
events were pulled off in ample time for
people to get home to their dinners. 1t
would be well for the club to make Mr..
Stohman official starter of the course. The
driving by those who participated in the
events was. in the main, good and 1t must
improve when more experience and conf
dence are gained With perhaps two or
three exceptions, the horses were new to
their drivers and there must Je mutual
as knowledge of the peculiarities of ami
mails, for even the most experienced driver
and most willing horse to do his very best.
"a
The fast. game and highly bred bay geld
ing, Tusco 22SA by rnadotte. 2.29hr has
changed hands, Mr.. Albert G.. Brooke being
his owner having purchased him recently
from Mr.. James Bean. Tusco has actually
shown a trial of 215 at the trot. half in
105. and a quarter in 81 seconds. He
measures upward of 1873 under the stand
ard and was foaled i'm 1900. He showed
an inclination to pace last season, and
Robert Bromley, who then was handling
him drove him a mile in 2. 26 at Lat gait
having previously driven him mile in
. 1Si2 at the trot TuScos dam is by Ar