Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-24
HARNESS HORSE GOSSIP.

Every man in Washington who owns
good horse. whether intended for track
or road. has had him cut during the good
weather of the past week. The speedway
and the park drives were heavily patronized
and some of the best horsefesh ever seen
in Washington was in evidence, ranging
from trotters and PAGERS to high steppers
in heavy leather. Important changes
tending to increase the beauty and utility
of the speedway and the river drives, are
under way by order of the District gov
eminent. force of men has been busy
for the past ten days cutting down weeds
and bushes along the river front of the
speedway, while another force of men has
been busy drawing ashes and dirt, and an
other force still engaged in grading and
widening the entire straghtaway of the
course along the Potomac. which when
completed will make that part of the track
full sixty feet in width.
During the summer the unCompleted lake
and Potomac river drive will be graded,
bridge thrown over the canal that sepa-
rates the speedway from the former and
thus an uninterrupted drive of several
miles will be opened up that will rival in
beauty, If il does not excel. anything to
be seen elsewhere on the American con-
tinent.
Although the season has opened aus
piciUusly. it will be upward of sixty days
yet before horses intended for racing pur-
poses in this locality will be moved faster
than a jog. Their fat must be reduced
their feet. muscles and tendons hardened
and the heart, lungs and kidneys put in
condition to bear the strain of supreme
tests when faster work is demanded The
putting of horses intended to be raced in
proper condition is the highest test of the
trainers art, which, if not learned and
learned well. spells disaster to all con-
cerned, and frequently financial ruin to
owners and death or permanent injury to
horses. Preparation is for a race horse the
severest test he has to endure If there
is weak spot in his anatomy 1t is usually
exposed in the course of his conditioning
Lay members of society have been hea I'd
to express pity for the horse that is being
raced But II the animal be in the con-
dition he should be for the trial, 1t is SEN
timent thrown away, for If he be bred
right and not punished too severely he en-
| joys the struggle and comes back each
heat anxious and eager for the fray. Skill
| full driving on the course is necessary but
| as a matter of fact it is secondary in value.
| in the final analysis. to perfect condition
For, though a poor driver may often win
races with a good horse. the best driver
| in the world cannot hope to win them with
| a poor horse-that is. horse not in con-
| dition to go his miles.
-
There is rumor afoat that some time
In the latter part of May there will be
trotting meeting at Brightwood. Mr.. Henry
Copperthite is IL is alleged. back of the,
scheme Mr.. Copperthite has lived long
enough. and has been around race tracks
long enough, to have learned how race
tracks should be managed. II he will give
events of stirring interest, with purses
large enough to draw hither good horses
out of town. and secure at the same time
entries of good horses owned here, there
is no question that the sport-loving public
of Washington will rally around him as
one man and make the meeting one that
will long be remembered In the annals Of
local turf history.