Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-14
THE GRAND CIRCUIT.

Quite naturally here we'll as else
where. lovers of Hght-harness sport are
turning anxious eyes toward the grand
circuit. which in days past opened at De-
troit the latter part of Judy. Owing to re-
cent misfortunes that have hefallen the
beautiful track at Crosse Point. on Lake
st. Clair 1t is a question whether the
curtain will rise the summers sport at
that place. The Detroit Driving Club is ad-
vertising a three-days' meeting to take
place presumably at Crosse Point, begin
ming July -. For some years past the track
has been passing through great deal of
complicated litigation, receiverships. sheriff
sales etc, owing to fractional troubles and
disputes
For upward of forty years Detroit has
been one of the best trotting horse towns
on the map. There have been periods when
S'5,Nb in purses has been hung up for a
five-days meeting, and the best horses in
the country have performed over the track.
So popular has been the light-harness horse
game among the residents of the City of
the Straits that each annual meeting was
a society event. The books of the defunct
Detroit Driving Club. recently produced in
court. showed net profits of sIS.OS0.l2 for
the five meetings held in l@G0-19O4.
While it is quite possible that the meeting
at Detroit under the management of Daniel
J. Campau cannot strictly be called the
opening of the grand circuit for 1907. many
old horsemen will doubtless be induced to
enter from force of habit. Such a meeting
will give owners and trainers of high-class
horses and followers of the grand circuit an
opportunity to get a line on the performers
of the summer. and make the meeting at
Cleveland the following week a matter of
greater interest Cleveland light harness
hOrsprppn In almost a. much rrouhle a 9
their Detroit brethren, owing TO the fact
that Mayor Tom Johnson is inclined to en-
force the law against pool selling. Last
season the Cleveland Club members were
compelled to put their hands down deep in
their pockets and make up a deficiency of
$4,000 because of the interference with
betting. Nothing but an intense love of
Hght-harness racing would induce men to
produce that sum of money for enjoying
few days OF sport. 1t is not improbable that
a sum OF the same size will have TO be
produced this year to meet deficiencies, for
there is no evidence at hand that Mayor
johnson has changed his mind as regards
the enforcement of the law.
Buffalo as usual. follows Cleveland, and
the club at that point hangs up an even
$4,000 In purses. The stake for 2lO trot-
tiers is $1,000, and that for 2.12 pac-
ers the same amount. The stakes
for 2.o1 PAGERS and 21O PAGERS, are
5000. respectively The same sized stakes
are hung up for 2.O7 and PIG trot-
tiers. After Buffalo horsemen will move
down the line as usual TO Readville, Mass,
and then TO Naragansett Park, Hartford
syracuse, and then west to Columbus, Ohio
where will be held, in the matter of public
interest and In the matter of purses hung
up, the greatest meeting Of the season
There Will be given two weeks of racing at
Columbus. The track Is of the fastest
IN the world and more records have been
broken over IL in the past five years than
on any track in the world.
For the first week-grand circuit week
$4,000 will be hung up for horsemen TO
light for. The second week $4,000 will be
hung up for the youngsters eligible to the
several stakes offered. The best aged
horses and the very best bred and fastest
youngsters In the United States will be
present TO contest for the stakes The grand
circuit Will close for 1907 at Columbus and
the curtain rung down in the most impress
slve manner. From Columbus horsemen
Will march TO Lexington, Ky, for another
two weeks of sport There always great
dOings at Lexington and thousands of per-
sons gather there from all parts of the
Union to the sport, visit the stock
farms in that vicinity and to pick out
horses for the next seasons racing. The
meeting at Lexington is always looked for
ward to by the numerous breeders in the
blue grass region with interest II is the
period OF their annual harvest In the way
Of sales and thousands of dollars are dis
tributei among breeders of blooded stock
by horsemen.