The Washington herald., 1910-06-05
By L. ID. SALE.

By l.. d. SALE.
Now that Decoration Day racing is an
cient history. local horsemen can turn
their attention to the coming matinee
over the Speedway.
L would have been better for ali con-
cerned IL an informal meeting could have
been held over the course in the mean
time. as such affairs serve to keep alive
public interest In lieu of that it would
have been well to have held a business
meeting OF the association during the
past week 10 discuss various matters. as
that, too. serves 10 stimulate interest. As
matter of fact. weekly meetings of the
association should be held if for nothing
more than an interchange OF views.
The time is near at hand when officers
Of the association must be selected Mr..
De Graw has determined to retire as head
Of the association early In July. and it is
quite possible that with his retirement
there VIII be a clean slate of new officers
elected. 1t is none too early TO canvass
on the subject of names for the vacan-
cies to be filed. The future Of the Speed
way demands that the greatest care be
taken in the selection of new officials
While II Will prove difficult TO select a
man who will IN all respects fiji the place
of the retiring president who has given
so much of his valuable time to Speed
way matters and who has been so unself-
ishly devoted 90 its best interests. the
task must be undertaken and the name
or MS successor must be selected with the
utmost care.
What has been said of Mr. De Graw in
a complimentary way will apply to all the
remaining officers OF the association.
They have served the association faith
fully, have given TO it their best efforts,
and they deserve the thanks Of all its
members. Unquestionsbly good men can
be found to take Up the work they will
lay down, but the task should not be
executed hurriedly.
Fsss
In carrying out the general parking
plan Col. Cosby has some large and in
teresting projects in mind, one of which
interests every man in the District of Co
lumbia who loves a horse, no matter
what may be his type As far as the
ight-haTness horse is concerned and as
far as light-harness horsemen are con-
eerned, their interests will be best con-
served by the way the horsemen OF
Washington and the District Of Columbia
show their capacity TO handle the Speed
way they now have.
Interest in the course must be main
tanned OF high order; nothing that sa-
vors Of the Objectionable on ordinary
race courses must be permitted Betting
OF every kind or nature must be carefully
eliminated; the best Of order must be
nd
mated except that gentlemen are to meet
at stated periods for the purpose Of IN
dulging in friendly speed contests. The
horsemen OF the District of Columbia
have the opportunity Of their lives TO
show their appreciation of the generosity
OF the Federal government by conducting
their anairs on the highest possible plane
Should a single instance occur where il
was proved that horse was pulled in an
event on account of a wager it would
prove fatal 10 the future of the Speedway
plant and TO all future hopes of a Speed
way worthy Of the capital OF a great
nation
When the half-mile ring at Brightwood
was closed to the public forever an ex-
preston Of approval was expressed by
every respectable horseman in the Dis
trict. Whether deserved. or not. there
was a pestiferous odor attached 10 the
management Of that track during the
greater part OF its existence that could
not be subdued. Now that the track has
vanished, the horsemen of the District
nave been diligently casting about for q
place where racing might be had for
purses. Many hoTsemen favored a track
in the vicinity Of Silver Spring, Just over
the District line, but it was soon found
that land was too high in that locality to
engage in the speculation.
Within the past year or so two new
half-mile tracks have sprung up outside
the city limits, in Prince George County,
one at Forestville built and maintained
by DR. J. n. Sansbury, and the other in
the vicinity of Berwyn. built and main
tanned by Edward Daniels. The last
named track is known as Autoville priv
ing fark and was constructed by Mr.
Daniels. one Of the most public spirited
citizens of Prince George. for the benefit
OF the horse lovers Of Berwyn and those
who reside over the border in Montgom-
cry County.
Some very interesting events have been
pulled OFF in the past over the track at
Autoville. with betting eliminated. and
the track will be in commission again
the present racing season. Mr.. Daniels
is considering the subject of formally
opening his track again to the public
Saturday, June is. His card viii be pre-
scented to racegoers through the columns
or The Washington Herald in due time
The Sansbury track at Forestvine is
more on the order Of a regular race trac,,
than that at Berwyn Or. Sansburv has
not quite completed his plant in the wav
of fencing, stabling, and grandstand. hut
he is on the way The defect in the
Sansbury plant at present is the fact that
the track is eight miles from Washing
ton with no direct means of cOmmunica
ton except by public road. The defect is
soon TO be remedied by a trolley line run
ming direct from FerestvilIe to the Dis
trict line. That once in operation For
estvii!e viii be only fifteen minutes ride
from the city limits. and the Sansbury
track will at once leap into the limelight
as the most prominent and popular track
In this section, where regular racing.
with all its several adjuncts. can be in
dulged In.
IN the meantime DR.. Sansbury has de-
cided to give a meeting at his track on
July and is already at work on his pro-
gramme for the day.
Weather permitting, the Iight-harness
horse will have his innings the coming
week at the Gentlemen's Driving Park.
Baltimore. Alonzo Corbin will race George
P. Goodacre's Ed Bali, 2;lF4 during the
week for his owner. and viii also drive
Alma, PISA, in the 2:16 pace. Russell G.,
2:17la. Is already in the Monumental City
and Is engaged for the 2:1S trot. Possibly
Andrew GleaSon's Lady Cozine will take