The Washington herald., 1910-12-11
BY L. d. SALE.


Wherever one hnds "A group of horse
men in converse in the District Of Co
lumbia il is ten-to-One proposition that
the topic of conversation relates TO the
framing up OF speedway events for the
spring and sumner of 1911 With the eX-
ception of the ~ months following the
organic tion Of the Drivers and Riders
Association, there has not been exhibited
al any tine so much personal interest
in speedway matters as is now being
manifested and which has been manifest
ed during the past three months.
3.
As a general thing the meetings of the
association have been well attended.
Whatever the meetings may have at
times lacked in numbers has been made
up in enthusiasm and personal interest.
All this shows that the association is on
a healthy basis. Every member OF the
association knows at each meeting called
the exact financial condition of the treas
ury. Nothing is kept secret from MEM
bers. and this tends 10 inspire confidence.
Many excellent members fell away
from the association or became indiffer-
ent because they did not approve of the
business methods of the organization. \
better and more satisfactory system is
now in vogue
With many Objectionable features elm
mated in the way of the transaction OF
business it should be easy to arouse in
terest on the part OF hitherto Indifferent
J members and TO enlist new men in the
organization who enjoy light-harness
spOrt-men who attend matinees and yet
are not on the rolls Of the association. Il
may be that some men are holding on
because they do not care 10 touch elbows
with those who are not of their set. At
first view this might seem TO be an un-
warranted exhibition OF caste, an unwar-
ranted assumption OF superiority. espe-
cially in a republic where one need not
dig down far TO find that the founder of
the family tree began life in an humble
capacity and was none the worse for it
at that.
Worth makes the man. want Of it the fellow
All the rest is leather and pruneila.
The turf at its best is a concrete ex-
preston of true democracy; above il all
men are equal, beneath il there are no
distinctions. Dust We are and unto dust
must We return. and when the summons
comes 10 pay the last debt TO nature and
solve for ourselves the great mystery of
death (Which is the common lot OF man
born OF wOman) our nourishing mother
earth fOndly receives US TO her bosom.
playing no favorites. whether We be mil
lionaires OF pauper. king or peasant
The best news that has come to the
Ight-harness hOrsemen OF the District or
Columbia for at least a generation is the
very recent official statement of Col
Spencer Cosby to the secretary of the
Drivers and Riders Association that he
hopes TO be able before his administration
ends TO give TO the horsemen of Wash
ington permanent Speedway. In the
meantime the new road cut through PO
tomac Park from Seventeenth street to
Twenty-third street may be- used for
speeding purposes after January l. al
though the colonel fears that IL will not
be an ideal course until about April l.
1911. Instead Of the course being a trife
less than a half mile. as was first under
stood Col. Cosby says it is a trife over
half a mile.
Another important item of news in con
nectOn with the new Speedway is that
the fencing on the old Speedway may be
transferred TO the new course also the
judges stand. The finish of the course
will be in the vicinity OF Twenty-thirC
street. In all probability the fence anc
judges stand will be moved 10 the new
location by the end Of the present month
unless Col Cosby orders otherwise.
In view of all these facts a meeting oi
the Drivers and Riders Association i:
called for next Tuesday evening at p
m. at the Metropolitan Hotel. to take
action on the same and TO consider tht
important question of the election of
president in place OF P. V. De Graw. re
signed. The election is TO fl that va
cancy only. Mr. De Graw may truly b,
said 10 be the father of the Drivers an,
Riders Association. The thought Of
speedway and a speedway organization
originated with him, and no one man il
the District Of Columbia has done a.
much 10 promote speedway sport and tn
welfare Of the Drivers and Riders AS
sociation
On Tuesday next the members of tn
association will formulate and adopt ap
propriate resolutions OF thanks 10 Mr.. ID
Graw for his most valuable services il
behalf OF the iight-harness horsemen o
the District. Virginia. and Maryland. I
is to be hoped that every member of tn
association will be present at the meet
ing next Tuesday evening.
There is every probability that befor
April / some new horses for use on tn
new Speedway will be brought TO tn
city. Frank Tippett has expressed hi
intentions to visit the Chicago sale O
speed horses, which begins December /.
and bring back some Speedway materia
Austin LOTUS has declared his intentio
10 attend the midwinter sale at Madiso
Square Garden and will endeavor I
bring back with him something that wi
trim any trotter now owned here.
Dr. q @. Patton, We are assured
also looking for a trotter than can d
things. and il is not impossible that I
f. Hall and other prominent local horse
men viii attend the midwinter sale.
The prospect of having a permaner
Speedway will do much 10 enthuse horse
men in this vicinity and stimulate ther
into buying horses than can beat thos
already owned here II is emulation {
this kind that will build up at this poir
a horse interest that will in tine plac
Washington in the front rank OF horse
owning communities.
For some weeks past Andrew GIeesoI
one Of the most prominent horsemen {
the District. has been missing from III
ranks of his associates Not even his il
innate friends know what has happAne
10 him. Doubtless ne will thaw out
time and give an account OF himself II
disappearance. however. is not as my,
terious as that OF Austin LOTUS las