The Washington herald., 1910-11-13

The splendid achievements of local
horses at the matinee OF the Drivers and
Riders Association on Wednesday last
over the Potomac Speedway are respon-
sible for the changed conditions. 1t is not
too much 10 say that no city in the Unit
ed States. outside of New York and
Cleveland. and perhaps Pittsburg. can
produce 4 better average lot of matinee
material than the National Capital The
events OF Wednesday, the enthusiasm OF
the spectators. the closeness of the con-
tests, the time made over the course, and
the size OF the fields are all encouraging
10 those who take a personal interest in
the survival OF the Potomac Speedway.
It is going TO survive. because a hand
ful Of say. twenty or twenty-five men in
the District-of Columbia have resolved
that 1t shall not die. even IL they are
compelled TO dig down deep in their peck
cts for the last cent in them TO keep il
alive. These men have risen from the
ranks Of the association, without previ-
Gus experience in management. and have
made good, BY a single bound they have
secured the confidence OF horsemen and
business men Of Washington IN equal de-
gree, as well as the confidence Of the pub
he in general. and we have a right to ex-
pect that on Wednesday next, when the
second OF the series of matinees is pulled
on double the number Of spectators viii
be present 10 enjoy the sport.
And why should not this be so? The
sport offered by the Drivers and Riders
Association at their Speedway is as clean
and wholesome as any other sport offered
10 the American people. All betting is
absolutely barred, either privately or pub
licly; every horse Is driven 10 win. the
best Of order prevails, nothing objection
able to the public taste IS permitted, foul
language is barred. goOd-nature prevails.
and everybody Is out for a pleasant time.
2 his high standard the present managers
Of the association propose TO maintain at
all hazards and to make its meets some
thing to be sought after rather than
stunned.
And. after all. what stirs the blood
more or excites more enthusiasm than to
see a field of well-bred. game horses
come down a course with every nerve
strained. nostrils extended, and eyes
flashing fire. responding TO every call Of
their drivers and as anxious TO win as
those who sit behind them? Horses bred
10 race enjoy contests for supremacy
quite as much as those who witness them.
Without wishing to indulge in invidious
comparisons. not near the brutality is
displayed in a contest between horses
that can be seen in a single afternoon in
a game OF football
What was remarkable in the contests
Wednesday last was the manner in which
the horses were punched at the finish Of
each heat. No one horse was capable OF
stringing out his field ard making it look
Ike the march OF Indians on the war
path. No higher compliment could be
paid to the committee that classified
horses than this. II may as well be I'M
derstOOd that no classification Of horses
ever was or will be made, no matter how
conscientiOusly done. that viii satisfy
every horse owner interested. The most
a classification committee can do is to
use its best Judgment, know neither
friend nor foe. do its duty as it sees it.
and endure all fault-fnding with equa-
nimity Heaven will bear witness that
the classification Of horses is a thankIess
Job and one which very few men care TO
NEEDLE with A classification committee
is damned IL it does and damned if it
don't. Thin-skinned men have no bust
ness on IT,
And while on the subject Of the Speed
way, the attention of members Of the
Drivers and Riders Association Is called
10 the fact that on next Tuesday evening
at o'clock there win be held at the Met
ropolitan Hotel an important meeting to
which all horsemen IN the District OF
Columbia are cordially invited Matters
vital to the association and 10 the horse
interests Of the District will be under
discussion. Members with and without
grievances are expected 10 be present |
and full and free expression OF views
IS especially invited in order that local
hOrsemen may get in closer touch.
The presence Of Foxy Grattan in the
Class 8 trot on Wednesday has created
quite fog among the men whose horses
contested against him. The class he |
showed in the three heats he trotted con-
WINGED these gentlemen that the commit |
tee erred in permitting him 10 enter the
race. They think that his race record !
should have been mOreA closely scanned. /
or, at least more should have been found
out about his speed than was the case.
We are inclined 10 the belief that the |
point is well taken. Oxy Grattan is the |
property OF Louis Hodges, OF this city, |
and is a recent arrival from Baltimore, |
where, il Is learned. he was used on the |
road Mr.. Hodges purchased him for !
matinee purposes and TO drive 10 pole |
with Flexina.
It is not the fault of Mr.. Hodges. who |
IS as square and as honorable a sports |
man as the District of Columbia pos |
sesses. but Of the classification commit |
tee. II, as a matter Of fact, an error has |
been committed at ALL
It is TOO early to positively state that /
Foxy Grattan is superior to the other |
horses in the Glass 3 trot Next time out /
he may prove to be a distinct disappoint- |
ment to his owner. He may be one of /
those horses that do not race consist
entity. Many things happen in a horse /
race. as every racegoer knows. Many a |
man has entered a horse in race with /
out the expectation Of winning and has /
been happily disappointed
Next time out there is a possibility that |
the other contestants in the race may be |
far better than they were last Wednes- |
day and Foxys bring up in the rear Of his |
field. To withdraw from the contest at |
this stage of the game would be to dis |
play the white feather, and this no horse
man in the District OF Columbia can af- |
ford to do.
In order 10 prevent injustice done 10 |
local owners in coming matinees il might /
be wei next Tuesday evening, or on some /
future evening when the association /
meets, TO pass a resolution that no horse /
shall be permitted To enter In our matt
nees within the period OF thirty days i
prior 10 the meet This viii give the
classification committee ample time to