The Washington herald., 1914-11-22
By L. ID. SALE.

Lovers Of light harness sport should
bear in mind that Thursday next will
mark the close of racing in this section.
DIR. Sansbury Is doing his level best
to arrange an attractive card for the
day. and to do so is no easy task. Horses
that might, under other conditions, be
entered for the several events have gone
into winter quarters. Nevertheless the
doctor hopes to secure enough good ones
to make the occasion worth visit to
Forestville on Thursday
Three races are on the card for horses,
and automobiles and motorcycles will
furnish all the other thrills necessary TO
warm the blood of those who will be
present. The harness events will be
half-mile ones only, and horses that
have been logged each day Of the week
will certainly be fit to go that distance
without bodily harm 1t is the duty Of
every person who owns a horse ft to go
to rally Thursday next to DR.. Sansbury's
support, even though he be put to some
personal Inconvenience.
As we have heretofore stated in these
columns, the Forestville track, by force
of circumstances, is the only spot close
to Washington where light harness
horses can be trained and raced. The
doctor has constructed and maintained
the track up to date at his personal ex-
pense. He is none the richer by reason
of his enterprise.
II the gates of the track are closed the
loss will accrue rather to the harness
horsemen Of the District than to DR..
Sansbury. The Forestville track is now
at its best for racing purposes. The re-
cent rains have furnished all the neces-
sary moisture to make the track one OF
the fastest in Maryland. On wednesday
it will be narrowed and foated and made
an ideal racing course.
Transportation to and from the track
on Thursday next has already been pro-
vided for. Motor trucks will leave at
noon from the corner of Pennsylvania
avenue and Sixth street, and It viii take
them only twenty-five minutes to reach
the track. The first race for the day
will be called at D. m. The motor car
and motorcycle races will be run of be-
tween heats. After each heat the track
will again be put in shape for the har-
ness races. All cars during the harness
races that will compete with each other
will be parked outside of the grounds
During the day the subject will be dis
cussed among local horsemen as to the
advisability of uniting in petition to the
War Department for the construction of
a speedway east Of Long Bridge
The time has arrived for action on this
important matter. Work will begin on
that section of the Potomac Park east
of Long Bridge in the early part Of 1915.
The Superintendent of Public Buildings
and Grounds must be impressed with the
necessity for some spot in Potomac Park
where owners of horses can drive in
safety to themselves and property, and,
on specified occasions. indulge In speed
contests Patrons OF other healthful
sports have already been provided for in
the park.
II the interest of the horsemen of the
District are not respected in the improve
ments outlined, ii will be because they,
the horsemen, are Indifferent to them. A
speedway is in the plan of improvements
II now remains for local horsemen to
impress upon the Superintendent Of
Public Buildings and Grounds the desire
on their part that the plan be carried to
its full completion. ......
A petition is already being prepared
for signatures, which, when completed,
will be duly presented to the horsemen of
the District for their approval, after
which delegation Of representative To-
cal horsemen will call upon the Super
intendent of Public Buildings and
Grounds and find out what the exact at
titude Of the government is on the sub
ject. He who does not ask may not re-
ceive. Among Washington horsemen
there are optimists and pessimists, but
the former are in the majority. It is the
optimists in this world who do things
and make of this q habitable giobe-a
cheerful spot in which TO dwell
Columbus was an optimist-the great
est of his time. Amerigo Vespucci and
Magellan and De Soto were optimists,
and 90 were Caesar, Hannibal. Charlie