Evening star., 1916-05-07
BRILLIANT EVENTS
OPEN HORSE SHOW
Initial Day Gives Promise OF
Most Successful Series
of Performances.
QUALITY OF HORSES, SKILL
OF RIDERS CONSPICUOUS
Absence of President Disappoints
Big Gathering-Program the
Best in Shows History.


boxes filled with lavishly gowned So
ciety folk of the capital and score of
eastern and southern cities. Washing
ton yesterday afternoon opened its an
nual spring horse show at the exhibi-
ton grounds, 18th and D streets north
west.
But one disappointment marred what
otherwise would have been the most
auspicious opening day in the history
of the association, the failure of the
President and Mrs. Wilson to attend.
Eager eyes turned often on the spe-
cially draped box reserved for the
chief executive and his family. but
despite the official announcement that
the White House would be represented.
throughout the afternoon. battery
of camera men and a special police
guard were among those disappointed.
Producing nothing of the sensational
or spectacular. the show still! was dis
tinctively a remarkable one in number
of entries and quality of the horses ex :
hibited. skill of the riders and spirit
Of contest that appeared to affect rid
ers and horses alike.
West Triumphs In Two Big Events.
The west triumphed over the east in
two of the big harness events through
the magnificent performances of horses
owned by John L. Bushnell of Spring
field, Ohio. AS generally forecasted,
the Glen Riddle farms of Pennsyl-
vania were prominent in the hunting
events. winning the massive silver
punch bowl offered by Gen. James A.
Buchanan. president of the show, for
the Corinthian class.
I,,I ior II Cf NAp Vnrk
city and Miss Constance Vauclain of
Philadelphia got in the ribbons. as did
Mrs. Allen Potts of Gordonsville, Va, a
favorite with Washington horse show
audiences. Her riding yesterday in sad
die and jumping events displayed the
skill which has made her famous as the
only woman master Of hounds of Virginia.
Washington owners were conspicuous in
several of the numbers. Ralph Coffin did
some splendid riding in the Corinthian
and other classes, and provided the fea-
ture of the afternoons entertainment by
jumping his horse, Rabbit" over an au-
occupied by Mr.. Stokes and a party of
friends at the time the unusual feat took
place
i..aas Mount becomes Unruly.
William Corcoran. comparatively re-
cent addition to the ranks Of local horse
owners. got away to Aying start on
Prince William. but his mount became
unruly before the last two hurdles were
reached. insisted on backing around the
ring until several of the assistants were
forced to scamper to places of safety, and
finally eliminated himself from the con-
test by abruptly taking the outer show
ring fence and making for the paddock.
For the most part the jumping was
clean and this in spite of the fact that
many Of the entrants were young horses.
(Nv,n 80 trv-<
nations in the hunting numbers the man.
agement was unable to keep the program
up to the time table. and by o'clock the
exhibition was one hour behind the sched-
ule. Night was fast approaching when
the ribbons were tied in the class for
military hunters. the next to last number
The closing number. which was for ladies'
phaeton horses. was advanced to Mon
day afternoon at As o'clock
The starters bugle got the show under
way promptly at o'clock, the first event
for thoroughbred stations. going to Knox,
owned by Harry G. Wilson.
Army Horses in Jumping Feats.
Nine army horses, appearing in the
second number. provided the first
jumping feats, and in this class Capt
William Mitchell of Washington, rid
ing Highland Chief. was returned the
winner.
Judge Moore drew first blood in the
first class for harness horses by win
ming with Memnon and Maiden In the
class for novice pairs. and f. T. Stotes-
bury of Philadelphia, with his world
famous Ruby and Lasca. captured the
blue In the class for pairs of road
sters, which followed. In the latter
contest John o. Gheen of Washington
was second. with Baron Herbert and
Bob Powers
Then came the first triumph OF the
west. when John L. Bushnell, driving
the Governor. a Kentucky horse. beat
Judge Moores Mogul and Micah. Will.
liam A. Lieber's Buttonwood Belle and
ButtonwooG Lass. and Miss Ella F
Ivers' Sealight IN the heavy harness
division. for best horse suitable for q
gig.
Mr.. Bushnell followed up this victory
a little later by driving Gypsy Maid tc
victory in the runabout class, beating
the entries of Mrs. Allen Potts, Mrs
Larz Anderson, William P Collins and
A. D. Addison.