The New York herald., 1922-07-02
RICH MEN RIVALS
In DRIVING PAIRS
Late William Rockefeller Once
Led Vanderbilts and All
With Fleet TrOtterS.
HELD WORLDS RECORD
Founders of Standard Oil Com
pany Were All Horsemen
and DevOtees Of Driving.
by G. CHAPLIN.

by G. CHAPLIN.
The recent death of William Rookie
feller recalls to old time horsemen the
rivalry among millionaire New York
road riders forty years ago for pos
session of the fastest pair of trotters in
the world. Mr.. Rockefeller and his bet
ter known brother, John ID. Rockefeller.
were both OF them prominent amateur
reinsmen In those days. and both owned
double teams that could hold their own
In impromptu brushes over the Van
derbilt Mile" on Jerome avenue or on
the track at Fleetwood Park.
Curiously enough, both brothers
seemed to fancy cross matched pairs,
for while the elder drove the black
geding Midnight (2:1SA), one of the
fastest horses of his day. in double
harness with the gray mare Kate Nc
Call (2:23), by Blue Bull. the younger
OF the Standard OIL magnates paid s15,-
900 for the black mare Cleora (2:1SA }
10 mate his gray stallion Independence
t2:21h), for which he had given s7,500
year or two before. This team proved
TO be match for the best in the coun-
try. and early in 1888. before any OF
their rivals had appeared in public they
trotted a mile in 216ia at Charter Oak
Park in Hartford. j. p. Gilbert, Mr..
Rockefeller's private trainer, drove
them to a two wheeled cart or suky
rugged with pole in place of shafts.
Their performance was strictly ac-
cording to rule, and a quarter OF a sec
ond faster than the sensational recc..3
made year earlier by Frank Work s
chestnut geldings. Edward I'..s), and
Dick Swiveller (2 :1S). T'-s team. put
together at a cost of S56,0UJ to wrest the
MI II w.
bits celebrated Small Hopes (2:261a)
and Lady Mac ;23). had pulled a
skeleton wagon in 2:16% over the
slower track at Fleetwood Park in 1882,
and their admirers would not consent to
take down the memorial tablet to them
on the judges stand there until some
other pair had beaten 2:16% to wagon.
On wagers OF money or wine Mr.. Rookie
feller's team tried repeatedly to do it,
but they never again trotted in 2:16H.
Three-Cornered Rivalry.
The three cornered rivalry among its
wealthy members divided the Gentle
mems Driving Association of New York
into hostile camps, and feeling ran high
when Il. c. Eastman, president and per-
sonal friend of Mr.. Vanderbilt wrote a
letter to THE NEW YORK HERALD offer
ing to wager $4,000 that the Wander
bilt mares, Early Rose 2:20A and
Aldine (2:19A), could beat Mr. Works
trotters In a series of three races in
single and double harness. The owner
of Edward and Swiveller came back
with a counter offer to race In double
harness only or to bet $4,000 that Mr.
Vanderbilt's mares could not trot a mile
TO pole in 2:16% at Fleetwood Park.
Nothing came of the challenges, but
when Early Rose went lame in the
spring Of 1883 Mr. Vanderbilt was for
tunately forced to substitute the great
but eccentric trotter Maud S. q :0SM }
as a mate for Aldine. Contrary TO ex-
pectations. it proved to be lucky hit
After they had been hooked together
only three times he drove them five
miles from his Madison avenue stable
out to Fleetwood Park one afternoon In
June to give them a trial just few
weeks after the performance of the
Rockefeller pair at Hartford. His roac
wagon weighed 211 pounds. and hi.
own weight was 200, making a load OF
all pounds for the mares to pull. A
sensational performance was scarcely
dreamed of under these circumstances
though both mares were known to be
fast enough to beat the record If they
would trot a mile together without q
break.
Instead of putting up a skilled pro
fessional driver. as Mr.. Work and Mr.
Rockefeller had done, Mr.. Vanderbilt
took the reins himself and started then
Just as they came in off the road. Scores
OF road riders on the clubhouse veranda
among them Mr.. Work, held theil
watches In suppressed excitement a.
Maud S. and Aldine swept down the hill
to the half mile pole in :05h and cam,
home In 51a. with their amateur
driver holding the reins in one hand ant
the whip in the other, swishing 1t above
their backs. A memorable scene fol
lowed when the great reinsman returned
10 the clubhouse. II was probably on'
or the proudest moments OF his life The
owner of Edward and Swiveller &C
cepted defeat with good grace. an'
though the performance did not consti
tute technical record no money O
wine having been at stake on the resul
OF the trial. 1t was universally accepted
as authentic. and Mr. Works friends
assisted in pulling down the old table
on the judges stand before Mr.. Wander
bilt left the grounds.
Standard OIL Horsemen.
Neither William Rockefeller nor JOIN
T.. Rockefeller was ever a familiar figur'
at the road houses--Johnnie Barry s
Gabe Cases or Judge Smith's-whicl
were stopping places for the Wander
bits, Works and all their friends ant
followers on the drive to Fleetwood
Park. Both Rockefelers had privat
stables in New York, near that o
Robert Bonner, and each employed {
professional trainer 60 look after hi
trotters. ]. p Gilbert was long Ii
charge Of William Rockefeller's horses
George W. Sanders one OF the bes
known drivers of his time. afterwarC
handled the horses. and while in charg'
ne put together Virginia Evans (2 :15&
and Chelsea ID. C2:lSaD, and So Lonl
t2:13h) and Chelsea D., besides adding
90 the stable Wildrake G. :22A). Harr,
r. (2:24h), Charley G.. (2:lD. and {
lot of other fast ones. Mr. Rockefele
bred trotters quite extensively at hi
country place near Greenwich, Conn.
with Independence at the head of hi
stud and such mares as Kate Spragu
(2:1S), Annie w. C :20), Urbana Bell
tt2:2OI.) and Femme Sole (2:2o). III
bred the game little gray mare Agnes
Morrill, (2:22).
William Rockefeller was as distan
as his older brother. IL a visitor hap
pened to meet him in his stable Goo,
morning was the limit of conversation
John ID. Rockefeller had private stabl
nj the old Cleveland Driving Park anC
was a stockholder In that famous trot
ting track, but no one ever saw him at ;
race meeting. He was out almost dali,
In the season, however, to drive his owl
horses when Alex Mclean had them II
charge. A slight bow was the onl.
s~~~~.,.t4tn,, ba ttona1ty fraya IN INV "a