The New York herald., 1922-10-29
AUTUMN ACTIVITIES
AT THE RIDING CLUB.
Equestrian Organization With
$1,O0O,0OO Clubhouse a Fac
tor in N. Y. Social Life.

Five o'clock drills have been resumed
at the Riding Club, and sixty or sew
enty men and women are daily in the
saddle at these equestrian assemblies.
Soon the younger members will be play
ing polo four nights week. Something
like three hundred fine horses will be
quartered In the stables. and the autumn
season will be in full swing at the club
house in East Fifty-eighth street just
of Fifth avenue .and running through
the block to F1fty-ninth street.
Although It has been a factor In the
social life of New York since 1881. COM
paratively little Is heard OF the Riding
Club. It was formed about the same
time as the National Horse Show Asso-
ciation and by some of the same men.
II. II. Hollister. It's chief promoter and
its president for twenty-one years. was
long the treasurer Of the Horse Show.
William F. Wharton. one Of the first
governors of the Riding Club. was the
first secretary Of the Horse Show.
Among the other governors were Will
lam T. Woodward. Thomas F. Ryan,
Charles Lanier and Elliott F. Shepard,
all of whom were identified, officially or
unofficially, with the early exhibitions
at Madison Square Garden.
There is no other electiveSclub In the
country like the Riding Club. which In
every way Is q club in the essential
meaning Of the term. 1t has some five
daughters partake OF all its advantages,
AMI among them are many Of the lead
ing families Of New York Proximity to
the bride paths Of Central Park caused
the selection Of the Fifty eighth street
site for It's clubhouse In 1883. This
was rebuilt about twenty years ago from
plans and models prepared as labor
OF love by Clinton L. Gilbert and Louis
Tiffany two of its members. With the
ground on which 1t stands the clubhouse
represents a valuation far exceeding
$1,000, 900.
The riding ring. which is about ten
feet above the level of the street, Is one
of the largest in the country. 173 by
1O4 feet. with $4,000 square feet OF
space for maneuvers. Besides an elab-
orate system of dressing rooms and
baths, there are on the four floors of the
clubhouse lounging rooms. billiard
rooms, dining rooms and q palm garden,
all with windows opening on the tam
bark arena to be utilized as viewpoints
on occasions like the annual spring
horse show or the polo matches or
music rides. In everything that goes
to make for luxury and refined taste the
Riding Club is not lacking. and even In
its ultilitarian aspects the clubhouse
everywhere presents evidences Of beauty
and art. 1t is. in fact. one Of the build
ings of New York to be seen and ad-
mired.
Walter p. Bliss. treasurer for many
years, is now the president, having suc-
ceeded the late Samuel T. Peters. II. T.
B. Jacquelin is now the treasurer. Dallas
B. Pratt the secretary, and John r.
Townsend Is chairman of both the house
committee and the stable committee.
The growth of the club since the war
has led to recent change In the limit
of membership from 500 TO 600. Its ac-
tivities during the critical period from
1917 to 1919 showed the character Of
it's members, 200 of whom were organ
lied for home defense and thoroughly
drilled as an adjunct of the mounted
police force. Harry T. Peters. one OF
the organizers of this body. was made
Deputy Police Commissioner, and Mr..
Townsend held the rank of major.