Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-16

chance that has been the history
i of the famous old Benning race
track property.
Here. where, as late as 20 years ago
the throbbing beat of flying hoofs OF
racing ponies sent thrill of hope and
expectancy into the hearts of thousands
of betting spectators; where great
throngs of Westinghouse of genera
ton ago were electrified with the shout,
"There're off" prosaic changes are
forecast.
Announcement was made a few days
ago of the sale of tract including the
once famous racing course to an out
,of-town company.
The Benning race track. once the
mecca of numerous betting plungers, as
we'll as thousands of other racing fans
less given to wagers, when 1t won the
reputation of being among the leading
courses of the country. has long been
awaiting this Transformation. It's glory
as a racing center passed just 20 years
ago, when reformers in Congress and
among the local citiZenry brought about
passage of an anti-betting law for the
District, which sounded the death knell
of the sport there. In recent years 1t
has been used as training ground for
strings of yearlings owned by horse
owners operating in other States. The
course still retains many mute evidences
of the hectic days 1t once witnessed.
4 VISITOR to the Benning track
"A comes upon the long stretch of
stables. where once were housed horses
noted for their speed and others not so
hoted-for Benning saw its quota of
platers-and little farther on one
finds the large dilapidated frame struc-
ture that 20 years ago was the residence
of the superintendent of the course
Nearby is the site of the paddock. now
grass-grown. and beyond is the runway
to the old track, now partly hidden by
grass and weeds. but still bearing the
marks Of hundreds Of hoofs Of yearling
horses which are given Winter training
there. The great grandstand that
formerly was crowded with fans of all
stations in life was destroyed a number
of years ago by fire, but the wide
cement pavement on which it stood
still stretches before the track.
While its heyday now is long past
there are many old-timers in Washing
ton, some bearing OF names now promi-
nent in other circles. who either wit
messed stirring events there or par
ticipated in them.
n H16IUIOfl Vi LIE JIdCk UEAlBS IciIti-
riscences Of the famous plunger,
''Pittsburgh" Phil Smith, who was re-
puted to have made a fortune in bet
ting on the ponies of that past genera
ton: of the successful operator. Charlie
Heney: of Big Tim Sullivan. who was
reported to have admitted losing $780,
600 during one season, prior to the
demise of racing at Benning; of local
gentleman jockeys in Steeplechases, ana
of favorite ponies.
While 1t did not have the name of
few more famous tracks, in New York
or Kentucky. even in the gay COS
or early in this century, 1t is said that
no track in America was so rich with
turf traditions. for it was truly ia
vorite with prominent turfmen, touts
with hot tips for sale, horse lovers
and society folk 1t drew its followers
not only from Washington, but from
Baltimore. Philadelphia, New York and
Pittsburgh, and even In the busy clos
ing days of sessions of Congress Rep
resentatives and Senators we're fire.
Cucntly seen among notable gatherings.
Although the project was formulated
BY members of the Washington Jockey
Club in the late 80s. the track did
not open until April l, 1890. Two thou
sand racing fans are reported to have
attended the first meeting. The judges
OF the event were Clarence Mcdowell,
show that F. M .Draney. president of
the club. and John r. Kelly were timers.
The Ivy City track then was running,
however, and the opening did not prove
very successful. A great revival of rae
ing was brought about at Benning in
1896, year after August Belmont and
Col. w. P. Thompson took interests in
the Washington Jockey Club, and SUBJ
seouently society took the place by
storm.
Old files of The Star record that in
April, 1896, S. s. Rowland was presi-
dent of the club. and that the execu-
tive committee was composed Of August
Belmont. Henry May, Jesse Brown. W.
c. Eustis, Woodbury. Blair, land others
Of equal social prestige"
Long before the Benning track struck
its real stride of popularity steeple-
chasing had been the subject of many
social event here, and this form of
horse racing sport naturally assumed
its place at Benning.
RUT, as with all rough-and-ready
sporting events, even when wit
messed by the leaders of the Capital
City. amateur steeplechsses here saw
thrilling mishaps now and then. One
famous event some elderly Washinr-
tonisns still chuckle over.
The Chevy Chase Club of Washing
ton in the early days of the Benning
course, it is recalled. was not the golf
ing organization that it now is. and its
members led other socially-minded folk
here in participating in steeplechasing
events at Benning
Members Of the club became gentle
men jockeys" and. donning bright red
coats, high silk-top hats and smatt
leather riding boots. held an inaugural
steeplechase. In this first event of its
kind, the story goes, there were IL gall
liant members who entered the lists.
With the grandstand filled with mem
bers of the Four Hundred social set
and others not claiming social distinc-
ton, they answered the sound of the
bugle in the paddock and guided their
prsnclng mounts into the course.
1t was to be a great day and his
tory making one. though in a fashion
the participants did not exactly expect.
witnesses recall. With flourish from
the starter, the eager racers started
down the course toward the first Jump
amid the cheers of their supporters.
Things began happen in short
order. First one gentleman rider went
down to bite the turf. and then another.
Red coats were darkened with dust and
dirt, and beautiful silk top hats were
hurled promiscuously over the course.
Riderl"ss horses galloped heller skelter
= the field. some pursued by &C.
termined jockeys. While the witnessing
crowds shrieked their enjoyment, rider
after rider was thrown, until the entire
flo'd Of IL was Gown.
The first unfortunate gentleman
Jockey to be thrown succeeded in re-
mounting his horse. howev r. and saved
tn" cay by taking the remainder of the
jumps and coming down the home
stretch a winner
TIE story is well vouched for. though
rone could or cared to reveal the names
OF the participants.