Evening star., 1952-05-25
Horse Shows
OF the Past
CONTINUED From Page DID

president and treasurer, and Mr..
Frederick May as secretary.
Another meeting will be held
in q few days, when additional
vice presidents will be chosen. it
being expected that q score or
more of influential and we'll
known men Of the District will
be selected.
"It was stated last evening that
the guarantee fund has already
been pledged"
The last paragraph Of that story
said:
Zone Of the most attractive
features Of the show will be con-
tests in tent pegging and like feats
between the Rough Riders of New
York and the men of Troop A Of
Fort Myer. Gen. Miles having
given permission for the men to
participate" Fort Myer, home OF
the famous Sd Cavalry. was even
then ready to give exhibits Of
skillful riding.
Bradley Forms Used
Following the years at Bradley
Farms, and the death Of Mr.. Ha-
zen, Mr.. John o. Gheen. with
others who worked with Mr.. Ha-
zen, enlarged their scope and
started an international Horse
Show. This, and the Pan Ameri-
can Horse Show. were staged at
Meadowbrook. There also have
been two or more shows under
the name of Bride Trails Show,
held on the equitation field in
Rock Greek Park. This is not
practical. for, being government
property, no admission can be
charged and there Is little space
for grandstands or stables.
The polo field in West Potomac
Park was tried for horse show,
but, like the polo games. which
were popular but financially un-
successful, had to be abandoned,
Temporary buildings for wartime
use were built on the polo field
and now only a portion can be
used for horseback riding.
Famous names in Washington
society appeared in the National
Capital Horse Show of 1912. These
Included Secretary of War Henry
II. Stimson. Col. Edward st. John
Greble, 1t. Col. Henry T. Allen.
Maj. William d. Connor, H. Rozier
Dulany, Cary D. Langhorne and
Frederic w. Huidekoper.
1.-THE first day of the gentle
mems meet held at Benning yes
terday." quoting The Evening Star
|ofg May II. 1872" when anti
betting horse racing was inau-
|gurated at the National Capital
under the auspices of the Riding
and Hunt Club, Miss Helen Taft,
|chaperoned by Mrs. Horace West
colt. occupied the Presidents box
with the Misses Meyer, daughters
|of the Secretary Of the Navy,
Capt. Little, 1t. Mckinney, DR..
Grayson, Comdr. Symington, Mr..
Emery, the Misses Cotton Smith
and Lord Eustace Percy of the
British embassy. They went out
in autos"
The Misses Meyer now are Mrs.
Philip o. Coffin and Donna Julia
|Brambilla living in Washington.
Capt. Little now is retired Marine
Corps Maj. Gen. Louis c. Little of
Georgetown. and the DR.. Gray
son later became Admiral Gray
son, personal physician to Presi-
dent woodrow Wilson.
There were others destined to
be leaders in Washington society
listed at that "gentlemen's meet" "
Among them were Miss Katharine
Elkins, Mr.. and Mrs. Joseph Lei
ter, Mr.. and Mrs. Edward Beale
Mclean, Mr.. William r. Hit, Mr..
and Mrs. Ned Mitchell, Gen. and
Mrs. Leonard Wood, Miss Gladys
Hinckley and Mr.. Westcott.
The National Capital Horse
Show itself. from May l to 4 1912,
at 18th and D streets, had among
its sponsors. Mr.. Hazen, Mr..
Gheen, Mr.. Joseph Letter, Mr.. Ed
ward T. Stokesbury. Of Philadel-
phia, and Col. Robert M. Thomp-
son of New York.
In the Gallery
"The gallery" on that opening
day was filled with washington's
top social leaders. Miss Elkins
had with her Mr.. and Mrs. Peter
Goelet Gerry, the latter the for
|mer Miss Mathilde Townsend. He
later became Senator from Rhode
Island. Also with Miss Elkins on
that day were the Russian Am
bassador and Mime. Bakhmeteff,
the latter sister Of Mrs. John r..
Mclean. The Ambassador was the
last envoy here Of the Czarist
regime. The Edward Beale Nc
Leans and the Bakhmeteffs shared
q box through the short season.
MIR. and Mrs. William Payne
were hosts to her sister, Miss Anna
Portner and Representative Henry
D. Flood. who some years later
were married, and DR.. j. Blair
Spencer.
Mr.. and Mrs. Walter r. Tuck.