26 RACEALONG 



Nightingale won in 1892, defeating the Village Farm 

 trotter Globe. This was the year that the bike sulky 

 appeared. 



In 1893 the Charter Oak Park meeting was trans- 

 ferred to Fleetwood Park, New York. The $10,000 

 purse was on the programme as usual. It was won 

 by Harietta. Ralph Wilkes was the winner in 1894, 

 after which the park was closed until it was pur- 

 chased by Jones and Welch. 



In the early nineties when T. 0. King was secre- 

 tary of Charter Oak Park he planned a series of colt 

 races in the form of futurities. When they matured 

 they were very valuable, one of the first being won 

 by Belleflower. When the park was closed these 

 events were cancelled after the ones planned for 1895 

 were raced. 



Other associations saw the value of these fixtures, 

 one of the first to exploit them being the Kentucky 

 Trotting Horse Breeders' Association of Lexington, 

 Ky. In other words, the innovation made at Hartford 

 was the first step towards the futurities which are 

 now recognized as the most important feature in 

 connection with light harness racing. 



In 1898 when Jones and Welch revived the Grand 

 Circuit meetings at Charter Oak Park they renewed 

 the $10,000 purse. The first winners under the new 

 management were John Nolan, Lord Vincent, Eleata, 

 Anzella, Billy Buck, and Tiverton. The event won by 

 the last named was a thriller. Sweet Marie was the 

 favorite. As she could not get through the field in 

 the first heat went to Doctor Strong. By that time 



