220 



The Driving Clubs of Greater Boston 



certainly a live wire in the early races of that 

 organization and in shaping its destiny. In 

 the Fall of 1904, when the clouds hung low 

 and gloomy for the members in being dispos- 

 sessed of the clubhouse which they had been 

 using on matinee days, it was Mr. Farmer 

 that succeeded in bringing the iron from the 

 fire. It had seemed impossible that there wa=; 

 any way of the club surviving, without a home 

 for themselves and to shelter their horses, ex- 

 cepting that land be purchased near the speed- 

 way and a clubhouse and stables erected 

 thereon. In the financial condition of the 

 club, it having been in existence only a few 

 weeks, this solution looked very precarious. 

 Mr. Farmer solved the problem, however, by 

 issuing invitations to all of the members and 

 their friends, who were witnessing the after- 

 noon's racing in the cold, out on the sidewalks. 

 These invitations were good for use in the 

 clubhouse on matinee days until revoked by 

 Mr. Fanner. 



Immediately, with the use of the clubhouse 

 by the Metropolitan members in this unex- 

 pected manner, the owners of the property en- 

 tered into arrangements whereby it eventually 

 passed to the Metropolitan Club. With the 

 ownership of the property and chartering of 

 the club, Mr. Farmer became one of the life 

 members, and up to the present day, his ac- 

 tive work in the early history of the club is 

 frequently referred to by the old members. 



Both with the Metropolitan and the Gen- 

 tlemen's Driving Club of Boston, Mr. Farmer 

 was very prominent in the matinees. He 

 owned a number of horses with speed, but the 

 one of them all that stands out prominent is the 

 little gelding Fashion, 2:15, not excepting Ar- 

 lington, 2:09 1-2, which he raced successfully 

 in the Readville matinee races. The races 

 which Fashion, Alice Carr, and Tom Phair 

 had to sleigh will never be forgotten. So 

 closely were these horses matched in speed 

 that excitement ran high as to which of them 

 would be the winner. This was true each 

 time that they started. 



Mr. Farmer was one of the cleverest ama- 

 teur reinsmen in New England, and it is 

 doubtful if there was his superior in the 

 country. He was cool-headed, light-handed, 

 game, and nursed a horse along, when tiring 

 in a gruelling finish, like a professional driver. 

 So capable was Mr. Farmer with the reins 

 that he was constantly in demand by owners 

 of matinee horses to drive for them in the 

 races. 



In the past few years, Mr. Farmer has not 

 been seen as much at the speedway as could 

 be wished. His pleasant smile and cheering 

 word have been missed by his horde of friends 

 and acquaintances and it has been the hope 



that with each return of the matinee season, 

 among the list of entries would be seen Mr. 

 Farmer's name with a fast trotter. Mr. 

 Farmer resides at 75 Sewall Ave., Brookline, 

 Mass. 



JOHN H. FARNUM 



John H. Farnum was born in Mansfield, 

 Conn., in 1862, and attended the public 

 schools of his native town. When nineteen 

 years of age he came to Boston and secured 

 employment as a marketman, and in 1885 he 

 went into business for himself, under the 

 name of Farnum & Co., 65 Clinton St.. deal- 

 ers in wholesale fruit and produce. He is still 

 located at the same place, under the firm name 

 of J. H. Farnum & Son. He is a member of 

 the Metropolitan Driving Club and belongs to 

 the order of Masons. 



Mr. Farnum has been one of the main sup- 

 ports of professional horse racing in New 

 England for a number of years. His maxim 

 was always to buy the best, price being no 

 object so long as he got one that could go out 

 and win races. The racing career of Mr. Far- 

 num is very closely identified with that of 

 Walter R. Cox, the famous trainer and driver, 

 as the latter has had his horses to campaign, 

 dating back nearly to his rapid rise in his 

 profession. 



Naming over the most prominent that Mr. 

 Farnum has owned and had raced in the 

 Grand Circuit for large purses and in stake 

 races are joe Jointer, 2:05 1-4; Argot Boy, 

 2:03 1-4; Earl, Jr.. 2:01 1-2; The Bosun, 

 2:05 3-4; Lady Wanetka (2), 2:10, that as a 

 two-year-old was second in 2 :o4 3-4, and was 

 timed that heat, separately, in 2:05 1-4. She 

 was sold by Mr. Farnum a few weeks pre- 

 vious to this race for $12,500. Branham 

 Baughmann, 2:04 1-4, has been well described 

 as the "iron horse." This celebrated pacer 

 was campaigned year after year, and was al- 

 ways there or thereabouts when the money 

 was paid off. As Mr. Farnum has well said 

 in describing the stallion : "There were other 

 pacers having more speed than he, and that 

 was the only reason, of course, why he has 

 had to take a back seat in some of his races, 

 Imi (or what lie could do. lie was of the kind 

 that could always be depended upon to de- 

 liver his best." Mr. Farnum resides at 101 

 Summer Ave., Reading. Mass. 



DANIEL M. HOLMES 



Daniel M. Holmes was born in East Had- 

 dam. Conn., in 1845, and attended the schools 

 of his native town. He first worked for 

 Charles Spencer, of Moodus, in 1863, as a 

 blacksmith's helper. In 1866 he opened a 



