264 



The Driving Clubs of Greater Boston 



has always derived a lot of pleasure in mat- 

 inee racing, and in driving his own horses. Con- 

 sidering his weight handicap, he is really a 

 good driver of trotters, being light-handed and 

 adept in keeping his horse on his gait and 

 stride. His coolness and excellent nerve have 

 won him many a good race. About his first 

 trotter was Authentic, 2:161-4, a winner of 

 numerous prizes and ribbons in the early days 

 of the Dorchester Club, while Grace B., one 

 that he raced at Franklin Field Speedway in 

 1913, was the winner of second prize for 

 trotters that season. 



Mr. Biggs, though, takes great interest in 

 his young and promising group of trotters, all 

 from the brood mare, Mary Ann, by Allie- 

 wood, 2:09 1-2, dam Emma D., 2:15 3-4, the 

 oldest being Annie M., three years old and a 

 prize winner in the races of 1914, by Baron 

 May, 2:07 1-4, the next Mary B., two years 

 old, by Forest, and her last being Annie B., 

 foaled in 1914, by Gun Metal, 2:16 1-4. Mary 

 Ann is now in foal by Aquilin, 2:19 3-4. Mr. 

 Biggs resides at 60 Marsh Street, Dorchester. 

 Mass. 



Woodshed was a prime favorite with the 

 horsemen and patrons of the race meetings 

 wherever he was started. He could always be 

 relied upon to put up a very stiff race, and a 

 horse had to outclass him in order to gain 

 the verdict. With all of his hard, grueling 

 races, the little chestnut was made of such 

 material that he absolutely seemed to thrive 

 upon it. Later, Mr. Sterling won a whole lot 

 of good races with the gelding, Special Boy, 

 and there are today many of the veteran race- 

 goers who well remember the race at Old 

 Orchard in which Mr. Sterling gave Esper- 

 anza his record of 2:10 1-4. Mr. Sterling re- 

 sides at 380 Somerville Ave., Somerville, 

 Mass. 



LYLE STERLING 

 Lyle Sterling was born in Blooming Val- 

 ley, Pa., in 1867. When a small boy his par- 

 ents removed to Abington, 111., at which 

 place he received his education. He first came 

 to Boston in 1883, and entered the employ of 

 R. M. and L. J. Sturtevant, who were en- 

 gaged in the meat business. A year later, he 

 went West and brought back East the noted 

 trotting stallion, J. R. Shedd, 2:19 1-4. He 

 started in business for himself in 1901, open- 

 ing a public training stable at Mystic Park. 

 He is now connected with the Somerville Fire 

 Department. Air. Sterling is a member of the 

 Fellsway Driving Club, and also belongs to 

 the Knights of Pythias. 



Mr. Sterling's turf career as a trainer and 

 driver was an extended one. During the years 

 he was on the turf he was very successful, 

 winning many races. Among those readily 

 brought to mind, that he campaigned, are 

 Esperanza, 2:10 1-4; Annie Shedd, 2:14 1-2; 

 A. S. L., 2:16 1-4; Alice Wilkes, 2:21 1-4; 

 Elsie Mac (1), 2:473-4; (5), 2:223-4; J. R. 

 Shedd, Jr., 2:30; Dr. Franklin, 2:24 1-2; 

 Stephen W., 2:13 1-4; Special Boy, 2:121-4, 

 and Woodshed, 2:09 1-4. 



It was with this little pacer, Woodshed, 

 that Mr. Sterling's reputation extended far 

 and wide. In the six years that he raced him 

 over mile and half-mile tracks, and in never 

 a class slower than the 2:12, he was only twice 

 back of the money. Each season he began 

 racing in June, and kept constantly at it until 

 the snow flew. 



ROYCE E. COLLINS 

 Royce E. Collins was born in Orwell, Vt., 

 in 1866, and attended the district schools of 

 h's native town. He came to Boston the Fall of 

 1889, an d took tne position of assistant super- 

 intendent, under W. A. "Pod" Skinner, at the 

 Bates Farm in Watertown, Mass. In 1896 

 he entered into business for himself, opening 

 a public training stable at Combination Park. 

 He remained there for several years and then 

 entered the employ of Commodore Perkins as 

 assistant trainer under Jack Trout. Mr. Col- 

 lins is a Mason, having joined the Independent 

 No. 10 at Orwell, Vt., when a few months 

 over 21 years of age. He resides in West 

 Somerville, Mass. 



Among the most prominent horses that he 

 has campaigned and given records to are the 

 following: Squeezer, 2:133-4; Tennehinch, 

 2:161-4; Jimmie B., 2:111-4; Diversion, 

 2:13 1-4; Rex, 2:13 1-2; Oriole, 2:18 1-2; 

 Avis, 2:20 1-4, which cost only $90, and a 

 season later was second in 2:13 1-2; J. M. P.., 

 2:263-4: Prince Megner, 2:21 ; Cail, 2:18 1-4; 

 Alto, 2:21; Jim, 2:27 1-4; Lily, 2:19 1-2; 

 Palmetto Prince, 2:11; Doctor L., 2:21 1-4: 

 Thad, 2:29 1-4; Dumont, 2:20 1-4. During 

 Mr. Collins' turf career he never had a horse 

 that cost more than $500, which was the 

 price paid for Tennehinch. Squeezer, the geld- 

 ing that won many races over the New Eng- 

 land tracks, cost only $450. 



The first race that Mr. Collins drove in 

 Massachusetts occurred over the Worcester 

 half-mile track, and he defeated a large field 

 of horses in seven heats with Prince Megner. 

 At the Saugus race track he won a race with 

 Diversion over Colleen, 2:133-4, the latter 

 being a top-heavy favorite. Before the first 

 heat was started, Mr. Collins stood to win 

 $2,000 on his mare. On account of Colleen 

 being such a large favorite, there was a big 

 kick made by her backers that the race was 



