DOUBLE HARNESS RIVALRY 



conclusion that the double-harness movement was at 

 its zenith when it engaged the serious attention of 

 such men as John D. and Wm. Rockefeller, Robert 

 Bonner, Wm. H. Vanderbilt, Frank Work, T. C. 

 Eastman, W. J. Gordon, and C. J. Hamlin. It was 

 the force of this movement which finally gave us 

 the speedway on the west bank of the Harlem River. 



Belle Hamlin and Justina, bred at Village Farm 

 by C. J. Hamlin, reduced the double-harness record 

 to 2.13 in 1890, and Belle Hamlin and Honest 

 George carried it down to 2.12^ in 1892. Imme- 

 diately after the performance Mr. Hamlin said 

 to me: 



" Two horses of the same speed hooked to light 

 wagon will trot faster than either will single to 

 sulky, carrying a driver of 150 pounds. The pair 

 should be driven with an easy rein. The easy rein 

 allows them to alternate in taking the weight, and 

 to freshen themselves by escaping for an instant from 

 the dead strain on the muscles." 



June 14, 1883, Mr. W. H. Vanderbilt drove 

 Maud S. and Aldine to top road-wagon around old 

 Fleetwood track, which was slow when compared 

 with modern tracks, in 2.15^. Wagon and driver 

 weighed 425 pounds, making the weight for each 

 mare 212^ pounds. In a letter to me T. C. East- 

 man said: 



" Mr. Vanderbilt jogged the mares to the three- 

 quarter pole, starting them down the stretch, and 



