GRAND CIRCUIT. 21 



failed -to hold a meeting on the dates named. It finally 

 wheeled into line in 1888, but after three meetings dropped 

 out until 1893. Another skip followed in 1898, when 

 Fleetwood was dismantled. In 1899 the Empire City 

 track was built and Grand Circuit meetings were held 

 there for two seasons. Pittsburg joined the Circuit in 

 1 88 1, the year that Homewood Park was inaugurated, the 

 meeting being made memorable by Maud S. trotting a 

 mile in 2:10)2, and Bonesetter falling dead in one of the 

 heats in the 2:19 class. The Grand Circuit horses were 

 there again in 1882 and in 1884, after which there was a 

 blank until 1890. Another skip came after 1893, and 

 Homewood Park was marked off the list. The business 

 reverses which overtook Amasa Sprague in 1873 kept 

 Xarragansett Park out of the original Circuit, and Provi- 

 dence, with one of the fastest tracks in the land, did not 

 ask for dates until 1883. After a run of three years it 

 dropped out until 1899. Albany was a member from 

 1884 to 1889. Detroit joined in 1886, but withdrew the 

 following year when the American Trotting Association 

 was organized. It gave independent meetings the week 

 prior to Cleveland from that date until 1893, when Ham- 

 tramck Park, and subsequently the beautiful course at 

 Grosse Point were again added to the list. In 1889 Phil- 

 adelphia was given a week for a meeting at Point 

 Breeze, but it did not race in membership until the fol- 

 lowing season. It dropped out in 1894. Saginaw was 

 in membership from 1894 to 1896, when Columbus, Fort 

 Wayne and Indianapolis were admitted to what was 

 termed the 'New Grand Circuit.' Columbus is still a 

 member, while Indianapolis remained in for one season 

 and Fort Wayne for three. Glens Falls and Readville 

 joined in 1897, and Portland, Me., was assigned dates in 



