The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-05-14
From the .Nss York Express
GREAT MATCH RACE BETWEEN FASHION
AND BOSTON-THE NORTH AGAINST
THE SOTvTH

GREAT MATCH RACE BETWEEN FASHION
AND BOSTON-THE NORTH AGAINST
THE SOUTH.
The great contest between the North and South, so
tar as horse power speed is concerned, was yes
terday settled on the Union Race Course Inc noble
animals chosen to decide this grave question were
Fashion and Boston.
Fashion was foaled on the farm Of William Glib
bons, of Madison, Morris county, New jersey on the
25th of April, 1887 and is now five years old She
was got by Mr.. Livingston's imported Trustee, out
of the celebrated Bonnets-o,Blue, by Sir
Charles and she out Of Reality considered by iudg
of the best racers of her day. from the stock
of Sir Archy Trustee was imported to this country
by Messrs. Stockton, Ogden, and Corbin Fashion is
a glossy satincoated chestnut with star and ring of
white above the cOronet of her left hind foot On
her right quarter she is marked with three dark spots
considered evidence OF great blood She is about
I54 hands high, elevated on the wthers, thin head
ard neck, with legs well turned, fine shaped shoulder
and full and acapacious, chest. Her loins well
arched and supported, and although strong built in
her shoulders yet possesses the same greyhound fash
ION OF Boston IN muscular development OF her quar-
tiers, thighs and gaskns. She has been trained by
Samuel Laird, of Colts Neck, New Jersey, and al
ways ridden by his Joseph She is the property
Of MIR. Gibbons, Of New Jersey, and may be emphat-
ically classified " the northern horse. She runs
with long rating stroke gathers well and with great
ease Her first race was in the fall of IS4O at Cam
den where she run the two mile heats for purse of
$500, beating Amelia Priestman She has since run
three two mile heats two three miles, and one four
in the latter of which she beat John Blount in the Sc
cond heat, and distanced Boston in the first Her
last race Is among the best in point of time ever run
in this country. The only race lost was when she
was beaten by Tyler, two mile heats, at Camden, in
the spring of lS4l after winning the second heat
Tyler won the third and fourth heats in the last of
which she was second, having beaten Newton, who
won the hrst, and Ielemachus In the four mile race
at Camden, when she beat Boston and John Blount,
the first mile of the first heat by her in N
second, I'm 53s; third, I'm ass; fourth, 2sm. The
second mile of the second heat was run in I'm Ats.
Boston was foaled in Henrico county, Virginia, in
1888, and was bred by John Wickham, Esq. of Rich
mond, Virginia He is consequently, nine years old
at the present time. He was got by the celebrated
horse Timoleon, out of Robin Browns dam, by Balls
Florizel, her dam by imported Alderman, out of a
mare by imported Clockfast SIC. He was sold by
Mr.. Wickham at two years old, to Nathaniel Rives
of Richmond, Virginia. for $780, and was trained in
1886 and Y by Captain John Belcher, who was in
Colonel JohnsOn's stables. Since the spring cam
paign of 1885, he has been trained by Arthur Taylor
and ridden by Gil Patrick. In May, 1885, after the
first heat OF his four mile against Decatur and
Vashti, at Trenton, which he won he was sold to Mr.
James Long, of Washington City, for $4,000, and
half the purse then won of $1,000 and he is still
owned by that gentleman and Colonel Johnson. In
his first race at Broad Rock, Virginia, April co. 1886,
sweepstakes, mile heats, then three years DID, he
boled the first heat, when running ahead and lost
the race. Since then, he has won one two mile race
eight three miles, and taken purses at twenys four
mile heats. He has started thirty-eight times, and
won thrtyhve races in all. He lost two mile match
at Petersburg, Virginia, April l6th 1885, being off
his foot, and beaten by Portsmouth. He was also
distanced by John Blount and Fashion, at Camden,
New Jersey, October %, IS4I, four mile heats in
AZ. Blount broke down in the second heat, which
was won by his present competitor, Fashion, in AZ.
Boston dead amiss and unable to run mile under
10. The purses taken by him since he has been on
the turf, amount to $4,000. Boston is a chestnut,
with white stockings on both hind feet, and white
ratch'' down his face. He is little over Isl hands
HIGH and although under the standard yet to the eye
appears to be large sized horse. His shoulders are
low but strong with barrel rather fiat than otherwise
but well ribbed, and back bone presenting great
strength. His legs free from blemsh when
three years old He is any thing but beauty his
neck and head being i'll shaped. In running, he ga
theirs his hind legs, and is, therefore, great in hea
Wy ground. In word he combines the great requi-
Sites depth of chest powerful ons thighs and hocks
that produce the essentials of speed strength, endu
rance, and ability to carry weight
This contest being considered by sportsmen one of
much consequence, has been the topic for months
past-consequenty it brought together the largest
course of pie perhaps assembled at the race
course, from East, West North, and South. Scarce
ly State but was there represented To attempt to
enumerate them in thousands would be useless. From
the time the ferry boats commenced running in the
morning. until one O'Clock, they were perfect jam.
So eager were the crowd, that unless man could
stand upon the very bow of the boat with one foot
raised ready to step ashore he considered behind
the spirit of the times.
The moment the boat struck the wharf another
strife commenced to which should first reach the
railroad Hence they piled promiscuousy,
heads and points, three four tier deep, long
they could lie on without binding. Great anxiety
also manifested to get ahead, each striving get
upon the foremost cars; they even satisfied if
they would get the chance to hang themselves on the
stakes upon the outside.
The crowds and jams at the race course are not to
be described. Up to o'clock every avenue leading
to it, far as the eye could reach presented dense
mass of human beings, omnibuses coaches wagons
ginger bread carts, oyster CARTS and every thing Of
the kind usually seen at general trainings and camp
meetings Then there were backegs of every varie-
ty from chuck lex up the wheel of fortune. About
every tenth you met within quarter of mile of
the ground, had one leg perched upon his cane
playing now you see it, and now you don't it,"
Many nice young men, no doubt were, by this be-
witching game, wheedled out of their gingerbread
money Those not inclined to try their fortune upon
the sweat boards &C.. paid from fifty cents to dollar
the might be- for the privilege Of amming each
others ribs in upon the various stands prepared espe
cially for that purpose. And as long they had
room, the arstocracy amused themselves with sand
witches and principles, and the pebans RECALLED them
selves with gingerbread and peanuts.
After the stands were all filled, SO that it pos
sibe to stow another in without mourning expense
greater than the price of admission, the balance
kindly permitted to 60 into the adjoining fields and
peep through the fence. 1t was not long, however,
that their enterprise slumbered they approprat
ed all the fences for miles round and long before the
commenced, seats upon picket fences sold high
eighteen pence; and man in pcaceable possession
Of seat upon rail fence, counted as good as two
and sixpence cash. Every tree in the vicinity was
alive with eager spectators. The roofs of all the
booths and shantes, and the tops of omnbuses &C.,
all covered with crowd. One shanty gave way
under the too great weight and smashed all the whs-
key Jugs and gave its unfortunate occupant pretty
severe squeeze. When the hour on which the horses
to start hadInearly arrived the thousands who
had not been able to purchase upon either of the
stands, having lost all naence In the slow met bod If