The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-05-10

Single copies, 81 cents each; ss3 per annum.
Mr.. BENEFITS LETTERS FROM EUROPE.
PARIS, April II, lS47.
Sporting I'm France-The Great Stecple Chase
Religion and Racing.
Yesterday Sunday; on that day was held
a famous steeple chase-indeed, the largest that
was ever known in France. 1t was Sunday, and
steeple chase. What would they say of such
conjunction of events in New York, or New
England AS matter of curiosity and interest,
engaged what is called coupe and one horse,
and rode out with a small party, to the sport
Probably within the neighborhood of fifty thou
sand persons, of all ranks and both sexes-from
the prince to the pauper-were in Attendance
Some are as moderate as thirty thousand, but
the most frequent estimate is fifty All the Eng
lish in Paris were there, and many had arrived
from England for that very purpose. The purses
made up of French subscriptions principally;
but it is always the fact that the English Jockeys
invariably take the money. This result creates
great discomfort and grumbling among the
French sportsmen but how they help them
selves! The English Jockeys laugh at French
man trying to study and become learned in
horse flesh In fact, large proportion of the
English nobility and gentry live in the stable
are at home in the stable-and study from their
infancy the philosophy and economy of the
stable. But the French have no peculiar genius
in that direction, and always at fault upon
competing with the English in horse philosophy
Yet during the last few years, in consequence Of
the influx of English into Paris-and the preva-
ence Of English taste and English money!
l. nOrtio ofE IF nh ca1
snowy portion-not the philosophical, poetical,
or intellectual, have plunged into English
amusemcnts, and have adopted the horse as the
companion of their sports and the subject of their
studies.
The race which took place yesterday, is only
the second during the present regime. Since the
time of Charles Y, these amusements had been
suspended-particularly the steeple chase, which
is thoroughly English in its character. 1t is now
patronized by the highest French nobility, and
even by the blood royal. The Due deNemours, who
will probably be the future regent ofFrance, dur
ing the minority ofthe Count de Paris-if revo-
luton do not again change the dynasty-was
present on the field, together with vast number
ofpeers, deputies, and military men.
The place selected was at a small village with
in six miles to the south of Paris, called the
Groin de Beyny About the hour when the pious
Queen, and the other devout, were going to No
ire Dame and the churches, to offer up their de-
voton to Heaven, the Queens eldest son, the
Due de Nemours, and the rest of the gay people of
Paris, were driving out to the steeple chase, In
overwhelming crowds. 1t was a most gloriousy
disagreeable day. 1t had been raining all the
previous day and night, and just cleared away a
little about the hour of starting to the races
This appearance of a clear-up induced many to
90 that would have remained at home. The
crowds of carriages were immense-horses and
pedestrians in equal numbers. There are few re-
freshments of any kind to be found at French
races, every party generally carries their own
lunch-consisting of meats, bread, wine and Sc
CARS. The first race was to come off at 2 o'clock.
For an hour before that time, the whole company
in the carriages were eagaged in eating, drink
ing, smoking, talking, laughing, betting, grin
ming, and samusing themselves. Some spread
themselves along the grass and went TO card
playing but all were in good humor, and no
fighting. Indeed, there were several thousand of
the police and military, some on foot and many
mounted, to keep order on the field and to
rest the refractory. But the French seem to be
very enjoyable people, and although they will
talk and argue a great deal if in quarrel, yet
they seldom strike or fight, unless it be in some
rare and glorious <meute or revolution to
change the government or the dynasty. They
never think of fights on other grounds, and even
private duelling among gentlemen, is going very
much out of fashion.
The track to be rode over was in the shape of
an ;, In some respects, going over the country
and back again, to the length of four English
miles. There were over thirty obstacles on the
route, " be cleared by the horses, consisting of
hedges, bitches, rivers, fences, walls, streams,
&c, &c was situated on the ton of a carriage.
at the foot of hill, or rising ground. in the vi.
entity OF which were crowded together six or
seven of the principal distractions. There was
river twelve feet wide, fence four feet b;rb-a
hedge six feet high, with ditch on one side
and wall on the brow Of the hill four feet over
which the horses had TO Jump in coming down
About twelve horses started for the first race
purse $4,000 francs, in all These horses are
.uch as are called hunters, not race horses par
ercslience, although some of them are blood, and
may have been OH the race course on trial. They
are trained for hunting over the country and to
sst, swim, and clear every obstruction with their