The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1848-03-23
Binpamsn Course.

Second Great Match-No Race-Racing IN Nep
Orleans-Race Horses-Racing Stockholders. etc.
Yesterday was fixed for the second great match
between the stables of VIM. r. Johnson and Mr..
Kirkman but Topaz, the property of the latter,
paid one thousand dollars forfeit to the Virginia
proprietor, and consequently there was no race. In
truth. there was gallop between Kenner's ST.
Mary and divers Mss Hamihon--two mile heats,
at sweepstake, which was won by st. Mary, in
"any kind of time !" but emphatically, there was
no race-and the people retired dissatisfied.
We are constrained to say, we lament the decay
that seems to have fastened itself upon the noble
pastine of horse.racing, in the State of louisiana
There uas a time--when Duplantier, Wells. and
Miner, launched their fiery steeds upon the Course,
to uin, or nobly lose, we'll contested struggle
time when pleasure was the guerdon Of well-rsed
labor, to produce the heeest and truest corser on
the turf; time when money was the incidental
excitement that lured the &c horse lover" from the
ixedness of settled occupation That time. we fear,
isgone forever.
We must not be understood as condemning the
line of conduct pursued by parties Immediately in.
terested in the match between Revenue and Topaz;
on the contrary, too much credit cannot be given
to Isaac Van Leer, for drawing his flly from con-
test that promised only defeat to noble animal,
and bitter disappointment to her hackers; defeat
that was certain, in consequence of severe dis
temper that had Frustrated the flly to degree of
weakness from which there is even now but small
hope of her recovery in time for the regular Spring
meetings But too much caution cannot be exer-
cised by match-makers and Course propretors as to
the manner of the arrangement. We own at once,
that no one should be held responsible for the real
causes that may incapacitate horse for promised
match but real causes should appear most papable
to the patrons of the tart. Too much praise can
not be awarded TO Messrs Oliver and Valentine.
for the energy and taste they have displayed in the
construction of the best track in the United
States but to enjoy the patronage of the commu-
nity-to attract and tasen the attention Of gentle
men, to this truly noble SPORT "a sport that has been
transmitted TO us from the most ancient Grecian
repubcs) the games should be kept sacred from
deceit not even a shadow of doubt should be per-
mitted to steal upon the brightness that alone adors
a racing festival.
In the North you no longer find those large con-
gregatons of gentlemen who the true lovers of
racing, upon the stands Their places are
generally filed by those whose study il is to min. at
the sacrifice OF every passion or feeling except that
OF gain. The consequences are inevltabe-doubt
pervades every mnd-nen have grown timid and
they, who once found great pleasure in the beau-
fnl struggles of the hiGhtoned racer. now shrink
from the dlslngennonsness of the trcksters who
have taken possession of the northern turf. This
is stale Of things sincerely hope may be for
ever kept from section OF the country There
is but one way to accomplish such an end, and that
is to preserve general meetings and special
matches-the most delicate of all racing-ffom the
slightest suspicion of Implicitly. There is no city
III any country where there is SO much racing as in
New Orleans. or where the community are so libe-
raj i'll the support Of such amusement and this
circumstance alone should be the greatest induce
ment to our gentlemanly and energetic proprietors
to cut away all The Objectionable features from the
games of the course, and render them pastmes
worthy of every gentleman's attention and support
We relterate, that our intention is not to cast anv
Inslnualon adverse to the fairness of the with
/ drawal of Topaz from the promised contest
but we think the parties entering and controlling
the fllly, should not have withheld their intention
to pay forfeit which they must have resolved on at
least the day previous to the contemplated race
As the case stands great injury is done TO the pro
prieors by the public disappointment; and all those
! who are unacquainted with the rules of racino
and too Indifferent TO possess themselves of the
iacts feel the strongest inclination to discredt the
true causes OF disappointment, and attribute the
late failure to the personal interests in pecuniary
point OF view, Of parties deeply Interested i'll the
! promised match.