The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-04-11
T II E T u r r :.
Tue Great State Post stak3-Kcntucky Vic
toriOusl

From the New Orleans Picayunc, April 81
liant hopes and expectations Than that which yeserda,
dawned upon the thousands who to greater or less de
gree We're rushing forward TO the great event OF the Day
great struggle of States for the superiority in that con
test which had for months enlisted 20 much feeling So
much State PRIDE much individual competition, ana
had been the ruling idea in all circles and scarcely Any
other topic had been discussed or thought Of hJaa
of strangers the eenu day approached had th.ohs
ca our city, and almost nothing else was tano ,
the probable or possible result Of this grest sPoIs
fair Opinions Of every kind and shade were iaiiy ex
spressed Each Of the gallant states tna. haa 30
chivarously come into the arranseneI' ha I've nost Vi
representatives on the ground ana esen ear
were offered, bets made, speculations were
INDUCED in predictions we're ths t hopes
topic that lasted up TO the very moment when the
tap Of the drum gave signal for the start Even the
ladies caught the infectious excitement, and made up
their pretty purses The fair Mobans strong on
Highlander and the Kentucky bellies wondered how any
reasonable person could doubt that Lexington would as
Anredly win. Mississippi relied confidently Lscomte
without making much ado, while Louisiana depored
self modesy and hoped her Arrow would 20 straight to
the mark The contest had been worth provoking had il
been alone for the pleasure arising from the sparkling of
so many bright eyes and the mnglng of many joyous
laughs % sprang from its discussion.
The day was fair bright, clear and mld-the sky
all blue the air all balm the earth all beautiful From
preach by every possible kind Of conveyance put
IN requiston. The city comparatively deserted.
to be among
was anybody wanted to be deemed anybody had gone
70 the race Dinner hours postponed engagements
were forgotten and should not at all wonder If bank
notifications In some few instances slipped memo
RES The race for everybody, and everybody for the
race
The liberal attendance OF ladies a delightful foa-
lure OF the day There brilliant representatives of
the beauty and taste of our own State many
II her sister States There were besides Louisiana bellies
And Beauties bellies and beauties from Alabama Misss-
asd s took
Hf ladies has always benign inhuence-but we
aever seen it more easnsly executed than in the pre-
liant ivzfa Tbnrq We nw,fOts -
distinguished citizens from all parts of the Southern
country present including Governors Judges Mayors,
would seem invdious, and cannot remember half Of
them. Elk President Fillmore and Secretaries Kenpe.
tenton and politely invited by the judges of the
race TO view It from the judges stand They seemed to
take much interest in the sport and in the intervals in
the members and ladies' stands There must have been
fully twenty thousand persons within the enclosure Of
the Metaire Course this great and interesting
sion. Yet we never have perfect order pre-
served among large body OF than that which pre-
rallied throughout the day We not cognzant Of
single derelction of the duty that one man owes to
another in any single respect drunkenness, dis.
putes, no quarrels no unseenlly even boisterous
remarks
The incidents and results of this race suboin But
in closing necessarily haty and cursory
remarks, cannot forbear noting tho fact thai Old Ken
lucky had and fully ayaei herself Of glorious oppor
tunity OF manestng her CHARACTERISTIC State pride upon
this occasion 1t inspiring the bright eyes of
her daughters sparkling with JOY and to hear their ring
Ing laughs and exutant shouts the champion Of their
STATE was going conquering and to conquer and
adding another to the already many noble trophies that
have been CALAMITY won by Old Kentuck. And now to
the incidents of the race.
The Judges stand occupied by ex President Fill
more and several other distinguished strangers besides
the judges of the The judges selected by the sub
scribers to the stake follows:-Col Wade Hamp
ton the judge chosen to represent Alabama Col j.
J. Hughes, for Louisiana Mr.. Robert Evans, for Ken
lucky Judge Pnckney Smith for Mississippi and Judge
j. g. Cocks the President of the Metairie Jockey Club
PRECEDING
in cit br andh Hiph-
lander being generally the hrst favorite and Lexington
the second favorite The field frequently backed
against Highlander, at odds OF two to On arriving
at the course the crowd for time appeared to feel mpa
TENT fearing that they could not have chance to lay
out all their money Pocket books few open and for
hour the betting very lively but not much changed
from what it had been. We heard many bets made as
folio s-Even between Highlander and Lexington $50
TO- 500 that Highlander would take the first heat There
WIS Of course, variety of bets concerning many minor
points and the particular placing Of the horses.
The course very heavy from the previous rains
ind the strong wind which prevailed had har Tened
he mud that it very stiff and unyieding clingng
First Hoat-Ihe horses came proudly up to the stand,
Ind moved of without difficulty, well together and
passed around the first turn in the following order-ex
ngton leading second Lecomte third, with High
lander trailing In this position the frst mile run,
all being within fair distance of each other On enter
ing the second mile Lecomte went up, and lapel Lex
ington for short distance but they all resumed
their original position for the remainder Of the second
and the whole of the third mile at about the
Of speed On making the fret turn of the fourth mile
Arrow began to feel the effects of the heavy mud and
third position and gradually making up the gap between
himself and his two competitors Lecomte on coming
home pushed for the lead but held his
steadily and won the under strong pull by about
three lengths, in S0Sa distancing Arrow The Ken
tuckians who are famous people for shouting gave
loud cheer for their fayorte and the betting people
began to make arrangements.
Second Hedt-After much discussion on minor points,
one on Lexington against the field Lecomte generally
being considered the chief reliance OF the heders
Hghianders friends were in bad spirits but Of
them contended that he had not yet exerted himself
that he nearly all the hrst heat far from the pole,
and they therefore took up the odds against him
On starting for the second heat Highlander took the
lead the first turn with Lexington second but all well
together. On tie back stretch, Lecome made brush
and took the lead of the party entering the second mile
In ADVANCE and Lexington second In this position they
he mile. At the entrance Of the third mile High
lander made his first and only brush; he went to
Lexington and nearly passed him for short distance,
but Lexington shook him on round the turn, Ie-
lengths On the 6rst quarter of the fourth mile High
lander began to exhibit distress and gave up his stride
the spot and in the same as Arrow had
done in the first heat lexington the back stretch,
now went to work in earnest gradually closing the gap
on Lccomte both striving hard for the supremacy and
the pace increasing On the third quarter Lexington
locked Lecote and they swung into the home stretch
hide and side the excitement running high amongst the
anxious Thousands and cheers rending the air. Down
they came home rushing forward like torrent each at
the top of his speed and IL life depended upon every
jump; but the speed ofLexngton was superior and he
SHOT past the judges stand about four lengths in ad
vance winning heat and race amid the cheers Of the
ladies and the deafening shouts Of the men, in S0i the
Last mile being run in quicker time than any other in the
race.
Our readers who not present at the would
sadly misSdge the merits Of this great contest did they
only make their opinion Of the severity of the struggle
BY CHANGING 1T the time which, we acknowledge, would
appear slow il the track had been in good condition
Under all the circumstances OF the the
excellent ono its varying chances its uncertain term
nation up to the last moment the severity of the contest
the amount Of money at stake and the immense number
Of persons In attendance viii render brilliant event
IN the racing annals of this country.
Summary
MnArRK CoURsE-6RHAT Posr STATE SrAKE,-FouRTH
DAY-SArURDAY April /, 1S54-Great Post State Stake
for $50 OOO p D. For all ages Four mile heats. Five
thousand dollars subscription p: Each horse start
ing the TO receive 81 900 out of the stakes
vided he distanced and the winner to receive tn
remainder Each State Subscribing to be represented BY
the signatures Of three responsible gentlemen residents
Of said State, majority Of whom shall the horse
20 start The stakes to be deposited with the President of
4he New Orleans Mearc Jockey Club two days previous
r. the race
sUBscRBxRs roR The OF LOUISIANA.
r. ], Wells d. r. Kenner, J. Hiddleston.