The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-04-17
THE GREAT FOUR MILE DAY

r. We copy the following from the N o. Picayune
of the 9Th inst. The race which it describes was
most exciting one, and in all its incidents, from
the start to the victory, will be remembered as the
greatest four mile race on record:
So far as we could Judge, the horses all appeared
to be in excellent condition, and eager for the
fray as they moved to and fro before the stands
to the admiration of the anxious thousands.
The drum taps and the horses dash off with
rush for the first heat, and on passing the first
turn Iecomte led, Lexington being second, and
Rube trailing behind, but at fast gait and as
bold a stride as he could well accomplish Their
position did not vary for nearly three miles al
though the pace in reased; the space between the
horses at times increasing and diminishing, Lexing
ton several times making brush to take the lead
but Lecomte increasing his speed to prevent ir
On entering the fourth mile. and on the back
stretch of it, Lexington partially closed the gap
that Lecomte had opened on him, and attempted
to outfoot him. The attempt was immense, and
ELECTED the loudest enconiums of Lexineton's g
friends and hackers but it was Intellectual The
spur was freely used to induce him to do what
his friends claimed for him. that he was the fastest
horse'in the world at brush but Lecointe bsffied
all his efforts, kept the lead and won the heat amid
deafeuing shouts, by six lengths in much the quick
est time ever made in the wOrld-7:26
If the result of the heat induced great shouting
the announcement of the time produced still more
clamorous demonstrations of delight. All knew
that the heat was very fast, but each enc of the
believe their own time, until the judges announced
it officially.
During the great excitement which was con.
eentrated on the two contending horses, Rube had
almost been lost sight OF, but he came home at q
high rate of speed, making the best he at by far
that he made in his life although, as the red
flag descended, he barely escaped being caught be-
hind it.
The betting was changed about Immediately not
less frsln the result of the previous b eat, than
from th great apparent exertion that L exington
had made while running and the aspect and con.
dition OF the horses after the heat Ruhe's chance
tors against him. Most of the bets now made were
for the purpose of hedging, and Ledpmte was the
fsv0rite at 100 to 40 0againstth the field.
Each horse came up for the second Heat with crest
erect, and with defiant demeanor cast proud CLAN
ces from fierce eyes, determined apparently to win
or die. Lexington this time led the way from the
score. for nearly two miles, by about two lengths
when coming down the stretch and passing the
stands, to enter on the third mile, Lecomte who
had been bottled up, commenced his great brush.
overhaued Lexington and passed him. Both now
did their best and the third mile a constant
strife throughout for the lead, and the quickest in
the race, being run in LAG but Lecomte, although
SO hard pushed, never wavered, but ran evenly and
steadily along about two lengths ahead. On the
first turn ofthe fourth mile Lexington, who at that
point was nearly up to his rival, for moment gave
back and lost hisstride, but he at recovered it
and pushed on with vigor but with evidently great
winner by four lengths in the astonishing time of
1888 "a, distancing Rube.
The long pent up feelings of the nearly phrenzied
thousands. who for some time had been almost
breathless, now found vent, and all losers as well
as winners, ladies as well gentlemen, shouted
and applauded the magnificent contest the glorious
| result, and the gallant winner.
For more than twenty years the race of Eclipse
and Henry over the Union Course on Long Island,
on the 9th OF May, 1923, was the quickest re-
cord. The shortest heat in that race was 1877 12.
In Fashions race with Boston, over the onion
Course, Long Island, May 10, 1842 the time was
1882 I-2-7:45 George Martins fast was run
in this city, on the Goth OF March, 1e43, and the
time was 7:33-7:43 1t 10 remarkable fact as Le-
come is by Boston out of Reel that his sire should
have in the quickest race OF Fashion, and his
dam Reel. should, on December ii, l84l, have won
a race in this city, the time of which was 7:40-
7:43.
SUMMARY:
MErAIRIR CoURsR-Saturday, Aprl S.-Club
purse 81 OO0-four mile heats.
4. J. Wells ch. c. Lecomte, by Boston, out Of
Reels y. o. label s.s
A. L. Bingaman's b. c. Leriaston by Boston,
out OF Alice Carneal-3 y. %. Henry Mel.
chopl E 2
j. s. Hunters ch. z. Rube, by imp. Trustee
dam Minstrel-ased. John Ford dis
First Heat Second Heat.
1853 2;02
1:54 l:56
E49l.2 l46
l:49I.2 l:52 "a
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