The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1855-05-04
LocAL MATTERS.

FAIRriELD RAcEs.--At no time within
cur recollection have we ever witnessed race, %
exciting, so doubtful, and 50 highly interesting a.
the one which took place a, the Fairfield course
yesterday between Cordelia Reed and Lawson Tor
the Proprietors Purse of si00, three mile heats
From the start to the end of the race every inch oil
ground was warmly contested, and every enort
made by both parties to gain the victory the wea
ther, too was charming, theBun being entirety oo-
scured, the sky yelled with thick, dark cloud The
air fresh and balmy, and yet no rain fell vac
time Ia addition to this, the attendance was very
large, hundreds of strangers being present, while
the track though heavy from the aePtn o. ssn'
All 10 all, yesterday was day longt to be remem'
bered by those who Waited Fairfield. and. in time
to come, when the lightning speed OF heAng,
toms races will be told with animation, ana sieneo
to with delight, the friends oil the lurf VINO saw
the long and arduous struggle OF Cordeiia Reed
aud Lawson will, in their own minds, deciare
that its equal was never whnesseu, anu , nay
never be again. Faster races nave ol'en peen
cbrouicled, and larger sums have frequently oeen
wapered upon the result, but who Ii 1t tnat mas
ever before seen two race nags so nearly matcueu
In speed and endurance. that nehnel cou,o iesse
the other distance of twenty feef 10 ruahipg nne
miIes9 To this circumstance, then. 10 TO be AZ n
buted the interest In the contest we have alluded
10. and we therefore herald 1t as one OF the great
wonders In man 9 lie. q.
Tho Race-At an early hour In the morning,
announced that sSelene, the fleet footed "Se-
ioro nod been drawn on account of her condition,
and that but two OF the entries would therefore
start This fact made the betting men SET ther
sneas" high and az COrdelia was greatly the iavo-
rite the odds on her soon ran up 70 Jour anu er.n
FIVE TO one at which "points" takers became pIen
tiful. About o'clock the horn sounded the nrst
time soon after which the contestants, (sster ana
and brother) were led down the stretch, eacn ap.
pearing In fine condition, and looking as wen a.
their hackers could desire. Lawson was evldent-
ly short of work, but teen his game was unoouot
ed Cordelia seemed perfect In every respect, as
far as we cou udse and not FULLY up to her hlgn'
est standard, was at least more 30 than her compe'
tor. Indeed, Il would be difficult job TO catch them
both ia better CONDITION than they were yesterday.
and we doubt 4e-y much If they could sgain do a.
we'll az on that OCCASION
First Heat-The usual arrangements for three
mile race having been completed, the trumpet call
ed the contestants to The score Cordelia being FIRST
and at the tap Of the drum they dashed off well to
pether, the start being an admirable one. After
going about two hundred yards, Lawson showed
bis nose 10 front, but Immediately after Corde-
liza advanced little, and thus the two sped along
az If indissolubly Joined together On the back
stretch both horses slightly urged, and moved
more rapidly but with no change In positions, till
swinging into the quarter stretch when Lawson
made gallant brush, passed ahead about length,
and crossed the score in 200. The second mile
was run precisely as the frst, till arriving at the
head of the stretch, when Parker, on Cordelia, raj
lied her, and she moved By Lawson, beating him
over the score about half length 10 300 But now
earnest, Cordelia has the laad, and yet blanket
will cover the two. On entering the back stretch.
Henry rallies Lawson, and with the aid OF the
spur drives him along side of the fleeing madam,
who, in turn, is reminded Of her duty by the heels
of "Parker," at her side, and in glorious strug-
ole az ain shows In front, leading to the turn few
Inches In advance, and down the quarter stretch
at killing pace, running the last mile In 2:01, and
winning the heat In COL.
Those who had backed the mare looked upon the
contest now at an end feeling no doubt that the
"shiners" were in search of their pockets, and
would not fail to get there; while the friends of
Lawson, game as they knew him to be- felt satisfied
that the old fellow had made his beet sht and
bound to lose without an accident. He had made
g fine run, established his game beyond doubt, and
stood his punishment admirably, but haing rather
slow of foot, was doomed 10 defeat. In the mean
time both horses cooled Oft WELL and az the expira.
ton of forty minutes, seemed fresh as larks ant
as full of run as red fox, while four FIVE and even
six to one went begging that the mare would win
Second Hedt-Again the horn sounds, the horses
are saddled, the riders mounted aud, the tap of
the drum ge. off well together, Lawson leading the
irst mile under steady pull in 2:07-the mare be-
ing well up. as if prepared for any emergency
The second mile Is now entered at more rapid
speed, and Lawson holds his position until reach
ing the back stretch, when Cordelie makes bold
run and collars him Side by side, the two now
fairly fly along the course-now one, now the ether
showing In front-unt reaching the turn, when he
shakes her of and resumes the lead she being at his
IA
which both Of them come at the top of their speed
Lawson crossing the score few inches in advance
In 1:59, Immediately after which, Cordelia cuts
him down and takes the front position until swing
Ing into the quarter stretch for the third time when
Lawson begins a 'brush' under whip ard spur
and continues il to the In l56-both crossing
1t 30 near together that the judges pronounced the
heat dead one. Time COG.
Not anticipating such q result, the friends of the
mare became awfully alarmed, and, as a copse-
quence the other side grew more sanguine, arguing
they did, that if the horse had been able to make
the second heat dead one, after losing the frst he
could take the third by hard struggle, and win
the fourth with ease. This all sounded mighty
nice" with the crowd, and while it encouraged
them. 80 alarmed the "sharps' and "speculators, !"
that they were afraid to bet even. Ii offered choice
They seemed to have forgotten that Cordela's fort
was bottom, and that she could hang on, till DEATH
If by doing so she could win.
Third Heat,--Forty minutes having rolled around
and beth horses having cooled off finely, the trum
pet once more summoned them to thescorc, when
receiving the word, the horse led off q. steady
lick, closely followed by Cordelia, who trailed him
to the head of the quarter stretch, when she made
bold brush, Tapped him, passed him, and crossed
the score In 20l l-2 the horse being at her skirts
and running as steadily as a water wheel In 60.
ing around the frs. turn, Lawson again caught the
lady and passed her, but she took good care
to be well up, occasionally feeling him along
the back stretch and to the quarter, at which
place she repeated her brush, caught the old
gentleman the distance stand, and showed
her nose In front they reached the score
in 2:0012. Lawson now took up the trail, and in
answer to his jockeys spurs, moved speedily to the
hips of the lady, who was also undergoing the pers
suasive eloquence of STEEL she fairly few along
the back stretch. On reaching the quarter "Hen
ry" drew his whip, as did Parker" and from
there until reaching the score, both animals had
suficiency of silk and steel to last them many
day. Such contest down the stretch we have ne.
yer witnessed thetwo straning every nerve to part
company, but W ithout avail, Cordea barely man
aging to get her head In front, after running the
last mile In 1:57 and the heat in $50
Below we append the entries and result
Third Day -Proprietors Purse of $4O0-three
mile heats. Closed with the following entries
John Belcher's CHI m. Cordelia Reed, by Wag
ner, dam by imp Priam, 5 years old, LOT lbs l o l
C. Green's b. 6. Lawson, by Wagner,
years old, 12l lbs.. ........-.... Q
o. P. Hare's b. m Selene, by Epsilon, dam
Beta, years old: 107 Observation-Disclosures.
Time-6.0 -6:02-559.
To-day, the Jockey Club purse of $780, four mile
heats, Il to be run for, and One Eye Joe and Die
Clapperton, to be two of the contestants If no
others start, race between them will be sufficient
~ interesting to draw together the largest crowd
ever seen on the course.
The members of the Club " I'll bear Ia mind that
meeting il to be held in the long house at 70
O'clock TODAY and th Mt the Club will dine af the