The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-08-17

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The Long Islxnd Race or Ycstssdsy-wans.
ed, nm EPSON Race C0<Srso for New York.
The sporting portion of our community had
gala day yesterday on Long Island. There
were matches on both the Union and Eclipse
courses, of which full and interesting account
will be found elsewhere. On the Eclipse course
the celebrated trotters Flora Temple and Prin.
cess had another opportunity third this
season-of exhibiting their relative merits, with
the usual result-Flora Temple ahead. The per
formances Of this beautiful animal on her last
running day, Tuesday week, had created quite an
excitement in sporting circles; for, for the
first time on record, the amazing speed Of
mile in two minutes and twenty-five
seconds was attained. This, and the
assertion of her driver that she could, II pushed
to it, have made the distance in two minutes and
twenty seconds, created very general desire to
witness the race of yesterday, and consequently
there was an unusually large attendance. The
performances of yesterday, however, did not
come up to those of the preceding day for any
single mile, but the time In which the first two
mile heat was run by Flora was eight seconds
ahead of anything that had been done before.
In an article last week we made comparison
of American and English horses, and of the dis.
tinctive features of rfsports in both countries
While we believe that this country produces
horses which for speed and endurance combined
can challenge not only England, but the world,
it must be confessed that as yet our race course
system is not well calculated to encourage
the sport. What would be thought in EGG
land Of race.course where the Whole field
did not comprise hundred acres, and
where the spectators had to pay from dollar
to ten dollars admission fee. The idea Of such
thing could hardly be realized in England, and
if an attempt were made to introduce such
plan there it would prove miserable failure.
And yet that is the system on which our Long
Island race courses are conducted. The whole
ground comprised in one Of them would not
afford room enough for the provision booths of
an English race course. The consequence is,
that no matter how great the attraction may be
in regard to the quality of our races, they can
never bring together more than few thousand
spectators. We have seen an advertised match
on the Eclipse course postponed to future day
because there were not thirty persons present
and that, too, when the weather was mos
charming
The fact is, that if our sporting men ever ex-
pect to make the sport popular in this region
they must cut adrift from the miserable little en-
closures which they designate race courses, but
which are really only fit for exercise grounds.
1t must cease to be- as it now is, solely and
wholly money speculation. The proprietors
of these enclosures get up matches, not for the
sake of the sport but for the sake of the dollars
that they take in at the wickets; and in nine
cases out of ten it is all nicely arranged before.
hand which horse shall win, and the knowing ones
make their books accordingly. The whole sys
TEN is quite enough to destroy the popular taste
for such sports; and, in fact, the general expert
ence is that the non-professional spectator who
goes once, rarely, if ever, goes again.
What we really want in the vicinity of New
York, and what we are surprised has not been
provided before by some Of our enterprising
sportsmen, is large tract of ground where the
tens of thousands of our Industrial population
may 60, on one of our New York Derby days to
enjoy the fun and frolic and excitement of
regular old-country races-where they can bring
their wives and sweethearts for day rs healthful
sport and where they will have nothing to pay
except for their conveyance to and from the city.
AT the EPSON race course, on a Derby
day, oneffth of the population of London
is on the field. If we would popularize the
sport here we must follow the example of our
English cousins in that respect; and them instead
Of few thousand persons assembling to zee the
sport, the whole motive power at the disposal of
the railroad companies, and the steamboat pro-
prietors and the livery stable keepers would be
insufficient to accommodate the crowds that
would be focking to the races. VIII not some
Of the railroad or other corporations take the
hint if sporting men do not? The lands may be
only hired for the occasion, and the rent for
booths and stalls, and stands, will well compen
safe the proprietor. Who will get up an EPSON
course near New York? Now is the time.
THE New MINISTER TO CENTRAL AMERICA -
Mr.. Buchanan has made his selection of Minis.
ter to Central America, and he has shown his
sagacity in the choice he has made.
Breaking through the vicious practice of
selecting our diplomatic representatives from
the vicious circle Of ignorant aud local poll
ticians, he has chosen man for the place capa.
BILE Of filing its duties, without regarding the