New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-04-08
VOLUME XIV.
nrEpArarE gocKBx cBUB RACES.
SPRING MEETING, l85l-sEvENrH DAY.

famous old field. The memorable contests between
Lexington and Lecomte never drew greater or
more brilliant mutitudes. Great as were the at
tendances during the week, that Of Saturday en-
trely surpassed and ecpsed them all. The city
partially depopulated. The rush of vehicles
out the shell-roads was never more extensive-the
glut at the gates never more compact.
The long and broad stand two squares in length,
presented one dense and unbroken mass of ter
raced humanity. And, to entirely original
and never beforehand of smile. the ladies' diy
sion was parterre of earts loveliest flowers the
attendance of the fair was, in fact the largest
and most charming ever seen at the Metarie; they
not only gorged their allotted end of the stand but
encroached largely upon the domain of the gentle
men, severely testing the gallantry of many who
could not, in consequence, obtain an eligible posi-
ton to witness the battle when it came.
The dry track of Friday was moro. thunder
ing storm and deuge Of rain in the morning had
metamorphosed the dust into sheet of soft batter
fast time was out of the question, but the antcipa
ton of gallant struggle great as ever whilst
four-me run in the mud promised to show what
stuff the racers were made of. The weather in the
afternoon frightened up beautifully; and, not
withstanding the mud, the sweet exhilaration of
the bright glowing fields and gardens, quickened
the blood and added kcenest zest to the anticipa-
tions of coming sport. 1t was, in truth, glorious
afternoon, and gaiety animated all things.
The betting was heavy, not only at the race
course but all over the city. The blood of Reve-
nue., Glencoe, and Lexington, was to engage in
pitched battle on muddy and blood-tesng field.
The previous dashing performances of the Glencoe
1aAa t1o rSat1 s,.J
nina, had elevated him to the apex of public
favor. He was largely the favorite on Friday,
and appeared to be none the less popular
now on account of the mud which had inter
vened. The sturdy Revenue horse, Planet, ranked
next in favor; his many valorous contests, and
hG tried muscle and approved bottom" COM
mended him to public consideration, and after
the rain he became still more popular. The
Lexington colt, lightning, figured lowest in
the bets, but generally not much below Planet.
His gallant struggle with Panic on tLree-mile day
was not forgotten, and many encouraged the hope
that he would be able to shovel up the mud after
the fashion of his ustrous sire. As the hour ap-
preached, the opinions grew more and more con-
Gictng. The hackers of Panic held sturdily to
their bets, whilst many ptted Lightning or Planet
against him. and Lightning and Planet against each
other. The fact is, that before the race on,
all three of the horses had hosts of spunky back
ers and it was difficult to decide which really
the favorte, though Panic had the name. The
betting was consequently universal and heavy.
The result Of the race was third demonstration,
during one week, Of the uncertainty Of horse
racing calcuatiOns-of human judgment in matters
equine. Without further remark, we give the de-
tail of the contest.
FIRST HEAT.-The horses all came up in spien-
did trm and with quiet sobriety becoming an
occasion SO important. The close and critical scru-
tiny of the assembled thousands seemed to nfuse
dignity as well as determination into them. We
should state lightning was mounted by the famous
GHpdtrick and Panic by the equally excellent
A6e: Planet being mounted by the skillfu but not
yet renowned white boy of the boswell stables.
An excellent start was made. Though the speed
was not great, the flying mud told what work the
animals had under their feet. Planet appeared in
the lead with Panic next, and Lightning last. In
the back stretch Lightning brushed past Panic.
In this position, the string now lengthening and
again shortening, they went to the third quarter
in which they closed for the home run Coming to
the score, Panic passed both the Others and went
into the second mile by lengths lead of Planet.
But in the first quarter Planet took the lead again.
Lightning still bringing up the rear. Planet and
Lightning hugged the fence, whilst Panic took the
extreme outside, for the sake of the harder
ground. In the third quarter, Lightning again
passed Panic and gave chase 10 Planet. The
run home was merry one, and all three dashed
into the third mile so nearly abreast that we
will call it even. Planet and Lightning then
had it neokand-neck all the way round to the
| third quarter; most of the way Lightning was in
total eclipse, being evenly the outside of
Planet; it was splendid and most exciting strug-
| gle; meantime Panic began to show signs of dis
| tress, and lost ground at every jump. The fight
between the two leaders was goriousIy kept up in
the run home and now, for the first time Light
ming won the lead, and dashed first into the fourth
| mile. Panic was already as good as dstanced !;
and sad was the feeling of his too enthusiastic
friends. Gipatricl, Immediately after getting the
lead, took to the fence and stuck to it, and though
Planet chased him bravely all the way round, he
| kept the lead and came home some twenty yards
ahead, winning the heat with apparent ease in SOP.
| Panic, at first the favolite, was badly dstanced.
What a result! "What fall was there, my
countrymen!h
| SECOND HEAT--As ga short horse is soon cur
| ried," so is history Of this heat soon told.
| Lightning was the choice at five to one. The
start was good one. Lightning took the lead,
kept it all through the four mes-and the story is
told. 1t seemed as if Lightning felt his power to
run entirely away from Planet, but refrained from
doing so out of pure polieness. For, whilst part
ing company with him, dd Gbiton, in the first
| quarter and back stretch of each succeeding mile
| he invariably allowed his pursuer to close up at
the quarter and the half mile, and at the end of
each of the first three miles, passed under the string
only one length ahead. In the last mile Lightning
waited the Planet polite goodbye with his heels,
aud came home the easiest kind of winner, in
8:l31. Many believed that Planet was not pushed
to his best, but it PLAN that he labored hard
whilst Lightning flew along with that graceful and
easy undulating motion for which his sire was so
conspicuous.
SUMMARY
NETArRtF CcERsr. New 0rleaus, April Gth lS6l-Four
| mile hen.s. for II Clnh Pu SC of Sl5O.
H. Tole 5 =. LigttliHy by Lexington out of Binc
T. & ". noEwel's eli. II. Planet, by Revenue, Of
D. F. Ken.ers b. C. Panic by imp Glencoe, out Of dam
of Hondyi y. o..... .................,...., dis.
| TINE:
| First Heat Second Heat.
| First m 10. .........., .,....... 300 2:D71%
| second mile l:SS EIs;S
Fni14 Fnhr4b mg. NILE. 1S 2@S 3IS 3;2S
805 s:l815
| tJ,o al oF IA of an