New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-04-01
axEpArnrB 5ocHEr cGrp RACES.
SPRING MEETING, l8sl.-F1RsT DAY.

SPRING MEETING, l86l.-FIRsT DAY
Saturday being bright and beautiful day, the
Spring Meeting at the Metairie was inaugurated
under the most favorable and fattering auspices.
Though the dash of rain on Friday and the heavy
storm during the night had converted the track
into bed of soft plaster, Gas if to impress upon
the young equine d6butants for their first import
ant lesson, that the road of the racer IS " hafd
road to trayer) the attendance was yet very
large for frst-day, and the sporting spirit seemed
to animate all to an unusual degree. Indeed, we
cannot remember when we saw greater attend
ance at the opening of Metairie ball, which,
like the balls of Professor Vegas, always opens
with grand fancy dance by the juveniles and
| closes wth~the lveliest competition among the
adults. We have seen last-day at the Metairie no
better attended than was irst-day of the present
| meeting. A number of ladies', We should state
graced their allotted stand with their lovely pres
| erce We proceed with our detail of the doings on
| Saturday.
FIRST RAcE.-This was a sweepstakes for two year
olds, mile heats, the second horse to save his |
| stake. The nominations were Gen. Wells Dnce
True, by Lexington the same gentiemans gr. C.
by Sovereign, and ch +. by Prudhomme; Messrs
Brethitt & Roundtrees br. f. by Highlander, and
ch. f. by Albion; and Capt. Minors EQuino1, and
ch c. by Vandyke. OF these only two came to
the scratch -Brethitt 4 Roundtree's Albion FLY,
Lady O!lfte, and Capt. Minors Vandyke colt, Ben
West. The colt was the favorite, at liberal odds.
First Hent-A good start was made. The two
pretty young ones padded through the mud right
merrily, and kept together rather closely, as if
rather superatitious of the Ito them) new ground.
The colt however, insisted upon being the pilot, and
came home ahead, the fy being only length be-
hind Time 1859 excellent time for such young
animals on such track.
Second Heqt.-Big odds on the colt went beg
ging. Another even start was made; the colt soon
took the lead and just did barely keep it through
the back part of the mile; in the last turn his gal
lantry forsook him. and he ran gently away from
the spunky little fliy, coming home some fifteen
or twenty yards ahead, in 1:55I The time was
much better than had been anticipated, and both
animals were highly complmented.
SECOND RACE.-This was q sweepstakes for three
year olds, at two mile heats; subscription $780,
800 forfeit, and $500 added by the Club. OF the
five nominations, Mr.. Richards Bette Ward was
the only one absent-she having been sold to Mr..
Foley, who had Lightning already in the pro
] gramme. Besides the Lexington colt Lightning,
the other contestants were Gen. Wells Vels,rood,
by Yorkshire Mr. Williamson's b. C. by Brown
Dick (Gen. Tacig9S we believe the colt has been
named), and the Messrs. Hunters tShe'Tod, by Le-
! comte. Lightning was the favorite against the
field of the others Sherrod ranked next in favor.
n The four youngsters came up looking as gay and
bright as lot of young bucks for stag-dance
First Heat.-A fair start was made. In going
round the colts spread out from each other though
Welswood and Lightning had it hotly for the lead,
which the latter managed to obtain early in the
game, and showed no disposition to resign without
y a hard fight. Sherrod ran third, and the Brown
e Dick last. Lightning led all the way through the
t. heat, still closely pursued by Wellswood; the
;, other two giving up the in the last mile ant
1t coming home distanced, the Brown Dick colt badly
/ There was no daylight between the Lexington ant
the Yorkshire they passed under the string The
J. time was 3:492. This was pleasant and mos
e exciting surprise to the multitude. The brillian
e contest between Lightning and Wellswood was
If something that had not been expected.
II Second Hedt.-The friends of the favorite, afel
e the gallant performance of WellswoodJwe eau
IS tous about making new investments. The two
n grays now had all the excitement and all the mud
't to themselves and we ray premise that both were
a sufficiently extensive They started squarely, ant
e you should have seen the mud fly! In the frs
v turn lightning showed ahead, but Welswood stucl
- to MIN ike q lceCll. Iuty phileu anu CloStu w
ID casionally, but the gmpses of daylight between
y them were few, and as delicate as homeopathic
t, doses. In the back stretch the struggle was tire
h, mendous. Lightning laid himself out splenddly
Is but could never throw the mud in Welswood'
le eyes for more than second two at time
m Thus they had it, fighting the first mile in l:52
IL passing under the string nose to haunch. The
"a continued the fight as eScitedy as ever, and a
they brushed and rebrushed through the bac
oh stretch the pent-up excitement of the multltud
ae broke forth in the widest and most unanimou
CT cheering. Coming around for the home run, Wells
III wood fell back somewhat but in the home stretc
he seered for the outside and played his last acc
ur coming in again with his nose at Lightning
us haunch, amidst the widest excitement of til
to people, Time, 3:554 Though mud and exertio
told upon the colts in this heat, or the last mi
ge thereof the first mile was unanimously pronounce
I'D to be one of the best things all circumstances COZ
nd sidered ever seen on the MetaiSie Course. Lgh
de ming led all the way through the race, but no OF
had expected to Wellswood push him
severely as he did from first to last We apper
au the
lse SUMMARIZE:
+" MErA1nrE COURSE New Orleans March 80, le6lSwee
VI 5O declaration fill the Club add S3GJ
at race run the second horse save his stake.
~ w. j Minors ch c. Bon West by Nandyke out OF But
he Rrehitt + Roandtrees hr by Alhon Endor. ?
T. J. Wells b. Unc'e True, by 1e&nSona of Edith. .pd
el Also g c. by Sovereign, Of Grtaetle pd
ta Also a. CO.'S ch. by pudhomme, out Of
VIM j. Minors ch Eqtinor, by M"homcd out CT Nelly
- Hardin p"'