The Shasta courier., 1865-09-23
The Races.


do not get the Union, we copy from that
paper the following description of the race
between the celebrated horses Norfolk and
Lodi:
Ifever Sacramento saw gala day, yester-
daT was .be dav. The opening of the State
Fs;r was sufficient attraction, but when
lodi and Norfolk were to meet at two mile
boats the excitement was unbounded. The
nravious nerformance of the horses have
been detailed in these columns SO we will
NOT weary our readers with repetition of the
same Norfolk has been trained at the Iolo
Grove Course. by Michael Piggott, while
Lodi, at San Jose, has been under the foster
inc care of Robert O'Hanlon. When these
horses ran at San Francisco last Spring, we
were confident that could they have been
brought together at the Agricultural Park
thev would have produced a time exhibit
several seconds better than what they did at
the Bay The race yesterday supports our
ideas of the matter exactly. There is sell
dom a race between two horses as fine as
these. however, with as little betting. The
withdrawal of the 3" Unknown" upset the
calculations of the pool auctioneers and re-
duced the situation to the old style of quarter
stretch betting, but that was very SLIM
OHanlon produced Lodi in bloom of fresh
ness and vigor that was not to be mistaken
by practiced eye. Last Friday morning
he went three miles like a shot off shovel,
and no horse could be better pointed up to a
race than be. lie came on the track, his
dark brown coat glistening like polished
ebony, but we thought we detected a slight
soreness in the off hind leg. If such g mis-
hap did exist, he shook it out of him before
be had gone any great distance in the race.
About Norfolk condition there wasNa degree
Of doubt. Two weeks ago an experienced
horseman said Norfolk was too low in flesh
and was as light two weeks before the race
as he should have been on the eventful day.
But when his sheet was pdlled off, we saw
that the faithful trainer had well done his
duty. If ever horse looked fit to run for an
empire, the Solano horse, Norfolk was the
one. Betting, which had been firm at 100 to
60 for several days, now advanced to two to
one as the phenomenon was denuded of his
stable raiment and presented the glowing
spectacle of '' beauty unadorned"
The track was in perfect condition, Morrison
having made it faster than spring board
The Judges were chosen, Colonel McGarry
presiding, while Nathan Coombs, of Napa,
appeared for Lodi and Henry Williamson,
of Alameda. for Norfolk E. ". Teacle and
T. H. Parker, of San Francisco, timed the
horses. Dick Harry weighed 100 pounds for
Norfolk. and was superbly dressed in purple
satin. with white top boots. Wilbur Pierce
tipped the beam at ll0 pounds for the black
horse, and wore a canary satin jacket and
red boots. As if the blind Goddess had de-
termined victory for the son of peerless
Lexington, the track by allotment fell to
Norfolk. who came up, prancng coqVettish-
ly in the hands of the redoubtable darkey.
Bill Bird, who trained Lodi for his previous
engagements. Bill is said to have breathed
pathetic prayer at San Francisco, when
Lodi had his measure taken by Norfolk, and
expressed his belief that Norfolk was "a
debbi, an twas no use trainin' horses to beat
dem kind" The race was appointed for
two o'clock, but it lacked little Of three when
the drum tapped for the
FIRST Heat-There was no paltry quarter
horse turning and jockeying about the start
Both horses were led up aud dashed Off at
break neck speed, amid vollies of applause
from the thousands who at last saw the long
desired event at hand To report an entire
race on the Union Park is an impossibility
while those Government buildings remain as
they are, but we Will mention what we saw.
The start vas an even one and Lodi forced
the pace from the score, the horses running
side and side round the turn and dashing up
the back stretch at pace that seemed super
equine, the bay horse leading by a neck till
he got to the wall, Dick having a heavy pull
while Wilbur, or Lodi, sat erect and kept
his horse at work. In this position they be-
come lost to view. On emerging into sight
again at the three quarter pole, Lodi was be
hind Norfolk's saddle, in which position
they came nearly to the distance post where
Lodi dropped back length and they came
to the score in las, amid deafening cheers
Norfolk under the heaviest of pulls. They
parted company still more going around the
turn. and Lodi was all of Is yards behind
when Wilbur who had been battling the
black horse, made one of his Incompatible
rushes, and in inconceivable short space got
up to the wonder, who ran Tapped with him
till they were out Of sight behind the g cruel'
wall. As they came in sight again it wa;
plain that Norfolk was travelling on hi;
muscle and could place the gallant son o
Yorkshire Just where he chose. Home they
came amid the widest shouts. Lodi being
sent under whip and spur, while Dick sat a:
motionless as a statue and galloped across
the score in 1881 2-5 the last mile having
been run in 1:52 %.
| Second Heat-Both horses cooled ou
splendidly, and came up full of fire, Norfolk
paved the ground as be was unsaddled.-
] One hundred to twenty went begging or
Norfolk. This time Lodi was moving ;
trife the strongest at the start, and Wilbur
seemed inclined to cut the running without
hesitation Around the turn they wen
| Tapped. and ran like double team to the
wall, Dick being determined not to let his
horse move any faster than he could help
| Somewhere in the hidden ground Wilbur
| forced his horse ahead and took the track
for as they came in sight Lodi was mech
in advance. Dick moved up with the non
pariel and .lapped him opposite {" headquar
ters,' and they came dead-l lock to the string
in l:46. This state Of affairs lasted around
the turn. Dick shook Norfolk up, and ht
went off as if he were running alone. Open
ing gap Of three lengths on Lodi, he kept
1t around the turn, and increased it as ht
entered the straight run for home to about
thirty yards, Dick tugging manfully at The
bride, and looking over his shoulder at Lod
as he crossed the score n most rallant win