The Placer herald., 1865-12-23
GREAT TURF EVENTS.

ne tuTI events OF tHe past year dto dtHo"S
the brightest recorded in the annals Of time.
At tho spring meeting of the Woodlawn AS.
sociation, when sweet May flowers were bios
soming, Asteroid, that peerless horse, whose
very name signifies something above the
ordinary things of earth, even as the star
reflects the glory of Heaven, commenced his
brilliant career, the first Of the great events
of the season. lie ran race Of two mile
heats with Loadstone, winning both; the
first in 33G4 and the second in 1898, being
the bes, time on record. The attention Of
the public was directed towards Aseroid,
and his wonderful two mile performance be-
came theme Of which the tu,finan could
not grow weary. Asteroid had scarcely re.
tired to his stable and the people were not
done admiring him, when the steamer ar
rived at our port bringing intelligence Of the
great race at New Market for the two hou>
sand dollar guinea stake, and the success of
the French colt, Gladaeur. A new star
appeared in the armament, and though it
gIowed with unusual brilancy, it could not
dim the brightness of the radiant orb, Aste
roid. Gadateur's time at New Market was
l:5l. May passed and June roses bloomed
and shed their fragrance on the air. Public
attention was now directed to Cincinnati,
and when the telegraph flashed the report
East and West that Legal Tender had run a
mile in l:44, the news was deemed almost
incredible. Incredible as the report seemed,
nevertheless it was true, and Legal Tender,
having made the fastest one mile perform
ance on record, was assigned place among
the starry host. The earlier flowers faded
~. -.
when fashion, wealth and beauty hurried to
glorious Saratoga to admire the blooded
horses congrega,ed there and to applaud the
vctors of the race course. Kentucky, beau.
tiful in symmetry, fleet in motion, and game
as the gamest, was hailel as the winner of
the Saratoga Cup, having run his two miles
and quarter in 4:0la His last two miles
were run in 3:35a. At the same meeting
the courageous Fleetwing ran race of three
mile heats the first heat in 5:l3l. and the
first two miles of the second heat in 1897.
This was splendid time and Flee,wing be.
came the object of mnch admiration. The
auspicious meeting closed and two more stars
were added to the others, to form brilliant
cluster. September came with deeper tints,
and the champion s,eeds of California, the
land of promise and of gold, were marshall
ed for a glorious contest. A better race
was never run, or more CALAMITY won. The
distance was three miles, and Norfolk won
in two slraigh; heats, the first in 5:27A and
the second in 5:29a. As three mile per.
f,rmance this is the fastest and most remark,
able on record; and as the news was flashed
over the country, every tongue became
trumpeter of Norfolk's fame. Lodi was not
forgotten, aud two orbs, one but little less
brilliant than the other. now began to shed
new luster upon the history of the turf. We
pass to October and find several important
events worthy of record. Norway, brother
to Norfolk, two years old, ran, at the Lex.
inoton meeting, three.qnarlers OF mile in
l:2O4, at the rate Of l:462 to the mile. lie
is promising colt, and his illus,rious bro
lher will never cause to blush for him Nor
rill another two year old, owned by Mr..
Alexander, receives the credit Of triple
performance, having won the two year old
stake at Cincinnati, Lexington and Louisville
Onward, also promises much. lie surprised
nearly every one at Lexington, by winning a
race of two miles heats in $3.50, and a second
heat in another race in 3:394. In the mean.
rying off the Derby and ST. Leger prizes
thus winning the grand triple event of the
English turf. This is a remarkable feat,
which was never accomplished by but one
horse before-West Australian. The French
colt has indeed become proud luminary OF
the turf But we must not fail to notice the
,rol,ing turf, for it is almost as big with
events AS the other At the Fashion Course,
on the 18Th of October, Dexter accomplish
ed an unparalleled feat. He trotted one
mile against time, in 2:ls 5. lie is a
noble horse, and now must be recognized as
King of the trotiing turf At Boston. on
the 3lst of October, Capt. McGowan, the
gamest of the trotting horses, made twenty
miles in 1925 The remarkable feat Of
troiting twenty miles within an hour was
never accomplished but twice before-once
by Trustee. in October, l84s. who performed
it in 58:35A, and once by Lady Fulton. in
July. 1855, who trotied her twenty miles in
59:55. Captain McGowsn's time then, is
the best on record. We are fully justified in
calling the past season brilliant one, as
every person familiar with tnrf history will
readily admit. The year 1865 will long be
remembered for having introduced SO many
prominent horses to the public. AS ma
jori,y OF these feats we're performed in Amer.
ica. thousands Of admiring eyes have been
directed to this country. and we should feel
proud Of having surprised the world with our
remarkable horses. Sportsman Oracle.
A BEAUTIFUL ExpERIMENr.-If an acorn
be suspended by piece Of thread to within
half an inch Of some water contained in a
hyacinth glass, and SO permitted to remain
without being disturbed it will in a few
months burst and throw a root down into
the water, and shoot up tapering stem.
beautiful little green leaves. A young oak
tree growing in this way on the mantel shelf