The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-08-02
FhoM SARATOGA.
(FRoM OUR OWN coRREspoNpENr.1


| great hurdle race which was to come off on the
| following day, and which having taken place as
| appointed, is now among the things that were.
The race came off on Wednesday. On the night
| previous the excitement ran high in sporting and
| betting circles, and stakes were put up to the
| amount Of about one hundred thousand dollars
Zigzag was the favorite, hut Gen. Williams and
Knightlock were not without their admirers and
backers
When the morrow came the Grand Stand WAS
more crowded than ever, and when it WAS wbis
pered about from one to another-the knowing
ones b ing the whsperers, and the upknowino
ones what would call in legal parlance the
'chtsperees,-w 1t was whispered about, r say
that these races are almost always attended with
danger, often with accidents, and sometimes with
death when the hurdles were pointed ont oh
structing the track, and tho whisperers added
furthermore, that it is q very common occurrence
for horse to miss his leap, and falling break his
own and his riders neck-the ladies' grew pale
the gentlemen grew anxious, and all were excited
to the highest pitch. The race was a two mile
dash Mr. WooD's Canadian horse, Gen. Williams,
carried 157 pounds COL MoDAN1K1's Kniohttock
ISL whilst Mr. READYs Canadian horse ziozao
carried 157 pounds. There were four hurdles
placed across the track, each hurdle or hedge four
feet six inches high. The first hurdle was placed
hfty yards from the Judges Stand the second at
the one-quarter pole, tho third was placed at the
half mile pole, and the last on the home stretch,
making in all eight leaps for the noble steeds to
make in their two mile race
At the call Of the trumpet the horses csme mn
in gallant style, each with it's rider seeming bent
on victory. On oil previous races, when the drum
would tap.for the start, cries Of shats off," sdown
In 'front.'" "get out Of the way, would be respond
ed to (as general rule) politely and immediately
by the excited gentlemen whose hats were on.
who were up in front, or who were in the way.
Twas not 30, however, in tho hurdle race: for.
when at the tap Of the drum the horses dashed
off like three frightened deer, politeness was for
gotten in the intense excitement OF the moment.
and 80 eager were all to see how the first hurdle
would be cleared, that the four thousand ladies
and gentlemen, who crowded the Grand Stand, all
arose simultaneously en- nlaSse
Zlgzdg has the jump-now he nears the hurdle
now now he gathers himself beautfully-see where he
goes, clearing the hurdle and speeding onward
like the wind: Kni9htock follows in fine style, aud
over ne goes nigh and clear. Gen. Williams rises
to the leap but strikes the hurdle and tails heayi-
~ on his rider, injuring him most seriously. The
rider IL quickly carried off in death.ke swoon,
while the poor horse rises his feet and attempts
to n .ne on snd catch the ns
forgotten, as In this life the fallen and unfortu-
nate ever are, and all are gazing intenty at Zig
gag and Rnightiock. -
The latter soon leads the favorite, and awsy thew
go beautifully over the hurdles-KntghtlocE run
nng with better speed but Zigzag making the neat
est leaps. AS they went over the fifth hurdle (ths
fifth in the two miles) Kniahaock cleared it we'll,
but Z,gzdg made the most beautiful, and may
say gracefully, artistic leap that it were possible
for morse or deer to make; the noble animal rose
egs Tin fact, his four legs) going clean and clear
over the hedge ere he began to descend from the
leap. On perceiving this made q mental wager
KnighAock was flying onward like an insane deer.
sporting gentleman in the crowd must have
shared 6s the Opinion, @ for he proposed, in loud
and his proposition was not accepted. Both horses
have cleared the fitch and sixth hurdles and now
they near the seventh, Knighttock still leading by
couple OF lengths. Now he rises to the leap
which should be last but one but it proves to be-
the last, for he strikes the hurdle and goes heels
over head tumbling on the ground and throwing
MS MS riaer who' however, was not much injured
not break his neck on the last leap, and provided
ne comes into the Judges Stand with his rider OIL
his back Now the gallant steed rises to his
skifull darkey rider who mounts him IL 80 excited
In anticipation Of victory that he is heard to ex-
claim "huzza," and down tumbles Zigzag,
throwing the niger over his head. The negro
had hardly struck the ground before he and the
noble steed both arose, and the rider hastily
throwing himself in the saddle rode into the win
nin6 Pooe oh.iuob ouSu ueaAonhB Cueoib as nave
never heard before, except an occasion I'm the
Institute Hall in Charleston) which may as well
not be more particularly referred to here.
have given 30 much space in this lotter to the
one subject that have only room to fulfill one
more promise made in my last, by adding few
remarks in relation to the hotels
Your readers are no doubt aware that the two
best hotels here, In which they were accustomed to
put up In times long gone by, have been de-
stroyed by the fiery foe. The United States is no
more. Congress Hall no longer stands. The
former may continue to be no more, but move
ment is on hand looking TO the speedy rebuilding
Of Congress Hall. There are no less than fifteen
hotels left, however, together with very great
number Of boarding houses: The FIVE principal
hotels are the clarendon" !" linton" "Anertcan,"
"Maruin House" (opened few days agO), and
"C0tum5idn."
The Union, which is kept by LELAND BRoTHERs
and the Clarendon, by CHARLES f. LELAND, are the
'grsndest and the best the former is the largest,
but the latter Is said to be the more arstocratic
and recherche. The dining-room in the Union Ia
the largest In the world land the world Is large
institution); it is two hundred and fifty feet in
length fifty three feet wide, twenty feet high and
can seat twelve hundred guests at O time. Your
correspondent has tried the hotels, and then sub
sided in q boarding house. / fret tried tho
Columbian, which is good but which is objection
able on the ground that the guests sing hymns In
the parlor from early morn till late at night and
though hymns are all very well in their proper
tried the Union, and had the pleasure of dining In
company with eleven hundred and ninety mine
ladies and gentlemen, more or less, aud strange
to say, although finding 1t q nice and dear hotel,
seeded from the Union because it was too dear
for an ex.rebel and changed nv base to q frat