The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-05-21
JEROME PARK COURSE.

FfsparatiOus IOR 1uouGuBasang TIE S0as0u Of
lS67-Ths Appearance Of the Grounds. &c.
No srandiloqusncs Of expression studied sracss Of
rhetoric, nor tho fowesy imagery OF the practised
writer can fully convey TO the mind Of the unbiased
reader just idea Of the rustic beauties and fairy
cnanImsns Of the scene presented by this almost COM
pieted stadium OF our manly sports. The turf, long
since fallen Into disrepute through the evil surroundings
OF ts localities and the vile nature OF great portion Of
its patrons s here elevatsd-dgnaed by its influential
frends-to position it has never before attained in
this country until, as IL history were repeated on
grander scale, We may imagine in this later
day that added TO the prowess already shown OF
Sparta our valor queted but repressed overows
the wild scenes Of the arena-the 0lympian games the
fierce careerng OF conestng chaots painting seeds
that marked and stu maintained the greatness an
Client Greece and the OF her citizens What these
Hellenic rites the Greeks the sports Of Jerome
PARK viii prove Ii will be the centre OF manly
sports the regeneraor OF waning energies the relaxation
OF overstrung oers in the wild strife Of business and
the means OF recreating the entire community. That
such adoption Of the methods of the ancient republics
long since needed there been the slightest
doubt but has been enwrapt with all ideas OF
racing judgment disgraceful and vulgar that few
men Of good repute willing 10 risk their reprta
tons by endorsement of the sport carried on,
while ladies were completely banished from the
scene from the same cause Wnen the American Jockey
Club organized and took the matter in hand
evor, il quite different affair The work Of purify
ing eevating the sports OF the turf was begun
carried scale Of intelligence and financial lber
Atty that made failure only possible while highly i'm
probable In giving the prestige of their patronage and
the sound endorsement of their the sport the
members made certain the consummation OF the good
work they had begun Of eevang the turf reputable
standard This attempt to lift up noble sport from the
me and dsrepute into which, through evil associates 1t
had fallen was boldly begun by Mr. Jerome in the pur.
chase of the Bathgate farm at Fordham and the laying
out Of is naturally picturesque grounds in the form Of
park for the encouragement Of manly sports and
especially for the rehr a enjoyment Of the excitement
incident to horse ng.
h IMPROVEMENTS
The opening OF the Park last season was marked with
such ecdt and enthusiasm and the design of the patrons
of the enterprise readily understood and sup
ported by the respectable portion Of the community
that the long Respondent true lovers Of the turf and s
sports found good ubation the prospect Of
a speedy return Of the pamy days. when the farest
ladies graced the Of equine triumph and the
bright smiles of beauty rewarded the successful jockey
for his part the dashing struggle This the only
step retrogresson that has been taken In the estab-
lishment Of Jerome Park. In every other view can
remark nothing but progress Improvement and advance
beyond the superative point attained racing days
gone by. In the first place, the course is to
routes Of travel, radii of pleasure paths cen.
trng in II the of suburban nurseries
ias % mS n or
beauty and M,a '"nance. Again, u has been estab-
shed in the mes, the most reputable and beautiful
both naturally ami aftistcaly neutrality-suspicious. re-
g,on in the vicinity q New York.
RURAL FELICITY.
As approaches IT, from whatever direction he may
uou
proximity through the romantic nature Of the scenery,
the pasrican aspect Of the well kept estates and the
rustic grandeur OF the neat Villas with their sopng
lawns and beautiful gardens, whore tho soil
has boon petted and pampered, and earliest
in the glow OF the sum Wealth, beauty Of surround
ngs taste and natural romance OF scenery heightened
BY as into superemincnt ssbance Of rustic simplic
uy noted In the vicinity and such lead grad
usy and most agrecably TO the grand climax Of nature
and which meets the view wheeling into the we'll
rolled avenue that conducts 70 the public entrance to
APpxARAScE OF rHR GROUNDS.
is natural beauties were over al sias
localities, the Park preseuts this year appearance
exceeding In comprehensive grandeur Of design ana ut
y Of purpose the specuations Of even the most
| gane aspirants toward perfection in landscape
Identification Where before there existed the wild
OF grovs-the remnant perhaps Of ancient forest
the hand Of art has smoothed away tho rude deform
roses and given fresh life TO iSe wasting vegetation
Where huge boudsrs Of rock, bald and ishaped have
beauty o ss ps. : al.
cacy or iracsry Unprecedented in the sights Of
the town or country decorate the scene. What
and and beautifyins, and the whole face Of the
rolling land Is found toned down the gentle standard
from other scenes Of rustic grandeur Indeed there is
so happy combination OF the natural and artistic In
the formation OF this pleasure ground 90 perfect cater
ing TO the through the medum OF sight, that the
asounded spectator only admire without hoping to
give that admiration tongue or any fitting oppression
The beauty Of the entire scene the unobtrusiveness
OF It's details There IL nothing cloud" hashy or de-
monsrativs In color or architecture In the entire land.
scapc and yet It's effect as whole Is that OF aggre-
gated smpcities of rustic beauty developing In the
mind the appreciation Of grandeur unstaned natural
and irresistible in effect To name the details which 90
toward making up this great effect the mind OF the
observer but convey faint idea OF It's entire beauty
or the impressions which are LEFT on the mind through
appreciation Of the ensemble.
APPROACH TO THE PARK
through arched gateway OF decatcy.tinted wood
The road 10 here obssruced By two gates, which
readily hosted 70 admit tho visitor These
,s. s Ss,. 9 sssr ssn ds TSss ss
vicinity They Of iron, light and exceedingly grace
full in construction, consisting Of inieraced bars light
IN appearance but durable In fact painted In delicate
nges OF color giIded asefuliy but not nashiy here
and there, and surrounded by pikeheads usual In
such aar On either side Of The two gates are large
msdalons bearing bos veiiss illustrative OF racing
scenes. On tho inside, viewing from the enclosed
Of the CLUB We see @ before o. Inc cse
lack his renowned rder the colored Abe now de-
ceased other smar prcsentments the jockeys boar
ing the coors respectively OF Mess Jerome, Hunter
Morris and Belmont There in all eight Of these
either side Of the gatcs-and their
effect alone, most happy The cost OF the gates
a. roughly turned out and implanted $1,000. The
public entrance leads in the Of the immense club
stand toward the public stand and the stables situated
| on the western side OF The grounds. The members
| entrance, on nne road running parallel TO the
| FIRST and situated on the western boundary OF
the park, affords, however, moro comprehensive
view OF the course This road, which con-
ducts through avenue bordered with stately and
ancient trees the old Bathgae farm house and pres
ent club headquarters affords from the outset
chanting view OF the central portion Of the grounds
where all the interest OF the racing days Is brought
bear The course located the right OF this road
hollow where the green sward sweeps gracefully dowr
/ from the knobs which uprear vis-d-vs and domi
mating the OF heroic sports the grand stand with
les tier tier Of seats, lie gay canopy and deicat
colo and the club houses In the delicate beauty
i thor light and unique architecture. The farm house
occupied at present by the club its headquarcrs
substantial building OF the odcn time, neat and com
Portable in appearance and finely furnished throug
4 NE NEW BUILDINGS.