The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1867-01-30
The Races at Washington in 1911
Distinguished Families.
We copy as follows from the letter Of

We copy as follows from the letter Of
Viator" to the Turf, Field and Farm:
nThree days after our arrival at Wash.
ngtop, from the North October %, 1911
the races took place. ! attended them,
Mr.. Foster driving me in his carriole. He
had the best equipage on the ground. His
horses are very fine ones, and his grooms
snorted their best liveries. Mrs. Madison
was present with four grays in a chariot,
and Mrs. Tayloe in coach and four, which
we're the only equipages deserving of no.
tice Madame Jerofrles THE wife of the
King Of Westphalia) being very modest,
with d pair of horses. Serrurier, the
French Minister, was there on foot, follow
ed by servant.
4 nThere is no stand for the ladies, and
The carriages are suffered to drive on the
course.
"Two four mile heats were run the first
day, and the race gained by a lame horse,
his antagonist, who won the first heat a
few seconds short of eight minutes-the
preceding day had been wet-being drawn.
Names of horses or of their owners are
not given, but, according to my recollec-
ton, these were the days of Hampton, Of
Duroc, and Of Miller's Damsel, the two last
the parents of American Eclipse, and the
two former may have been in the race.
The two other horses were distanced.
One Of them belonged to DR.. Thornton,
who, in spite Of physiciug his jockey,
which he told me he had done most plenti-
fully, found him too heavy on weighing,
and the poor fellow was Obliged to ride on
pad, as being lighter than u saddle. AT.
ter few PAGES, the pad slipped away and
left the unfortunate jockey on the bare
back of the horse, from which circumstance
he was deprived ofall command over him. u
Some years subsequently our diplomat
made an excursion in Virginia, where he
witnessed more racing, ofwhich an account
is here presented, with what he saw be-
sides, in his own words. In May, 1927,
he yielded to the earnest invitation of
Col. Tayloe, to visit the chief family seat
in Virginia, called Mount Airy, situated in
what is named the Northern Neck, about
ia miles south of Washington, and occu.
pied by the second son, William, who farm
ed the estate, very extensive one of more
than 5000 acres" This was "the first
tour he had made in Virginia" somewhat
similar to that of Lord Nelson, at subse-
auent period, along the James river. On
the 18th of May, at about 6, he arrived at
Mount Airy. Met with very kind re-
ception from Mrs. VIM. Tayloe and the Ia
dies there. Mr.. VIM. Tayloe was absent
at race, but joined us while strolliug over
the garden before tea" Next day" A
large number at breakfast. The gentlemen
left us soon, their presence being required
at the club, on the course. After luncheon,
repaired there at half-past twelye-a field
belonging to Mr.. Tayloe. Met there Maj.
Joseph Lewis, of Loudoun county, an old
friend, formerly in Congress-[by the way,
called by Mr. Jefferson the residuary lega-
tee of Virginia Federalism being the only
representative of HE State in Congress OPP
posed politically to President Jefferson -
whose horse Ratler, son of DR.. Thorntons,
was matched against gray of Mr.. Tayloes,
remarkable horse, that easily beat the
Majors, both heats, two miles; time, less
than four minutes. won a bottle of
champagne from the Major. Some hand
some ladies on the course. Took long
walk in the evening with the ladies in the
park !; thickly wooded and many fine deer"
Next day." explored the ground, and was
visited by Major Lewis. In the evening,
Col. Robert Carter came to tea. He is a
very genrlemanly man, owner of Sabine
Hall, an estate contiguous to Mt. Airy, a
mile distant. He regretted much our short
visit prevented his seeing US at Sabine
Hall"
"1he Mount Airy House was built by
Col. Tayloe's grandfather more than CEN
fury ago, at dark stone found iu the neigh
borhood, faced by white stone imported
from England. Handsome elevation, with
two square wings, connected by covered
ways; large hall, in centre, through the
house upstairs, long gallery with fami-
~ portraits, the Corbins, Planters, etc. ;
the conservatory large, with orange and
lemon trees put cut on the grass an ex-
tensive garden, in squares and terraces, &C
cording to the fashion of that period, as
now in France and Italy; in front, lawn
planted, and terrace, with flowers on pedes-
tails. No slaves lost from any of Col Tay-
loe's estates during the war--a proof of
their good treatment" Our tourist also
visited Col. Tayloe's estates in King
George county; the Hop Yard, beautiful
estate of 1890 acres; delightful view !;
and Oaken Brow, 1900 acres, in excellent
order. From one house on an elevated
ridge is fine view of the Rappahannock
river and Of the opposite shore.
But for the prolixity of this article we
would follow the diplomatist from the de
claration of war with Great Britain through
his further career, and on the several inter-
esting pilgrimages he made in Europe
but siste. VIAToR.
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