Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-10-22
KENTUCKY AGAINsr TIME.

From the n. y World. Oct. IS.
The attendance at jerome Park yester-
day afternoon was nearly twice as large as
that on Tuesday or Wednesday. No
wonder, Kentucky, the noblest race horse
on American soil, was announced TO run
(if he could be made to do it, four miles in
seven minutes and twenty seconds, carry
ing jockey weighing l20 lbs. upon his
back
Five thousand dollars had been staked
by his owner, Mr.. Leonard W. jerome,
that the horse could do this thing. But
Mr.. Jerome's apparent confidence was so
far from being shared by the majority Of
betting men, that wagers Of $500 TO 500
were laid the day before, and yesterday up
10 the very beginning Of the race, in favor
of "time."
A roar Of cheers greeted him from the
grand stand, as Kentucky was led up,
blanketed from nose to heels, and led by a
negro with whom he seemed well and
amiably acquainted.
His superbshouldersa and TANKS wrnkled,
and made their strength apparent through
the coverings drawn about them. His
dainty hoofs Just visible below, touched
and rebounded from the track as lightly as
the feet Of a dancer. His mighty tail, dis
trained and flowing downward in curve
as studied and graceful as that of a lady's
robe, looked finer than peacock's.
His nostrils were all a-quiver; his
mouth-which had been carefully
sponged out a minute before-all foam
his eyes blazing purple Even his sharp,
stiifened ears appeared 10 glitter Swathed
az he was, he made such an impression
during his prancing promenade past the
stand, that one person of the female sex
namely remarked that it would be shock
ing TO undress him."
The horses appointed 10 join in the race
could now be seen walking up and getting
into their places at different points along
the course. The clamor Of voices became
gradually hushed, az the bugle sounded
again.
When the three or four who had fol-
lowed the great racer up the track wereob-
served TO close mp to him, there was an I'M
loosing of buckles and straps. OF came
the blankets; on went the saddle; up
sprang the Jockey to his throne. A hasty
look at the girths, at the bit, the bride
a smoothing turn" of everything about
the stallion and his rider a gathering
up, by the latter, of his reins. Kentucky,
FESTIVE under these manipulations, sidled,
equirmed, tossed his proud head, and for
the first time, viciously firted his tail.
With both hands clasping the bride at the
bit, the negro, who led him, pulled his
head down low, then leaped aside. Just
one or two wild shakes Of his head and the
horse Was off
He came tearing down the quarter stretch,
with De Courcey let loose in front of him,
at promising gait, and passed the judges
stand at the start well under control BY
Littlefeld, his rider. Racing men said TO
each other at this time that he looked,
stripped, in as good shape" and form p
as he ever looked before on any course. Az
he made the halfmile-De Coursey still in
front, doing part as leader -splendidly-
the uninitiated thought Kentucky was not
running He had thus far been we'll saved
by his Jockey, who then proceeded TO give
him more rein. Running Nobody who
saw the running from that half mile pole
home 10 the stand will ever forget il. II
was too heavy gait. 1t finished the first
mile in one minute and forty-eight seconds,
and bore the great stallion clear to the
quarter-pole beyond. Littlefeld again
needed. A fresh leader was put in ahead.
exciting Kentucky's ire. His racing down
the curve again, past the halfmile pole,
was again magnificent. A swell of cheers
rolled along from right to left as he passed
under the brow of the club house hill, 90.
ing for the far away curve of the track. His
stride, at this part of the race, must have
been tremendous, and ought to have been
measured for curiosity sake, if not for that
of the horses reputation. His legs aps
peared to have steel springs in them The |
ihud OF his mighty "all-fours" could be |
heard as distinctly and were as simuIta-
neous as the rat-tat Of mallet. 1t was a
glorious sight 10 see. But men shook their
heads again, and said it could not last
Down they came, Kentucky passing his
leader, completing the second mile in
1856, and rushing away at the heels of a
fresh hcrse, and followed by an encoura-
ging shout. His running was done with
the same pluck and "evenness.D There
were yet no signs Of faltering, at least TO
none but the most knowing eyes The
third mile was made in 5:29.
Those who had kept the time, were now
in heat Of excitement and anticipation.
The first mile had been made in las; the
second in las, and the third mile in l:53 !
Kentucky had now ISL TO make the fourth |
and last mile in, and thus complete the |
race in 1:20. Few bets were newly ven |
tured. The horse showed" so pluckiIy
"a he went by that no one could saw what |
he might accomplish.
Another fresh rival was started before |
hin still another at the half mile post |
started out alongside. The brave old ra-
Ger was evidently getting worried by these |
horses ahead, and the dust they cast in his |
eyes aud nostrils. He had been used to |
leaving horses behind, and spurning them
with the dust from his own royal heels. |
But he went we'll ontoward the three
quarter pole, before heseemed in earnest, and |
not only put his Jockeys patience and skill
10 the utmost proof, but shattered the hopes
of bis hackers that he would finally tri-
umph. Littlefeld recovered him promptly
lalas not quite early enough, and got him
down 70 his work anew rs he rounded the
turn toward home. Then he dashed him
and sent him forward 10 do his very best.
As the steed and his rider, the latter mer-
cilessly plying the CAD, came flying down
to the finish, there rose from every part
and angle Of the park, and without II on
the hills, a splendid cry of enthusiasm.
But Kentucky icas a little tagged At last.
Time, victor over no better horse than be.
had beaten him by just eleven and three
quarter seconds. He had run four miles
in 1919.
Il was probably not intended that he
should 90 so quiet at first The other
horses also obstructed him several times
Too much dust was in his front. Kentucky
has lost none Of his lsurels, and every one
who knows him believes he can yet do the
work that was cut out Cor him.
The race, Notwithstanding his defeat, was
the most exciting and important that has
taken place on this continent since his sire,
Lexington, undertook similar task, with
nearly twenty pounds less weight.