The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-10-13
Progress of Civilization and tho Jockey
Club Races.

Progress of Civilization and tho Jockey
Club Races.
When, q few years ago, the American
Jockey Club was organized it was confidently
predicted that IL would lead to rapid develop
ment of civilization in the United States, and
particularly in New York. The prediction for
| while seemed likely to be fulfilled. The
spring and fall meetings of the club were
largely attended by representatives of the
cultivated classes of society In our great
metropolis. The press lavished all its rhetoric
upon glowing descriptions not only of the races,
which promised to awaken national interest
in the pleasures of the turf and to result in
| improving the finest breeds OF that noble
animal, the horse, and Of the undeniably
delightful rural scenery in the midst OF which
the races took place, but also of the splendid
variety Of vehicles, equally light, strong and
beautiful, in which our fashionable men and
women drove to Jerome Park and of the
ravishing toilets which the ladies displayed
on the balconies of the club house or on the
benches of the grand central stand. Wealth
and beauty and fashion seemed to become
accustomed to regard the Jerome Park as
| favorte rendezvous.
But at the fall meeting this year ali unac-
conntable interruption of this course of pros
perity appears to have afflicted the American
Jockey Club. On the first day, although q
bright October sun shone most propitiously,
and although some of the best running ever
made in this country was to be Witnessed,
there was deplorable lack of attendance, both
on the part of the great public and of the
jeunesse dor6e of New York. Even the men,
bers of the club failed to appear in full force.
The second and third days were characterized
10y the same absence of numbers and enthu-
siasm. On the last day, indeed, the races at
tracted larger and gayer crowd than during
.hhe rest Of tie week, but even then 9 doleful
falling off from previous meetings was re-
| marked
This falling off has been ascribed to different
causes. Singularly enough, there are not
wanting tongues 80 malicious as to aver that
a certain suspicion of snobbery, of an afecta-
| ton of Pharisaic SIAM olier- than thou"
pretensions, suficed to deter many who would
4
casion if the management of the races had
been more liberal and less exclusive. There
are also complaints, more or less loudly whis-
pered, that the President of the American
Jockey Club--genial, good-tempered and in
telligent as he is-has never acquired the ac
complishment of speaking English with
fashionable American accent. We presume that
,1xN 81 Hnu i'll
to him for bill of exchange on those world
renowned bankers, the Rothschilds. Other
wise, they would hardly impose on the Presi-
dent Of the American Jockey Club the burden
of responsibility for the comparative failure of
its fall meeting.
1t is said that certain members of another
superlatively fashionable club, the Manhattan,
In which also it has been the fate of Mr..
Belmont, as Chairman of the National Demo-
cratic Committee, to be called to act as pre-
siding genius, begin to object to his overrul-
ing influence It is added that, grieved, if
not disguised, at the want Of appreciation
betrayed by these objections and complaints,
Mr.. Belmont seriously contemplates resigning
the presidency of the American Jockey Club
and retiring from his exalted position in the
Manhattan Club. If he should thus resign and
retire suitable resolutions of regret would
doubtless be unanimously voted by both these
clubs.
After all, however, we shall suspect that the
resignation Of Mr.. President Belmont is but
preliminary to his entering upon some grand,
splendid mission (simlar to that with which
Mr.. Burlingame has been entrusted by the En-
peror of China) to the principalities and
Powers of Europe. Mr.. Belmont has had the
advantage of diplomatic experience, mas
much as he has already figured conspicuously
as United States Minister to foreign court.
II must be in order to prepare for still higher
post, in Mr.. Seymour should be elected
President of the United States, that this
prominent ornament of two Of our metro
politan clubs contemplates withdrawal. Like
Mr.. Van Buren,, who never got Off the
donkey on which he used to trot along behind
General Jackson without getting on TO some
thing better, Mr.. Belmont will be perfectly
justiaable il the want of appreciation on the
part of the exquisites of his two clubs impels
him to exchange the positions which they have
conferred on him for q position better than
anything within their gift. One thing at least
is certain-if the prosperity of the American
Jockey Club does not revive after his resigna-
ton it will not be the fault of Mr.. Belmont.
THE STATE ELECTIONS To-DAY.-Pennsyl-
vania, Ohio, Indiana and Nebraska hold
their State elections to-day, including their
delegations respectively to the next fed
eral House of Representatives and Legisla-
ture, which in Pennsylvania is to elect
United States Senator in place Of Buckalew
(democrat) and in Indiana one in place of Hen