The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-10-01

Lady Thorn Beats Mountain Boy In Three
Straight Heats.

The avenues leading to the Union Course were
alive early yesterday afternoon with visitors hieing
to this time-honored old track to witness the elev
ensh trot between Lady Thorn, the queen Of the
turf, and her great rival, Mountain Boy, for purse
OF $1,000 mile heats, best three In AVE. In harness.
stopping at John Snedikers, the great rendezvous
OF trotting men and horses, we found quite crowd
had assembled there In advance of rs. Looking
about we discovered among the assemblage some
OF the most noted trottng men OF the day, many Of
the Oldest Of whom had not been on . track
for several years. The affair to come OF
was an exciting one 1t had enlisted the
attention OF the majority OF horsemen in this section
and brought numbers from abroad, all anxious to
witness what they supposed would be the deciding
trot between two great celebrites-a test of their
relative merits-Lady Thorn having previously
beaten Mountain Boy SIX times and he her four two
OF them recently. BY way OF resume we may say
that these races began at the Fashion Course
last year, when Lady Thorn vanquished Noun
tain Boy. This led to match on the Union
Course, in which he beat her. No further racing
took place between them that year; but with
the opening OF the spring campaign OF the present
year they met again on the Fashion Course and
Mountain Boy was defeated. They then went east
and met at the Narraganset Park at Providence,
where the mare scored another victory, and
again beat him at Mystic Park, Boston. Subse-
quenty they met again at the Union Course, Long
Island where the mare achieved another victory
and gained for herself the appeation OF the Queen
OF the Turf. Down on Staten Island on a track
three-quarters Of mile long, just the distance for
Mountain Boy, they again met and he defeated the
mare. After this the proprietor Of the Suffolk Park
at Philadelphia, offered large purse for these horses
to trot for that track Probably this was the more
acceptable to the owner OF Mountain Boy, who had
refused to allow him to trot in company with more
than one competitor, alleging that his horse was OF
too excitabe temperament to compete In race
where more than two horses were entered This
race was won by Lady Thorn. The Phiia-
delphlans were so much delighted with the
trOtting on this occasion that they resolved
to have another exhibition OF the same
kind, and for that purpose the Point Breeze
Association made up large purse for them to con-
tend for. Here they met again, and Mountain Boy
defeated the mare In very fine and well contested
race, in which great deal Of money was lost by the
hackers OF Lady Thorn, who had saked at long odds
on the result. Another inducement being offered at
Island Park, near Troy, they went there and on a
bad track ana in heavy gale of wind Mountain Boy
was again the victor. The result OF the two last
trots gave great encouragement to the hackers OF
Mountain Boy, who were SO sanguine of his ability
to beat her that they offered match Lady Thorn to
trot over the Union Course for any amount. This
was declined. The proprietor OF the Union Course,
however, with ON eye to business, volunteered to
give them purse OF ST. 900 to contend for on his
track, and this brought them together in the race
yesterday.
Pool selling was extremely active when we reach
ed the course and the odds were slightly In favor OF
Mountain Boy, but were soon equalized and con-
tnued so until the horses began scoring. Here the
mare exhibited such turn OF speed, and her condi-
ton was otherwise much in her favor, that her
hackers went almost into ecstacies, and odds on her
were the consequence. There was, however, much
doubt in the minds OF many old horsemen as to
what would be the result Of this race and much anxi
ETY. and INDIGESTION were manifested by persons
whose opinions are generally OF great weight on
matters appertaining TO the turf, a. Mountain Boys
late victories and his apparently fine present
condition had made a deep impression on
them. Many were surprised at his defeat
but generally attributed 1t to the heavy
wind that prevailed during the race, which he was
less able TO stand than the gallant and powerful old
mare. whose high breeding and great energy under
difficulties made her able to contend successfully
with adverse Influences Great pains had been
taken with the track for this great event. II In
capital order, and had IT not been for the high wind
the time would probably have been as fast as was
ever mauc Dv these horses anywhere. AB IL was tne
race was an anxious and exciting one
The judges for the occasion were men noted for
their nice discrimination and good Judgment. They
were Mcssrs. Simeon ID. Hoagand, Joseph Burr and
Peter Dubois. But TO the details OF
The Race.
First Heat.--Lady Thorn won the pole. The
horses came up for the word, but Mountain Boy
being few lengths behind the judges dill not give
the word, and rang the bell for them TO come back
and try IL again. The next tine they came up the
word was given TO an even start, and away they
went, head and head Going around the turn Noun.
tain Boy broke up and lost half q dozen lengths
more before he recovered. Lady Thorn passed the
quarter pole ak lengths ahead Of him In thirtys
seconds. As soon as Mountain Boy got the wind In
his rear-and IL was blowing, as sailor would say,
great guns at the time-he cut loose and
went at terrific gait down the back
stretch shutting up the daylight asonishngly fast,
and the passed the half-mile pole he was at
her wheel. Time, 1:l2 Az they went into the lower
turn they were head and head; then the gelding be-
gan TO show his head IN front and, gaining rapidly,
was soon clear OF her. He came on the homcstrstch
length IN 'front.' Of the mare; but 10 was not long
aferw ards having the force OF the wind IN his face
before he found himself IN difficulties. Before be
reached the drlwgate the mare was on even terms
with him, and Mclaughlin, the driver OF Mountain
Boy began TO search Tor the whip, which was on Tie
seat OF the suiky. BY the time the whip was found
| the mare was neck and shoulders ahead, and
when the whip was used it was OF NJ avail, the
geldng bring unable 10 get away from II. The mare
thai he was beaten he pulled Mountain Boy mp, Lady
| Thorn winning by two lengths Time 2:2i-whicIi
was extraordinary time under TIE circumstances.
| second Hedt.-One hundred to forty then cur
rent on Lady Thorn and hedging was attempted by
| some OF the hackers OF Mountain Boy There was
little chance for that, however, as every person was
xious to get his money on the mare. The horses
were started mt the first attempt, Mountain BOY hsv
jng tribe the best OF the send OH He drew
away from the mare on the OIL side and took the pole
on the turn and led TO the quarter pole nearly two
lengths In thirty-six seconds ON the backstretch
the held her own, both trotting very steadily,
and at the half-mile pole Mountain Boy led two
two lengths, In I'LL. Going around the lower turn
he opened the gap and az nc came into the home
stretch was nearly three lengths In front. Pnier
pulled into the inside, and coming with rush soon
overlook the gelding the mare seeming not 20 mind
| the high wind at ALL while Mountain Boy APP
peared 10 stayger under Its influence At the draw
gate the horses were parallel but from there TO the
stand the mare drew gradually away and won the
| heat by two lengths. Time, 2:24T.
Third Hedt.--Ihe result OF the race seemed now
settled. Nothing but accident could prevent Lady
Thorn from winning. In the pool selling the odds
were large her favor. OF the pools selling