Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-10-06
LOUISVILLE RACES.

The CourieruJ ournal furnishes the fol
lowing particulars of the first days spor
over the Woodlawn Course:
10 the initial race-the Gait Hous
Stake, two mile heats for three.year olds-
the deepest interest had been felt among
turfmen everywhere. Originally, twelve
horses were nominated to run in this stake
including Herzog, (lately deceased, Pom,
pey Payne, Exchange and Versailles, rec
| ognized as four of the best three.year old
in the world. Had not death, in the cast
of Herzog, prey ented these favorite and
closely-matched racers from coming to-
| gether yesterday, the contest would have
been the most remarkable ever chronicled
As 1t was, the two latter-named horses re-
naming in the list occasioned very great
| excitement as TO the result. Buck Reese,
John Klgour, Sue Daugherty, Co.
quette and Pompey Payne having been
Withdrawn, the palm was contested by Ex-
change, Versailles, Mamie Douglas, Helm.
bold, Joe Akin and Louisville. A finer
constellation Of three-year Odds never
paved the turf at Woodlawn, Exchange
was the favorite, Versailles and Mamie
choice and having many confident hackers,
The other entries did not vary much in IA
yor.
FIRST HEAT.-The whole six were in
prime order TO all appearances. Affected
by the crisp gale, they we're all unduly
eager for the fray, and made numerous
false starts. In the final send of, Mamie
Douglas took the front, with Louisville
second, Exchange third, and the other
three rearward in bunch. On making
the quarterpost, Mamie still held the lead,
but Versailles and Joe Akin brushed up
abreast with Louisville in the second
place, and Exchange and Helmbold tack
led each other not far behind. At the half
mile post Versailles and Exchange dashed
forward and aligned with Mamie, who had
been sailing on without company. She
was thus escorted around the woody knoll
on the back'stretch, aelmbold, Louisville
and Aiken forming a respectable rear
guard. Out from the clump they shot in
the same order, but in turning the three.
quarter post Mamie again pushed to the
van, hard pressed BY Versailles, with
Helmbold third, Joe Akin fourth, Louis,
vile fifth, and Exchange last. In this
unexpected manner they passed the string
under heavy pull in Isl. Ii was clear
to everybody that the horses had thus far
merely been playing for position. Con-
tinuing the round, Mamie obstinalely re-
fused to yield the houors until near the
half-mile pest, when Helmbold was spurred
up to the front. Then the fight became
general. Versailles tackled Helmbold,
and Exchange began to look to his laurels.
Mamie maintained her struggle until she
found herself hopelessly fourth, and 10.
Akin and Louisville virtually gave up
the ghost. Nearing the three-quarter post,
Exchange let himself out and turned into
the home stretch slightly ahead. Ga he
came, at every bound shaking clearer of
his competitors without whip or spur.
Versailles, Helmbold and Mamie strove
hard to thWart him. 1t was DO use. Ex-
change won the heat easily by three
lengths, ia 3:44, Versailles, Helmbold and
Mamie Douglas, following in the order
mentioned, and Louisville and 10. Akin
| being distanced.
SECOND HEAT-Exchange continued
'the toast" while Versailles from second
choice declined to the last rank, and
BLUM IOSe, iEOul tue idCt ludl lie
was to be urged for the heat and race.
| There was little or no confidence in Man.
ME, as she showed considerable distress
from exertion in the first heat. The fret
pool was started at cool thousand dollars
on Exchange and was increased to four
teen hundred dollars, the largest pool OF
the day. Many others, from one hundred
to five hundred dollars, were sold. All
the buyers seemed flush, and greenbacks
were handled with stunning profusion.
Evidently the late gold panic did not ex.
| tend its ruinous influence to these diggins
On coming to the scratch, the horses, with
| the exception of Mamie, looked none the
| worse for their previous exercise. 1t was
| freely and correctly predicted that they
would make better time in This heat,
They got off fairly and without baking.
| Exchange and Helmbold paired in front
and Versailles and Mamie after. Thus
they swept by the quarter post At that
point, though, Mamie made q break
ahead, Exchange close up, Versailles
next, ard Helmbold tagging. Thii
order was unchanged until within short
range Of the half mile post. Here
the rival four punched themselves, and &c
streaked on the three-quarter post, wher
Exchange left the party and so sped dowI
the hOme-track and under the string IL
1:49. Versailles second, Helmbold third
Mamie last. No material difference wa
observed until the coursers again approach
ed the three quarter post. Here Exchang
had gained lite space, Versailles haC
been displaced by Helmbold, and Mann
had lost ground by the length. At thiI
point the excitement among the spectator
ragged with an intensity We have never seel
equaled on a race course. The decisiy
moment was at hand, and thousands o
dollars were at stake. In the homewart
struggle, Exchange and Helmbold tough
each other like desperate gladiators, auC
Versailles worked like a good fellow t.
wrest the prize. But while the excite,
throng watched and hurrahed, Exchang
slipped home winner of the heat and rae
in SALT, Helmbold second, Versatile
third, and Mamie Douglas distanced.
SUMMARY,
FIRST DAY-First race-Galt Hous
stake for three year olds. Two mile heat
Entrace $50, play or pay, the the Gal
House to add 81 900.
John Harper's oh C Exchange, by
Endorser, dam Natura, by Draw
ner's Eclipse......... ,........ .........l
A Buford's b C Versailles, by Vandal,
dam by imported Margrave...."".2
w r Babcock's ch Helmbold, by
Australian. dam Lavender by
Wagner. ........... ..,............,.....3
Cheaiham & Woods b Mamie
Douglas, by ROgers, dam by
Wagner............ ..........4 dii
W X Thomas b Louisville, by
Lexington, dam by BostuD.".,..,.dist
S I Drane's CHI Joe Akin, by
John Akin, dam Fayorite, by b