The New York herald., 1869-06-27
PROSPECT PARK RACES.
Summer Running Meeting-.-First
Day of the Season.
ASSEMBLAGE ON THE FAIR GROUNDS.
Beauty and Fashion Re-
presented.
Five Races, Including . Hurdle
Race.

AaCe.
The Summer Running Meeting races. under the
auspices and direction Of the American Jockey Club,
were opened on the Prospect Park Fair Grounds
Course, Long Island, yesterday. the first day Of tha
season. There were i've races in the following
order:-A hurdle race sweepstakes, for all ages; q
second race sweepstakes for two year Olds; two
races for purses OF $500 and $AoO respectively and
q sweepstakes race for three year Olds. The pro-
gramme was fully exhausted, the sport Of the day
opening and terminating in an agreeable manner,
while the performance OF the different contestants
both horses and riders, AFFORDED fresh evidence Of
that healthy and careful development Of all the
essentials Of nationality In turf affairs which is
going on, silently in some respects, but surely,
among us The weather was coquetish as lady
when In doubt and DEBATING whether to 60 to the
race grounds or attend fashionable wedding or re-
main at home and train in religion for Sunday. Rain
came down at dayDreak. the morning was ushered
In darkly, with a lowering sky, a variable wind and
sultry atmosphere Notwithstanding these discour-
agements there was colnnotion in the direction to
'go" among the fashionabes OF New York and
Brooklyn, while large number Of the ''solid men"
OF Long Island, Staten Island and the more adjacent
points Of the "Jersiesn resolved to be present The
routes were open and many, that most frequented
by private equipages being through Fulton and
Clinton streets to Third place and Prospect Park
street, Brooklyn, after crossing the ferries,
while the popular and more democratic one
was by the Coney Island city railroad
cars from Fulton ferry. The latter was healthy,
although tedious, the ride anording fine opportu-
nifty for the enjoyment OF the fresh air, prospect of
nature in her summer luxuriance, with experiences
Of q temporary every day contact with men walking
ttuNn nf hf,fh hapt
good tiDle," enjoyment and physical recuperation.
At about halI-past ten O'Clock In the forenoon
left Fulton ferry bound for that somewhat territorial
nondescript, Coney Island. This vehicle carried the
members OF the band which engaged to perform at
the club house. the owner Of an 'entered horse"
professional horse trainer, jockey from England,
chock full Of the last Derby Day and its doings,
with general miscellany Of humanity. There were
ladies on the car the necessity OF visiting either
washington or Fulton markets engrossng the at
tention OF those belonging to the middle ranks Of
liie while our more 'wellto-do' sisters do not as
is known, patronize that cline" After clearing
Brooklyn and O drawbridee, which was Just opened
"a the car came along, as drawbrdges are pretty
much ct present. the route lay through most fer
promising su1iciency OF that esculent for the pro-
vsIoning Of Fenan army, abounding and extend
1G On every sS Ss M S0t 20,
80 that the journey was gone through" enJoyably
At noon there were not many persons present on
'bettng men" had arrived, 80 as to have time to
''cool on'' for calculation, and few young
The weather had become sultry, and calls for lager
from 'Zwei' upward were uttered more and more
frequently single Jockey appeared IN ''colors"
and "poo'' men and programme sellers were being
inferred in through the gates. Inspector Folk,
ment Of the Brooklyn police; the men, Who were
Immediately told on for duty at different points
menced to arrive, but they came slowly; and, al
though Saturday is regarded on Long Island
an excellent day, ior races, there was no crowd
and style whipping across the track into the green
sward opposite the club house. In this fine lawn
was to be observed slight admlxture OF the appur
tenances of the course at Hong Kong, China, with
sprinklIng OF Donnybrook Fair, refreshments In the
shape OF edbles and drnkables being duly dispensed
from under q canvascovered pagoda, and or simple
deal tables as formerly seen during the lively pro-
gress OF the now defunct Irish "lnstitution."
"nower girl,N habited In scarlet spencer. short
dress and aunty hat pursued her vocation energet-
cally; but whether from lack OF taste and galanry
In the spectators or 'il luck' In her speculation
the "odds,n at the latest were against the young
lady ever attaining either the ceeority or worldly
,rune nd others U Of The Guropean
a quarter-past one O'Clock In the afternoon
there were seventy carriages on the ground. About
i've dozen OF ladies graced the club house parlors
The scene generally was more animated. on the
lower tier Of the club house were to be seen regular
aanxions to graduate; while on the Second and third
iounged careful matrons, attended by the nduIgent
paterfamias and adorned by the presence Of
daughters and nieces ''just out, each mamma thus
.'shining," the poet has 1t, 'like guinea amid
seven shilling pieces" The third tier was, indeed
for the most part occupied by young gentlemen
waiting" on the more ambitious school girls who,
acting under the natural impulse OF youth, bounded
upward as they would IN , m,e TO- 70 npser ,o IN the
be permanent, not having been as yet sad.
dened by Its ,o changes none or depressed b by the
abe personages the grounds wero MIR.
Bathgate, Nicholas Van Brunt, George NJ Wood
ward Mr. George Hail. Mr. Payson and Mr. Dodge,
with "hostn or others, coming alone or attended
by ladies. Messrs Francis Morris, John Hunter,
George Denison, August Belmont and NJ. H. Sanford
the majority on duty. The equipages were In style
and ton. As the day advanced the horses were
riders. The track which was very heavy after the
ram, was ''stirred up" with plough but remained
stables san and boxes came the nags Harry Booth.
Bohannon, Metairie, Lobelia, with other "well
known ones.n They were duly attended
tor and taken In preliminary exercise and
Callops As each favorte was cheered the voice OF
his friends was reechoed from the dense woods and
young plantations and resounded In the clear atmos-
phere the sound being gradually rolled away to the
''dark blue ocean" which girds us. Friendly sauta-
tons were interchanged bets were % sid IA, on the
and desirable 'paces were seized by the spectators
who now counted up a very crowded. good-humored
and appreciative attendance
shortly after three O'Clock the bell rang out "timc
for the start In the first IL was duly obeyed
Of the riders were marked and in good contrast and
the running-as already stated-commenced
and progressed in the most satisfactory manner.
with the exception OF one unexpected and rather
heavy accident. The horse Vauxhall, having his
rider on, became unmanageabe for moment and
control him. He dashed along at terrible pace
and during his strides unhorsed the Jockey, IN dan
gerous proximity TO one OF the fences which enclose
the track. 1t at first thought that the fall had
killed him, but after short time he was restored
and limped to his work, bearing the pain consequent
on its execution courageously. The 'all ready'
being duly proclaimed and assented TO. horses were
brought 10 the post on the FIRST race, which was con.
Guided, with the others, as enumerated underneath.
Numbers OF the spectators quilted the grounds i'm
nicdiaely after tho termination OF the fourth race.