The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-04-11

AN UNPARALLELED ATTENDANCE--A
BEAUTIFUL DAY AND FINE
RACING.


Never since the day when the frst time was |
ever scored on the Ridge track, and the horses |
hoofs made sweet music responsive to the cheers |
Of the spectators, and rhythmic with the wsvisgs
Of their handkerchiefs, has there been such |
eoucourse gathered upon 1t, as was there assem- |
bled yesterday. This meeting. from the beginning |
has been complete success, but II was reserved |
for yesterday to cap its glories. 1t was the last
day of the meeting, which was strong reason for
many wishing 10 see one more race before next |
every fue lover Of The turf TO be present. IN snor
mons amount Of money had been bet upon the |
last race, which drew numbers more to the track,
and lastly, the day was 30 superb, that every
body in town, who could get away and did nctgo
to the fair, seemed to have determined to spend
the afternoon on the stand of the Metaire Course.
And beautiful sight that stand was. From
the upper end of 1t, very nearly to the railing
which separates the club stand from that OF the
quarter stretch, was bright patchwork of ladies'
dresses The fair creatures had turned ont in such
force that they completely routed the members,
occupying the captured position, and actually en-
croaching 60 far that this reporter, turning sud
denly to ask horse question Of friend whom
he supposed behind him, found himself face
y
by the shock, could only blushingly turn back and
view the judges stand steadily, and wonder with
in himself If be hadn't better move little lower
down. Yes, the ladies came down like an army
of banners, and ss we have above stated. pitched
their tents (parasols) and spread their ensigns
fribbons) TO the breeze and then offered
to treat snicably with the club; which
proposition, be it known, the members
I l<cU hair rod
sign. for once, of peace-were seen futtering in
the very heart Of the enemy's forces, where, we
are afraid, the ladies' trescherously broke the
truce and brought many of them to their feet. o,
that we had the pen of a correspondent of New
York paper at fashionable watering place, that
we could tell of those ladies' dresses! o. that
our millinery education had not been SO entirely
neglected as to leave us ignorant to the differ.
ence betseen q bias and gore, Jupe and q
thule, Josephine and j0sey. and altogether
unposted as to the various other distinguishing
portons of The habilaments of the Rentler sex !
Would, we say that we knew ell these things, SO
that we could worthily sing the taste and ele-
gance displayed yesterday by the fairer portion oil
the guests Of the Metairie Club But alas we
can only say that from distance the la1es
seemed ike fair and beautiful picture, while
closer, they appeared o thousand beautiful pic
lures, each the most attractive until another was
viewed. l.--. l----
Bat not only were the ladies out en- nasse. but
the balance of tho stand was fun TO the roof.
There was hardly vacant spot to be found in it.,
| and many there we're who were compelled to view
but half the races. As may be well imagined, the
tiger kept down stairs made luxurious repsst, and
MANY a man who found himself winner at the
| end OF the races, deposited his winnings before
he left in the cspacious NAV of the sleek Ben
gal.
The track was in excellent condition. 1t was
| little dusty, but was as springy as a billiard
| cushiop and as safe as Q church--a good track.
The races were two-atwo-mile dash for beaten
horses and the great three mile heats.
A few minutes after three. when everybody had
had time to brush of the clouds Of dust which paid
very particular attention to all the travellers on
the shell, the bell rang, and up trotted the horses
entered for -ft go l.--.- --er i-
| THE Two-MILE DASH.
They were tbree-Mr. Conlisk's Gdroy. Col
| O'FaIIon's Banshee and Capt. Moore's Gen
| E,rel. Gilroy and Gen. Ewell. II will be remem
bered, ran together in q two mile dash on Thurs
| day. and both had the laurels snatched from them
| by Locust Post the mare ran on Tuesday in mile
hea ats and che too was beaten by Locust Post
| From these two races the public formed Its esti
| nation of the horses, and In its wisdom gave the
fret place TO Ewell and the second TO the mare
Ifaying Gilroy out entirely. But the hackers Of
Bsnshee were by no means scarce, and ODDS OF
fered on the General met with prompt takers
The horses all looked lively when they came uI
and the prospects for pretty race we're yerj
fsttering After little negotiation for the start,
| the horses got on, The Banshee showing the way
the favorite next her and Groy who bad bad q ba'
start, q length or two behind. In this order thel
II travelled to the quarter In 27t; and 80. thougl
with more daylight between them, they passet
| the half mile ia IS. Into the home stretch they
Numbered, the feet footed little Irish Ghost st
leading, and past the stsnd they rushed 10 :52
the Missouri mare leading by length, with tn, m
fsvorite "eoing for" her in lively style, and Gi
| row. whose cake il was evident by this time wa
eli dough, jogging along several lengths IN the eal
| Then the race commenced in good earnest = We
edged slowly up to his leader, tapped her. and ioo
by foot. caught her Just as the hslfm was closed
| Neck and neck ran the two horses to the entranc
. | 20 the home stretoh, while whip and spur wer
= freely piled. the excitement on the stand pe
ing BY this time intense. As they entered the furi
| A. was impossible to name the leader, and 1t wa
| not until the draw was reached that the gree
: | and orange of The Bspshcs could be ssen IN "
:, | front. EWell fought manfuy to the string, bI
!. | il was in vain and Banshee passed under 1t
: | length the winner in 3404 Evell next and Gilro
{ no where A beautiful race this was, for the 4
Z vorite was beaten, and that always makes RAJ
= more interesting-except to those who had Dol
IS !. was not long before the bell again rang, au
4 once more the crowd on the quarter stretch wel
u swallowed mp In the numerous doors 10 the ba
y Of the stand, and reappear again on Its top.
to THE THREE MILE HEAT.
le This was the great race Of the meeting.
lie former days It was customary to close every met
to ing with four mile heats. bat latterly, long d
.: tances have not been 30 popular. 80 that tnr
:. mile race yves agreed upon for this year.
ID three entries for the race were all magnihce
We sDimsls. There was Col. O'Fsllon's Pldntagen
%. 3 4year old, by Planet. He won the great ra
n, on The 6rst day OF the meeting, and besides
er q horse Of, undoubted speed and aim
RS unbounded bottom. There, was "a
Is. Moore's Bdyonet, one OF the M
er promising year olds IN the country and the
ID. was Locust Post, horse, who had won two rae
already during the meeting. and beautiful .
as well formed animal. had proved himself fast OF
y With three such horses, the betting was aim
=. unlimited. Fully $l50.00l worth OF pools D
no been sold, and, outside Of this, great many
20, waite waeeIs had been laid. Bsyonet was the
80 forite at about 100 to so against the field Plan
IA IA genet came next, and. for second horse