The New York herald., 1869-06-06
AMERICAN JOCKEY CLUB.


Opening Day at. Jerome Park-Five Races
and Fine sport-Large Attendance Of Beauty
and Fashion-Scenes on the GrOunds-A
WhirIwind, Rain and General Excitement.
The first day of the annual summer meeting Of
the American Jockey Club was inaugurated On the
Jerome Park Course ground yesterday with a very
gratifying eclat and in presence OF fashionable
elegant and crowded assemblage. There were
five races, including hurdle and handicap
contests, each OF which presented during its pro-
gress q pleasurable and invigorating excitement.
Public expectation was particularly the Q,t Utue
for the result OF the events, owing TO the individual
experiences Of match day. which were certainly very
unfavorable at first, but resulted, Notwithstanding
most unpropitous state OF the weather. I'm
q '.good time" generally, the null compile
ton OF the programme, with really ex-
ceent sport. Our 'young bloods' having braved
the storm Of Wednesday, it appeared as II the
weather god determined to render them somewhat
uneasy and anxious with respect to the prospect Of
opening day, the grand event-or, some class it,
"the event''of the season. appropriated perhaps,
by prayer his deltyship remained in a very "uglyn
and tantalizing frame Of mind during Friday, his
evident vaccilation with respect to the justice OF
continued punishment or the mercy Of complete alb
solution inducing a state of fretrul alarm in the
minds Of thousands regarding the condition OF the
atmosphere the probable fate OF new and costly
robes, the dissolution 1t may be, Of ducks" Of hats
OF the latest and most becoming style, and the gene
raj effect OF 0 rain storm on the nealth OF the fair
wearers. who for the most part "airy as fays,n
although graceful as a Duchess" and, OF course,
delicate In proportion. Varying his mode Of action
from that employed against Palinurus Of old, when
he pfloted Eneas and his "fortunesn from
the ruins OF Troy, his godship on the
present occasion yelled his Intentions in
heavy mist, envelopIng the river tinges
and streets OF New York in q dense fog which pre-
vailed to an embarrassing extent during the greater
part OF Friday night and was not rolled of until an
early hour yesterday morning. He did not in the
instance narrated by Virgil employ the force Of the
united winds-"eastward and northward," with the
othersbut appeared to have kept them strictly
fined to their "caverns," leaving the air heavy,
damp foggy and enervating to degree. Nature
vindicated herself, however, by daybreak, the
knowing ones experiencing the hope, almost GER
tainty, OF a good" day during it's opening hours.
Whether experienced or unskilled in the science
of astronomical observation the people at large
permitted their inclination to run to Jerome Park
to overcome every consideration of econ
omic caution, so after an early breakfast they
turned out In large numbers for Fordham. Private
carriages were ordered to be in readiness four-in
hands were matched and harnessed, spry "tigers"
were liveried, stalwart and pOrtly coachmen
began to look after their 'lInes" and whip lashes,
their gloves and pomatum; livery stables were ex
tensvely patronZed; 'fast horses" were hltched to
light wagons, with sporting "whips" seated hehind
the railroad station at Forty-second street was
crowded, while very large numbers Of our
citizens less favored as yet by fortune jumped on
the cars OF the different city railroad lines which
for transportation to the Park after they had crossed
that imposing structure and entered the county Of
pure mill, fresh butter potatoes, large cabbages,
Such impulse and votion realized TO action by
the aids and accessories OF wealth. giving life to the
motive powers just enumerated, resulted in the ag
gregation of q truly nne assembage; whether
oers Or the names and wealth Of those who
gave the ton on the occasion. The ladies who
graced the club house. grand stand and other points
Of favorable lookout, counted In large excess Of
it appeared as II the nOdstes whom they patronlzed
had exceeded all their former efforts TO please
them. so that as noon approached and passed the
and beauty. Indeed, the general attendance ON
the grounds was never much better. Among the
fourth. hand "turnouts" coming within the range
OF more Immediate observation, were those Of
August Belmont Griswod Gray William Pauding,
Mr.. Hamilton, and many.very many.others, % IN.
cludng the very fast, almost incompatible, team OF
J. b. Fellows, which on the route homeward swept
along the roads-then muddied by o fall OF rain
that they passed everything, single or double,
in their direction. Messrs. Lawrence Jerome, Dr.
Leland, Of the Metropolitan Hotel; Lew Pettee''
Frank Work, Comptroller Connolly, Commissioner
Samuel Mills, Mr. George Clark and lady,
Mr.. Green of the firm OF Tumanie 4 Green, with
hundreds OF others OF the more early arrivals whom
1t was quite impossible to recognize amid the pleas
ing bewderment OF the shifting scene. Later arri-
walls brought in most stylish equpage eX-Mayor
Gunther,. William Whitney Richard Darling and
MIR. Turnbul
AS the day advanced every little eminence was oc.
cupled shelter from the heat was sought under every
tree, carriages were lined in range from the gates Of
faun l,ln taIa
ferent stands, while hundreds OF bellies reflected the
light OF full sunshine from their faces and dress In
The eyes Of the admitting thousands. Preparation
race, and the apparent formidable obstructions
to the career OF the coursers were soon completed
the ladies endorsing with their appreciation the act
OF precauton o. strewing their surface breadth with
green leaves and branches, 80 as to "break" fall
and save any Injurious personal consequences to an
unucky rider This care was unnecessary, as IL
proved, for the leaps were taken IN excellent spirit
with practised eyes bv the jockeys. These
important personages, white and black, dwarfed or
OF good corporate proportion. soon commenced to
show themselves. Programmes were Immediately
and the Identity OF their employers. with
that OF the horses they were destined to manage
soon ascertaned. ''Poor selling was commenced
the horses which won eventually being for the most
part the favorites, although there. Is no
doubt that very large amounts OF money
lation or misfortune could not be ascertained
Nothing venture, nothing win," however. The
man VINO goes 10 tne Dalte ned 10r glory must take
his chance for wooden leg or his CONN. besides
having his name wrong spelled In some war ONCE
gazette. Saddles on and preliminary canters were
next IN order. Amid such preparation, excite
ment, personal greetings, prudent calculations and
hurry, the hours wore away rapidly. As the
hour OF three O'Clock In The afternoQn-named for
the start In the first race-appfoached the display OF
the club house was magnificent ladies' In splendid
attire looking almost cts-d-pts with the ladies'
finely ''got up who were seated In the different
stands opposite. The gentlemen patronized
the club house IN large numbers also
dressed IN every variety OF costume. They
were young and advanced In life, sporting men,
men OF an every day domestic aptitude American
men, lrishmen, men OF Germany and France, with
the inevtabe-or sine qua no-men OF race courses
Englishmen. Our Anglo-Saxon cousins who patron
ize the TYR are foE the most part quite at home on
Such occasions the Dundrearies carefully avoiding
the ''wagglen OF democratic ''cr6wds.n
The horses were soon led out. AZ each OF them
appeared his "backers" could be recognized very
soon by their manifestations OF applause ana asser
tons Of his capacity speed and so forth. The vast
c0nGQuTse Of spectators commenced TO SHIFT their
positions, some moving up stairs so as to enjoy
more elevated range OF prospect, while Others De-