The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-07-13
TROTTING At THE FASHION COURSE.

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A Race Between American Girl ind Indy
Professionalism Girl the Winner.
Six or seven thousand persons congregated at the
Fashion Course yesterday afternoon to witness what
they supposed to be o troSting contest between
American Girl ana Lady Thorn, to decide which of
them was the fastest trotter. The advertisements
IN the papers stated that the race was to be for
purse OF $780, mile heats best three in five, IN har
ness but the crowds drove up the gates of the
course they were coon made aware OF the fact
that the race was to be for nothing but
the gate money taken then and there, as
agents of the owners OF both horses and the pro.
prietOrs were counting closely every dollar that was
taken IN. This however, did not create any sus-
picion in the minds Of the people that they would
not witness 1ne, fast trotting contest, and that
each horse would be made to do her best to win.
All expected TO see faster time than had been made
on Long Island previously, for both mares had been
represented being In the finest possible condition
and never going faster than at the present time.
Stories Of Lady Thorn's trial Friday morning led
many TO lay wagers that 2:2O would be made and
that If she was beaten Dexter's 2:l74 would be
totally eclipsed. So completely humbugged were
many by these statements that some betting
on time was made as low as 2:lSE. Many
who were on the ground had seen American Girl
trot heat handly at Narraganset in 2:1o, and they
did not believe that that was her best; they had
also witnessed Lady Thorn close up with her IN
22Oh IN a third heat, and they were willing to be-
lieve that Lady Thorn could have done better had
her old driver, Dan Pfifcr, been behind her. He
was behind her yesterday, and great time was rea-
sonaby expected; but instead OF witnessing good,
fast race, the public witnessed farce, to say the
best of it, the best time in the race being In 2:24a;
and every person who witnessed this race, except
hO on mn ricau CIrl
gusted and we fancy there will be few among them
who win again be humDugged by attending any
more races where they are that the horses are
merely trottlng for the money taken at the gate.
Lady Thorn mad no speed yeseraay n"r
trials and American Girl could ana should have
beaten her In three straight heats, as 1t was very
evident that she was capable Of doing so by the
burst of speed she exhibited IN the fourth heat.
She went to the halimle pole then in l:l0 and was
ten lengths ahead OF Lady Thorn at the threequarer
POLE We nope that all gate money trots VIII be
abandoned In the future, and That proprietors OF
tracks throughout the country Will discountenance
'hippodroming" in all its phases.
The track was in fine condition for fast time An
intensely hot sum- whose rays, however, were partly
tempered by an occasional breeze, dease Gr nSc
stand or tanning themselves on the bal
comics Of the hotel, win the poo. selling n1
what was expected to be q struggle between two OF
the gamest and fastest specimens OF horsehesh in
America for supremacy made the Fashion Course
scene OF great excitement Inside and outside there
seemed to be endless line OF vehicles OF all kinds,
from the .phaeton, dog cart or light wagon down TO
taken for part OF the machinery Of mill. The half
past two O'Clock Flushing tram brought twelve car
loads of visitors from Hunters Point, ana there was
quite procession, cosmopolitan in character, too
through the fields and along the roads lead
ipu to the course. Although not displaying any
of the characteristic qualities Of the Jerome
Park and Saratoga meetings, yet trot like that at
the Fashion Course yesterday is very interesting
Affords ample opportunity Tor the study Of that kael-
doscopic subject, human nature.
When we reached the course the pool selling was
at its height with crowd of anxious bidders around
the auctioneer. American Girl was selling as the
avorte at about 100 to S0 but this rate soon changed
and from tnat point 1t dwndled gradually down to
100 to As before the horses came the track. At
the time occupied in warming up, 100 to 40 became
current and ran at that rate until after the first
heat, when Zoe 10 35 was the state OF the Odds
Girl, and even after the third heat, which Lady
Thorn won, 81 200 TO $3.50 was wagered on American
Girl winning the race. onsrs
American Girl is a large and finely developed bay
nearly sixteen r hands :, IN 1s negf and
Cassius NJ. Clay, Jr, out OF Virginia mare OF un-
known pedigree. but believed TO oe nearly. 4 not
quite thoroughbred. This Is her correct pedigree.
as 1t is known that Mr.. Travis, the owner OF the
dam OF American Girl, brought her from Virginia in
1861. Cassius NJ. Clay, Jr., YVES owned in ROckiand
county, In this State where the dam OF American
Girl was sired by him. He Is now owned by MIR.
John Pollock, OF Philadelphia, and is about fifteen
years old. We are thus explicit In relation TO the
pedigree OF American Girl in consequence OF attempts
being made by interested parties to place her IN
false position before the pubic and deCrlct from the
reputation OF her noble sire. and we may say no
less Industrious DAME by endeavoring to make 1t APP
pear that she IS either OF star or Trustee origin
stallion out OF q mare OF unknown pedigree, ana In
her CHARACTERISTICS Is very similar to Lantern, Lucy
Geo. M. Patchen, Bashaw, Jr, Danver's Boy and
numerous others. Upwards OF quarter century
ago when the Bashaw horse first fell under our OBJ
servatlon, and we witnessed the fine performances
nj Nv
kindred, the trOtting turf, we ventured the pre-
dlction that the day was not far distant
when they would assert and assume prece-
dence over every other class Of trOtting horses
in the country The conviction at that early stage OF
their was Irresistible that their superior breed
ing and peculiar trOttlng conformation such. in
addition to their known mpressiveness OF character
that it was next to impossible 60 suppose they had
anything but brilliant and progressive future be-
lore them on the turf. Strong as our convictions
were ut the time, and decided as were our predic-
tons, subsequent events have so far verified them
that Basnaw horse stands now upon the trotting
turf without peer swtest among the swift, anu as
lasting as the Arab sires from wnicn he sprang.
Lady Thorn Is bay mare sixteen hands and
half high, and is one of the most remarkable mares
that has ever appeared on the turf. Her career has
Queen OF the Turf was earned after many
hard fought battle and glorious victories, having
successfully beaten all the best horses IN the coun
try at one time or another. even Including the re-
nowned Dexter himself. That she mas also been
beaten herself occasionally has deracted but Little
from her great fame. Lady Thorn Is very nearly
thoroughbred, her dam being by Gano, son or
American Eclipse, and her sire Mambrlno Chief. 1t
is this fine strain oil blood that has given her the
wonderful endurance she mas exhibited during ner
racing career. She is sixteen years OF age, and
was on the turf before American Girl was fOaed.
Dropping any further comment, we Will proceed
TO give the details OF
THE TROTr1NG.
First Hedt-After scoring for some time to get
the horses warmed up for the work before them
they came up for the word and got IL, with Their
heads parallel, American Girl having the pole.
Gong TO the turn American Girl drew away from
Lady Thorn and led one length around the turn and
to the quarter pole In tnlrtysx seconds and half.
Trottng down the bacKstretch American Girl
opened the gap and showed half q length of day.
light The daylight was Kept open to the haf-me
pole, which was passed in l:lJ. Gong Into the
Flushing end Lady Thorn shut up the gap and
gained gradually on American Girl until at the
three-quarter pole they were very nearly even, and
IN this manner they came up the hOmestretch. The
struggle seemed very close all the way up, although
going very slow, ana at the drawgate they were
head and head and q number Of the admirers OF
Lady Ihorn seemed In ecstasies, in the