Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1870-11-01
Correspondence of the Spectator.
Grand Tournament-Pimlic Races. &c.
BALTIMORE, Tuesday, Oct. Goth 10.

DALIIMOhE, TUESDAY, Oct. ZUth ~.
Dear Spectator = Being obliged to wait here
for several days to complete some business ar
rangements, we found ourselves on the list of
gentee loafers, and wishing to compare the RI
ding of the Sir knights of the Monumental
City with the Augusta Boys, we yesterday
made our way to Mount Royal" which lies
adjacent to the splendid Charles Street Avenue
not more than a mile from the city limits
The route to the field was marked by flags of
blue and white set at proper intervals, and the
track carefully prepared. On reaching the in
closure We found the Knights stoutly contest
ing for the honors. Most of them rode we'll
some of them with a great deal Of grace-al
OF them being more or less successful in their
| fitting. Yet none of them it seemed to us with
that vim and brilliant dash that we have seen
| at the Staunton Fair Grounds. The arrange
menls throughout were very complete a good
deal OF pains having been taken to decorate the
grounds. The way In which the Heralds an
| nounced the Knights occurred somewhat cere-
monious. yet their method lent charm to the
| entertainment. Not more than FIVE or six hun
dred persons we're present. but the scene was
gay and beautiful. The day was perfect one.
Baltimore's finest turnouts were there, and
great array of beauty. The tiling being over
| the successful knights began their search for
| the favored ones, upon whom TO bestow the
in deciding, when all the fair ones were SO
| charming At length very beautiful ladies
were handed into magnificent open barouche
and fianked by gay cavaliers on either side
were escorted to the stand where the browning
took place One of the Knights, flushed prob
ably with the excitement of the moment, for
| got to uncover while placing the coveted
wreath upon the fair brow before him. We
| had not time to learn the names of the partic-
70 fh .c KILL
probably be known to but few Of your readers
if given.
Having seen the Tournament yesterday, we
concluded to witness the Races to-day. it be-
| ing the first day of tie inaugural meeting of
the Maryland Jockey Club. Taking the cars
at Bolton Street we were soon put down at
Mount Washington Station, and here grand
scramble occurred for seats in the conveyances
that were waiting to convey passengers to the
grounds mile or more distant The 400 or
more taken out by the train were nearly all ac-
commodated with seats in the different We
hlcles, which were so heavily laden that all the
cheering and whipping done on the road failed
| to get up a race between the wagons Arr-
| wing at the main entrance. another scramble
ensued TOR tickets. We walked quietly to the
| gateway and called for Mr.. John T. Ford. who
| had charge Oh the entrance arrangements. On
| announcing that we were friend of the Spec
taor,." that gentlemen smiled blandy, took q
pencil and on the back Of the programme card
wrote The magic words: Admit one to the
stand-press. Of course armed with such a
mlsslce we went where we pleased
Taking a position on the stairway to the
ground stand, before us within the circle
formed by the track, were the splendid equip
ages of the members filled with ladies' on
either side to the right and left the carriages
OF outsiders and men and women everywhere
The green of the turf beyond the Judges stand
with The rich auunn foliage of the trees in
the distance formed striking back ground to
one of the most brilliant sDectacles Pimlico ev-
er beheld-but facing about to the grand stand
the autumnal tints Of the costumes displayed
there seemed to vie with nature herself and
with tt e radiant faces of such a multitude OF
fair women, formed scene not to be forgotten
soon. Very prominent among the II or Is O0O
people, there was Congressman John Morrisey,
distinguished By his heavy features and the
evidence. his face still bears of his former pro-
tession, pugilism Beau Hickman was also
present and quite number Of distinguished
gentlemen from New York, as we'll as promi-
nent citizens OF Maryland Most noticeable
among the equipages was the dashing estab-
ilshme Mt of Hembold, the man of 'Buchu.
His carriage chariot as it might be termed, we
can hardly describe, save that it was long and
high, seating probably persons beside the
driver and his attendant and the two footmen.
all four of which were in fine livery The We
hicle was drawn by six splendid bay horses
and is said to have cost including the team
$35 0O0 At intervals the "JeIu' of the estab-
llshment displayed his skill as driver and the
polnlsofhls team by suudry turns and revo-
lutions which were certainly we'll executed.
Being late on the ground we did not witness
the Hurdle Race, and the efore copy the Off
cla report. Contest q miles over hurdles
between Oysterman and Bddy Malone the
latter by her splendid leapiog winning the race,
time A minutes. Second race was match
for $40, 900 per side, two miles one half forfeit.
entered Marragausett and otamps-the former
being disabled his owner paid the S., 900 for
felt and Stamps galloped over the track. 3rd
race was for year olds, 2 miles-there were
about so entries, but only s started At the
sound of he bell the horses came upon the
track, and a glance at their glossy coats and
movements showed that their training had not
been aaiss. At the tap of the drum they
came up, but scattering badly it was decided a
false start and the bell recalled them. They
got off splendidly at the second attempt and
the interest soon become intense. The Bali-
moreans having high hopes Of my Maryland, .
| ahead quite to the half mile post, followed
closely by Preakness. On The second round E.
c!ipse moved up splendidy and at one time
was head OF Preakness, with strong chance for
winning, but On the home stretch Preakness
got the lead and won the race by half length,
time 3-473. Foster, which had been the ia
vorlte before the start coming In third. The
| fourth race was for purse Of $3.50, mile heats,
| (best IN three) for colts three years old that
had not won single race of 1000 or over du-
ring the year. Eight horses were entered, all
of which were started getting off finely at the
first trial. The contest seemed to be between
Mozart, Dennis Burns, and Oftoban, the latter
winning the first mile in l49a Saddles were
stripped off, blankets put on and all that care
which turtles bestow upon their favorite ami
mails wasg given to these horses. 10 about If
teen minutes the bell tapped again, aud he
eight started for the second mile Mozart led
off finely but Conductor came up and before
reaching the Judges stand had passed all the
others ard won the heat 10 Isl. The strug-
gle now being between O,oban and Conductor,
| the other horses we're taken from the track
and In few minutes the two named were
brought Up, and starting neck ard neck kept
their position 81 closely that nothing could be
seen to favor either enc, until when about 40
yards OF the line Conductor gained half a
length and won the race in 1-5l amid the deaf
ening cheers Of the vast assenblase.
Great attractions are to be offered for the re-
manning days of the races but here our record
Of the Baltimore Derby day must end.
Yielding to none in cur admiration for the
horse, and believing all mankind interested in
his training and development we cannot but
hope that our steady going community may
never have race course. Leaving the betting
or gambling for others to depict we give the
| Officers and Stewards of the Club great credit
for the perfect order that prevailed throughout.