The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-12-25

wonderful revolution has taken place In
racing In this country since the organization
Of the American Jockey Club. Before its
formation, 1t is true, we had race meetings In
different parts Of the country at intervals. but
nothing like tho regular annual gatherings
that we have at the present day. Important
events were few and far between. Within the
past five years, since the selection Of
the charming and picturesque grounds,
with the delightful drives thereto, of
Jerome Park, much has been done
for the success of racing in this country.
The few gentlemen who initiated the American
Jockey Club soon found their numbers aug
mented by other wealthy gentlemen of inau-
ence, and ~ q short time the institution was q
success. Many Of tn. members ct once
became owners and breeders Of the high
melted racer, and this created such a rivalry
that the whole country soon became inter-
ested in the welfare of the undertaking, and
more racing associations and clubs were
formed at other fashionable places, and we
have now four popular and beautiful race
courses within few hours ride of the metro
polls, owned and patronized by the wealthiest
and most refined people of the land. All
these racing associations owe their rise
and progress to the American Jockey
Club, and they are governed by the
rules and regulations of that Institution. Ac-
QUESTIONS are being made daily to these asso-
Citations; new stables of horses are being
formed, and many wealthy gentlemen, who a
few years ago could not be induced to attend
race meeting alone, much less with their fami-
lies, are now buying and breeding thorough
bred stock with the intention of enjoying that
highly interesting and exciting pastime in the
future.
The charms of Jerome Park and the other
race courses are not monopoized by the wealthy
classes alone, but the masses Of the people
have the sports and pleasures within their
reach, and the immense throngs that have
been witnessed at these places during the past
summer fully attest how passionately fond the
people are of all kinds Of equine sports.
The horses are now at rest, and will remain
in quiet repose until the month of March,
when they will be summoned to prepare for
one of the most brilliant campaigns that ever
took place in this country. There will be
eight meetings the coming season-Long
Branch, Jerome Park, Saratoga and Balti-
more-of four and six days each, and more
than enc hundred and fifty races will be run
for stakes and purses offered by the associa-
tons, besides the numerous private matches
that will be made during the winter by gen.
tlemen horse owners. We shall have more
race horses in this vicinity next summer than
were ever before in all America and some of
them as feet Of foot and stanch in endurance
as England ever had in her palmiest racing
Jerome Park at the next meeting will have a
field Of horses to contend for it that will as
tonish the racing world.
In this connection it is but just to say that
the American Jockey Club has done more
than establish racing in this country on
firm footing. The example it has set has re-
suited in the organization Of nearly all the
trotting associations in the United States and
the establishment Of trotting on respectable
basis. During the past few years millions
have been added to the wealth Of the country
by the selective breeding of that most valuable
of all horses the trotter. And this source of
wealth will multiply for years to come if all
the trotting associations of the country are
controlled and influenced by the same spirit of
fairness and impartiality which forms the dis
tinctive characteristic of the American Jockey
Club.