The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-07-05
FASHION COURSE.
Five First Class Trotters in
the Field.
Brilliant Asstmblage, Splendid Equipages,
Charming Weather and Capital Contest.
LADY THORN THE WINNER.

ana within the mum OF It's Pleasantly CLUSTERED
houses Fashion Course Is situated. Its history as
race track until year or two back recalls many
brilliant contests, placing 1t coequal with The record
OF any course In the country. or late.
from variety OF circumstances. it has been
under cloud and some OF the more out
spoken and thouQhtless OF the turf patrons
pronounced It's prestige lost forever. But yesterday
fitting occasion, perhaps was charming
apotheosis for the friends Of the proprietors and
those who cling TO the exciting amusement OF trot
ting regardless OF the potent influences OF racing
meetings ct Jerome, Saratoga and Long Branch, as
the old gliding and finish which once embellished
the Course seemed to renew ITSELF ana enhanced by
the presence OF beautiful and we-bred women,
the applause Of q Jolly humored, eager and enthu-
siastic assemblage OF seven thousand people and
the ever beamng glories OF summer day, bright
and tremendously tranquil in the tns OF Its scarcely
necked sky to shine more radiantly than at any
time since the days Of Nicholas and sue Washington,
From New York and Brooklyn thousand dog
carts, pquaut sulkies, drags, phaetons gigs coun.
try carryalls, closed coaches. open barOuches and
dirt wagons traversed the avenues. roads and
by-ways, conveying to the track. Those who
were not fortunate enough to own, or who
were zoo poor to hire team, either went
by the railroad or, like the Independent
Irish gentleman footed 1t oil the weary way, and at
summer day betting the Fourth OF July, and
an interesting troting occaslon-a day that might
he met with in the south OF sunny France, genial
and lovely 1t. The houses along the route were
alive with excitement, and the blossoms and or.
chards by the way emitted a variety OF fragrance,
while here and there in long bypaths, not stirred
from their lazy groupings under refreshing
trees, the quiet cattle browsed eagerly
aad the air was flied with the happy
shouts OF those young men, pleased with the sport in
anticipation or cheered 10y the prospect OF nnume.a-
BILE vehicles that shot out like an endless procession
en- the long, charming road before them. The
breezes, laden with the breath Of health from the
far-or Sound came like continuous wave filed
with summer perfumes to fan the heated cheek and
runle the pendant horse chestnut blossoms along
the roadside, and lingering for second
by white villas In the fields to disturb
the serenity of the dahlias. Here and there
by the way broken wheel or smashed axle clearly
showed the results OF reckless driving. Anon,
group that have not started to tile race with bal
anced heads and who have too often tarrIed at the
stopping places to celebrate the day. are met, and
while they energeticay belab0r their willing horses
they become the objects OF comical jests and allu.
siOns from their companions of the road.
At two O'Clock the grand cavacade had reached the
course and the ensemble OF effects was extraordi.
nary. Picturesquely grouped In The fields, along he
fences either side Of the grand stand and in the
shadow OF tile spacious club houses, the thousand
or more vehicles presented a charming appearance.
exciting incidents Of the trot that soon followed,
preferrng their soitcushioned seats to the elevated
tiers OF the stand. Not ior years nave the club
thickly studded with humanity. Here were
thousands not alone from the metropolis
that knew the peculiar merits OF the contestants 81
packed. Men Of wealth, whose thousands are as
many as the cents OF the ordinary mortal stood side
Sy ae with na.y cers IN e i KIDS ana velvet
talk over the gallant achievements o the avorites.
Mingled with them was The rough-tisted, rugged.
musced, pronzed-cheeked laboler, who, too,
embracing the admirably adapted day and
the occasion, had journeyed thther. Above aad
house stood side by side with gallant cavaliers, the
beautie5Of Gotham and the City or Churches, who,
in their genial ana novel way. bantered the know
ing ones OF their companions about preferences,
aud wagered some pretty little souvenir that this
or that animal would be the victor.
Whirling now ana then With mingled good feel
Inc ana genial harmony into the restaurants below
tine thirsty and hungered satisfied their appettes,
where the auctI0neer, MAJOR johnson, entertained
the perfect gluttons OF the race track, whose
voracous cravings II Is diacult to satlae In the
ter OF things of the tuif tury," ana whose defeats
and victories give complexion TO their existence, in
trude into their dreams, sparkle IN their smiles
and mingle Win their tears, in such manner as
to give them some II 1t did not make their
pockets Subsequently any heavier.
Tie event which brought this grand assenblage |
together purse OF $1,000, divided into lour
parts, the winning horse to receive S2o0J The Sec
race being mile neais best three In iive. harness.
There were six entries and i've starters. These
sersts Black horse George Wkes Charles champ.
Inns brown gedng George Palmer, and Ben Dan.
ies' bay mare American Girl; me other entry was
was aniss and unable to start
In good time the bell brought the trotters to the
track, when, with hurried EXPLANATIONS OF delight
general stir In the vicinity OF the refre5hment c0un
ters and the pool stand, the thousands IN good hu-
NOR evidenced IN laughter ana merrment awaited
meanwhile in long, anxious looks mentally crftt-
csed
THE HORSES.
This was Lady Thorns first appearance In q race
this season, Notwithstanding she has been entered
t e e kep from 1ne s
ana the press. At Narraganset she was Oh The
track every morning during the races taking exer.
but it was noticed that her work was
very light and carefully given. Yesterday
and lii fine form and was the favorte over the field
at long odds. she won the race IN three straight
~ wh hS r. S9 hi
on the last heat She recovered quickly, however,
and although she frightened her hackers for the
moment, she squared away calamity after the acct
dent and soon disposed OF those tnat were in front
of her, amid the chee.s OF her admirers.
George Palmer, the second IN the race, came on
lameness was very perceptibe. He, however, soon
warmed out OF this, and exhibited great
apparently TOO low IN flesh and should have let
up, his raceslat Boston and Narraganset during the
very hot weather in June having shrunk him con-
siderably. He Is light horse at best; but he
seemed on this occasion too thin to be possessed OF
much strength, and lie should be given time to recu-
perate
Lucy had speed enough to please her hackers, but
she lacked the staying qualities necessary for sue
cess This mare mas had very little work this sea-
SON. and was not prepared properly for yesterdays
race Her next appearance no doubt, will be bet
ter Roden drove her well aud got great deal out
Of her. but she could not finish her mile sasfacto-
rily.
George Wilkes did not surprise anybody; neither
was anybody disappointed with his performances.
They were In keeping with all that he has done this
season. He trotted well IN each heat until near the
finish when re gave il uD In az strange manner as