Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-10-19
HORSE RAnING.

. s. .. L
The Merry Monarch, who said many
witty things and did 80 few wise ones,
deserves some popular gratitude for q
piece of sagacity for which he seldom
gets credit He imported Barbs and
Turkish stations, and to these, crossed
by the Darley's and Godolphin Arabian,
Is to be traced TO this day the best, racing
blood OF Europe. Did the benefits of
racing end with the turf, some might
hesitate to pronounce this an unmixed
good For the turf has its dark as well
as us light side, and there are not few
families which associate it with all that
Is most disastrous in their history. But
as all neophytes know, care In producing
racing stock Is attended with adyautages
30 considerable as 20 become even nation,
al In their importance. The cross of the
thoroughbred with an animal of humber
extraction results In all that Is most prize6
In the hunter, the charger and the road.
ster. Thus for cavalry and field, for
exercise, pleasure, or hard work, thepure
strain of the racer comes in play for the
most valuable purposes.
1t is probable that the thousands who
will flock to jerome Park this morning.
comparatively few take into eonsiderar
ton the fact that there is really a value
IN the amusement they go to see apart
from its obvious Recommendations. Yet
the fact is at once incontrovertible. and a
substantial reply to those who regard
horse-racing only as means of dissipsI
uon and excitement. This consideration
should certainly increase public gratitude
toward those gentlemen who, at weighty
expense and infinite pains, are doing so
much to advance the position of the
American turf, by improving breeds OF
horses, and adding in every possible way
to the eclat and responsibility of the
Jockey Club meetings. Much has been
done In the United States in this direc-
ton, but great deal yet remains to be
done. The improvement of the horse
has been going on in Great Britain for
centuries, while here it can hardly
De estimated by two brief genera
tons. When the animal was unknown
In America-for although an inhsbit-
ant of the country in the post pliocene
period, the natives first discovered by
europeans could not boast of horses-he
had fourished in the Old World from
time immemorial In this, as in MANY
other directions, we are called upon. In
order to get abreast of civilization else
where, to work with extraordinary energy
and swiftness. To compass so desirable
an end, gentleme like Messrs. Jerome,
Cameron, Lambard, Belmont
and others, have devoted remarkable zeal
and h6erality, and the community at
large is indebted to them for the extent
TO which, through their efforts, the object
has been accomplished. Tho warriors
charger aud the lady's palfrey of the
future will not alone be the better for
such pains; the improvement will spread
IN every direction, and in the end confer
, national advantage.
mus, when the banners of the Jockey
Club are swung to the breeze, and beauty
md fashion adorn Jerome Park, we are
not to reckon the pleasure of a dsy as the
3ole end and purpOrt of the gathering.
The meetings are simply tokens of what
s being done-very delightful in their
way, but still promises of achievement
ather than achievement themselves.
And from this point of view, and Invested
8 these meetings are of the gross signs
II vice SO frequent in general at race |
curses, even the fsstidious can see in the
holidays at jerome Park much to approve
$ well as to enjoy. The experiment has, |
t all events, been fairly tried there-and |
Ee are bound to add with undeniable sue
ess-to present sport which is incident |
the development and elevation of the |
oblest animal in the service of man, in |
manner nowhere excelled, and with sur
oundings to which, not even the most
enslliVe lady can object. A similar at
empt has been previously made with the
etter class of our theatres, and with Ike
uccess. Both amusements have long
lad the misfortune to be COMPOUNDED |
With sinister, bat, as the event has shown,
y no means inseparsble surroundings.
formerly many good people utterly con
lemned the theatre, or could only grudg-
ngly admit of it that
There is some soal Of goodness in things evil
ut the distinction between use and |
buse, between art and its parasites, is
ow generally recognized. York
lines,