The New York herald., 1870-08-28
MONMOUTH PARK.
First Day OF the TrCtting
Meeting.
~~~>~~~N~,~->~-~>>>~>->~~~>
Fine Attendance and Fine Fields
of Horses.
Two Exciting and Closely Con-
tested Races.
Colonel Russell the Winner Of the 2:3O
Purse, and st. Elmo the
9:33 Prize.

II was hazardous, indeed, for the Monmouth Park
Association at this period to inangurate trolting
meeting at Long Branch. Hundreds had left that
SIMMER retreat with Its drives and bathing, its
music and promenades and he'd away TO their
homes TO prepare for the autumnal and winter CAM
paigns Of fashion and irivoty. Other potent
reasons stood as q barrier TO complete success.
Troting meetings have Of late been numerous. not
alone in and about New York. but in every section
OF the country. They have been sandwiched to-
geiher with such continued regularity that the ex
citing amusement had lost part Of It's charm, and
the pleasure began to lose that interest which such
reunions are wont to excite. Not alone this.
The honorable turtles OF the country are begin
ming to feel dissatisfied, or rather there is
the shadow OF dissatisfaction in their minds
that, with hut one or two notable excep-
lions, these contests have become bewilderingy
strange in their management since the introduction
OF the new rules for the government OF the trottng
turf. They feel that, although there was not that
security before entering which the majority de-
sired 1t is questionable If there Is any more at pre-
sent, and to make such events the great success
which all straightforward minds are praying for
there should be another and more radical revolu-
lion in the regulations which govern them tending
10 the wedding out and thorough eradication OF all
the demorallzing elements which tended to
bring reproach and odium upon the grand old sport.
Such are the feelings Of the gentlemen high in
social position who have made the trotting turf,
and by their presence and countenance raised 1t to
the highest point in the catalogue OF healthy and
citing pastmes. Notwithstanding these drawbacks,
however, the attendance at the opening day of the
Monmouth Park trotiing meeting was fair, and may
be called satisfactory and 1t Is with pleasure re-
corded that with the judges yesterday there the
greatest satisfaction expressed regarding their
rulings and such is the intention OF the association
at Long Branch-fair dealings to be cultivated and
frickery exposed and punished when 1t shows 1t.
self.
The day was delicious. The sunlight fell in q
warm, golden flood the trees, the light breeze
moved among the bOughs and there was q twitter-
Ing and warbling murnur from among them
which was very sweet A more fitting period for
such meeting could not be had The surround
ings OF the course are OF the pleasantest nature
villages and villas, farms and grazing fields are
IN abundance. From the grand stand the
aspect was charming. The country is spread
out as map in a magnificent panorama.
Oceanport is in full view, with Its groves
and green gardens, out OF which CLEANS white villa
here and there and rises a church tower suggestive
of the qnietude which hangs the scenery. Then
Edenton is but o step lurther-its aspect no less
beautiful. Forests OF dark emerald trees stand out
alone against the blue sky, casting on the warm
snnlt earth long, broad shadows. From Wolf Hill
and It's surroundings the trees, from summit base
Slitiered In me goidan rsS, while purple shadows
gave deeper and soner 'aHiy TO The oy -aess Of The
enchanting spot.
Tne drives to tie course were 10 exquisite conll,
ton. Along the pixies stretching nom Freehold
10 Colts Neck, Trenton Fails aud Freened. a
Edenton anc The seashore. The birds of
fashion what few there were present. came
from the Branch and the country towns
around about, In Darouches, phaetons, dog carts
plquant sulkeys and old farm wagons covered with
the dust ana rust OF years. The countrymen came
IN numbers from their fields and their workshops
for be 1t known this is great occasion for them for
next to raising Of big potatoes and luscious vegeta.
bes generally they like big trottlng meetings, and
this gratihed them exceedingly. Through the length
OF Cedar avenue TO the hotels, there fair de.
legation and the drive proved delightful one. The
ocean, ripped with the freshenng breeze. sparkled
brilliantly the SUN, with its eye OF fabulous fierce
ness. famed across the white caps. The water
OF the deepest and darkest blue with streaks OF
emerald green, and the solitary vessel with its
mysterious cordage sweeping along the coast with
1avoring wind, repaid the few who thus went TO the
course
houses since the racing meeting, have been painted
ana thoroughly cleaned, presenting a pleasant APP
pearance. The grass OF the lawn has grown larger
and is OF a deeper emerald than tnat period. The
club house has put on a brighter face aud Sweet
lake seems pfcttlcr In lis silver brightness than
when the Americus Club with ''Big Six'' at their
head, worried down that ever-to-be- remembered
clanibake on its snadowy banks during the late
running meeting.
The attendance was not as large as the field OF
horses and the lovely day led one TO believe would
be present. There was not that magnificent array
Of gorgeous tOileted and weli-bred women to be
seen as during the racing meeting but yet the
richly dressed ana during the animated contests
seemed to appreciate and into the excitement
with Will not alayed until the last heat was trot.
hp a cur "a of haoIf
and recreation. The several steamboats, from New
York, by the way of Sandy Hook, brought the ma
1or1y OF those on hand, all arriving in good time 10
the 1rst heat Of the irst just before the
bell rang summoning the horses to the track the
Ninth regiment, commanded by General Fisk, two
hundred and hty strong, were seen entering the
enclosure The appearance OF this body OF militia,
radiant in their picturesque uniforms produced for
time considerable excitement, enhanced 10y the
spirited music OF the band. After two or three
SIMPLE evolutions the regiment was paraded before
the grand stand, where they stacked arms the
lawn, much TO tie amusement Of those who wished
TO wander about without having anything Of an
outside nature In their way.
Whlrng now and then with mingled good feeling
and genial harmony INTO the entertainment below
the grand stand the thirsty and hungered satisfied
fLeir appetites and then taking themselves to the
pool stand, where the attentive MCGOWAN enter
tanned the buyers. ventured their money their
judgments best dictated-and the latitude gwen
them by the nature Of the races was very wide.
The knowing ones" were In sea or trouble. Heat
after heat was trotted. and as different horses won
them alternateiythey knew not how 10 turn. From
to the other they went, rlskng their dollars not,
perhaps, win any degree OF cerf-nty that they
would ultimately win. but mereiy to Keep up the
IRE OF excitement ana have something TO do, even If
they couldn't get square" The results Of both
was to many OF them ike fgurative thunderbOlt,
and sadly demoralized their pecuniary condition.
Tne track was In splendid condition, hardly
pebble to mar its smooth surface. The precaution
was taken before the races to send large sprink.
ling cart around the caurse, which was eminently
thoughtful.
The events for the day were two The first race
for horses that had never beaten 1888, purse Of
81, ,000 mile heats, best three In five, In harness For
uupfnvtn lIawh 20 hnu Ea1k1
Dugrey's brown mare Fanny Lambert, DOty's bay
geldlng G. W. Patterson, Odikirkis bay gelding Tn.
known, HOwe's bay mare Lady Wals, Coilee's brown
0eldng Revenue, Dobles bay mare Lizzie Keller,
Hlckocks chestnut stallion ST. Elmo, Ogle's brown
mare Nelly Morrill, and owners black stall
lion Thomas Jefferson. The second race
was for horses that had never beaten
2:SO, purse or $4,000 Five horses started
In this-DOble's bay geldng Colonel Russell. Ro-
denis hay Qelding Charley Green. Hammlls bay