Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-07-15
LONG BRANCH.
The Races--An Exciting Time-Ten-
nesseeans at the Branch.

The Races-An Exciting Time-Een-
| nesseeans at the Branch.
To the Editors of the Union and American:
LoSG BRANCH, N. j. July s, 1871
This has been week. of unusual impor-
lance to this far famed sea coast summer
resort. because of the occurrence of the
Monmouth Park races. The course is
located four miles from the town, and is
of easy access by rail or by beautiful
drive through the suburbs of the village.
The stands and stables are all that could
| be desired. The architectural skill dis
played and money expended in the cree
ton of the grand stand causes the i'm
provements of the Nashville course to
pale in comparison. The grounds are
well chosen. The horses can be seen in
the race over every foot of the course.
The whole is owned by and under the
management of one person, Mr.. John
Cbamberlin, the proprietor of the cele.
brated Club House at "The Branch.
Everything about the establishment is i'm.
perial in style. Such lunches as are set
for the invited guests, such wines as are
opened, would cause a dyspeptic to CON-
NIT suicide.
THE RACING
has been of the most exciting and inter-
esting character. On the first cay, the
fourth of July, there were twenty thou
sand persons estimated to be present. The
first race was grand steeple chase of
about three miles, over a fair hunting
course. This included leaps over hurdles,
walls, fences, creeks and hurdles and
bitches together. The ground over which
| the running was done, was so curved and
laid out that the whole was easily seen
from the grand stand, except on the back
| stretch, where there was O. Little ravine
and creek over which the horses had
to leap. If it had not been for the dan
gers attendant, it would have been the
most interesting race l ever witnessed.
As it was, it was certainly the most ex-
citing. There were seven horses that
started, and five out of the seven fell in
leaping, and threw their riders. Only
three of the seven came through to the
| Judges stand; one Of them after he had
fallen, thrown his rider, ran off, been
caught and remounted. The leading horse
in jumping the last hurdle, about three
hundred yards from the judges
stand, slipped and fell against the fence
breaking that down and running piece
of it in his breast, disabling him per-
manently. The rider, though he fell I'M
der the horse, landed in side ditch for
draining and was but slightly hurt. Take
it for all in ALL don't believe l care to
see the ike again. The running races
throughout the week were very good.
The track is, as yet. not q fast one, but
is rapidly improving in that respect.
The Kentucky stables during the first
three days were very fortunate, but on
Friday when Lyttleton was beaten in the
three and five heats, and Malta in the
three quarter dash, and on Saturday when
Express and Stockwood were both beaten
in the two mile dash, the wailing and
crashing OF teeth was considerable. AS
an evidence of the heavy betting, and to
show how the favOrites fell, give you
one of the pools: Harper's Express,
81, 300; Swigert's Stockwocd, $4,000,
Sanford's Monarchist, $3.50; Bah
cocks Nelly Ransom, $3.50; Parks
Nathan Oaks, $50. Nelly Ran
som, the winner, was raised by Gen.
Harding and sold to Ba5cock. She is by
Jack Malone out of Vesper Light by
Childe' Harold. The time, 3:40t, over
that track was very good. This goes to
confirm the belief that the Childe Harold
mares will bring winners. The dam OF
Sentinel, you remember, is by Chlde
| Harold.
THE MERRY CUssEs.
The races on Friday were under the
patronage and supervision of the Ameri-
Gus Club of New York, at the head OF
which is Hon. VIM. NJ TWeed. 1t is 6
sort of political convivial club. They
came down in grand style with Grafulla' s
celebrated band, end attracted quite as
much attention as the races. The day
closed with q big, old fashioned clam
bake in neighbOring grove, at which
"The Merry Cusses," as the Americas
Club is generally called, and their invited
guests Jared sumptuously on clans, crabs,
Holsters, sea fish and wines.
PERSONALS.
The gsyety at 'the Branch" is not Sc
ct, at as usual. Whether it is owing tC
the races occupying the time and the at
tention of the visitors, or because it is
too early in the season, l know not
| There seems to be large number of Ia
dies, but they are generally very quiet.
During the week there have been 6
number of Tenncsseeans here, among
whom were Gen. Forrest, Col. Sam Tate,
Mai. Ed. H, Ewing, Jr., and wife, Col.
G. NJ. McGhee, Walter Scott, d. Saxon,
Atchison, of the Banner, and YOURs.
The ocean fogs in the afternoon have il.
terfered with the usual display Of equip.
ages on Ocean Avenue, which is the at,
tractive drive for all who own or can hire
vehicle of any kind. Jim. Fisk and
Helnbold have decidedly the most snowy
establishments. Fisk drives six horses,
three grays and three blacks; Helmbold
five bays, two abreast and three tandem.
Their carriages are built after the style
used by the English nobility, and carry,
beside those in the carriage proper, two
on the drivers box and two outrider;
on seat in the rear on leVe
with the drivers seat. The servants are
all in livery and make a very imposing
display. Fisk generally drives for him
| sSll, Ai1u 40 III III AAAe4J ySSsA5 NiS'N &
four horse peddler's wagon through New
England, he handles the reins with very
great ekill President Grant is here but
l have neither seen him nor his cottage,
No one seems to know much Of or care
much for him here. Rumor says he il
like putty in the hands OF few of the
prominent Office holders, and the rest OF
'tthe world and the balance of mankind
have given him over to his idols. Edwin
Booth, Wallack and Edwin Adams, &C
tors, have cottages here. Lolita has rooms
at the West End Hotel, and Mrs. Oates
is with her husband, who is very i'll, al
the Grand Central in New York. The
ocean view is as fine here as anywhere OF
the Atlantic coast, and the bathing quite
as good as at any other summer resort
except Newport. l return to New Yorh
to morrow. IOUEs.