The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-21

Horse Racins-lts Rslrtisn 20 Civilizaiiss.
The brilliant season of four days duration
which has just closed at the Fleetwood course
was, we trust, merely the precursor ola series
of meetings in the vicinity Of New York during
the present spring unprecedented in the
annals of racing In this country. We have In
our midst some of the finest horses in the
world, and the popularity of horse racing In
the United States has become so well estab-
lished that all we need is q little energy and
devotion on the part Of those most interested
to obtain really memorable season Of one of
the most exciting and interesting of civilized
sports. As has been the case during the past
four days at the Fleetwood course, thousands
will attend the races, glad Of the recreation 1t
affords. Nor can it be charged that the
thousands attend to the detriment Of their
material interests. Occasional Relation from
business cares is necessary to health, and
even ones stepmotber would hardly prescribe
for him at the present day "all work and no
play" The most gloomy Puritan Is forced to
admit that little of the latter is necessary,
not only to sweeten the cup of life, but to pre-
vent it from becoming the cup of death.
Rational, manly sport is the best preventative
of health; and, need we say, whatever
invlgorates the body, while it cheers the mind,
inspires courage and resolution.
OF all sports that afforded by the horse Is
best calculated to produce those results. At
first sight it may seem an exaggeration to say
that in proportion as man has become en-
lghtened has he derived most pleasure from
the services Of that noble animal but little
reflection will show that such Is really the
fact. 1t is true that the savage uses the horse,
but rarely, if ever, for any higher purpose than
to render him subservient to his necessities.
Though the remark may excite a smile among
those who have paid no attention to the SUBJ
ject, it Is nevertheless strictly true that there
is no record Of horse racing among savage
tribes.
What may seem still stranger to many Is
that vehicles have been used for racing much
earlier than the saddle; in other words,
horses have been driven on the course long
before they have been ridden. OF this we have
abundant proof. Thus, for example, chariot
races were introduced at the Olympic games
in the twenty-ffth Olympiad, whereas the
horseback races were not attempted until the
thirty-thrd Olympiad. We learn nothing more
plainly from Homer than that riding was
decidedly in advance of driving; for, while he
places nearly all his heroes in chariots, he
only puts the bravest and best on horseback.
Nor does mere physical prowess entitle the
hero to the latter distinction, otherwise Achilles
and Hector would have appeared on their
chargers but in the whole '1lad" only two
make their appearance on horseback, and these
two are warriors who have other qualities than
mere strength of muscle and logged courage
namely, Diomede and Ulysses. This occurs in
the tenth book Then in the fifteenth book we
see its effect for both the Trojaus and Greeks
have made such wonderful progress in eques-
trianism that the rider can use four horses
together
Safe IN his art, as side by side they run,
He shifts his seat and vaults from one to one;
And now TO this, and now to that ne flies;
Admring NUMBERS follow with their eyes.
Now, it was not merely the ancient Greeks
and the Trojans that advanced In this manner.
have each in turn exhibited the same grada-
ton. When Roman civilization attained its
climax it had its Equestrian Order, although
the Romans had to learn from their enemies,
the Parthians, how to appreciate the horse as
an animal eminently capable of administering
to their pleasures as well as to their wants.
Nor has II been otherwise with the Span
iards the French, the Italians or the English.
1t should be remembered that the very term
chivalry is derived from the horse (cheraD.
The Saracens taught the Spaniards the science
Of equestrianism, the same rs they taught
them the science Of numbers; they introduced
into Spain the Arabian horses precisely a3
they did the Arabian numerals; and as every
other country in Europe proised by the latter
SO did it profit by the former.
II is a curious but well attested fact that
England owes her taste for horse racing, or,
rather, her admiration for the beauty and feet
ness Of the horse, to the Spanish Armada,
which was designed for her subjugation. The
beautiful animals wrecked in the Spanish ves-
sells and thrown on the coast Of Galloway were
turned to excellent account by the Scetch,
who were always chivalrous. Then when
James Of Scotland became King OF England
hc introduced horse racing, and founded the
celebrated course of Newmarket the habit
having become completely extinct in Albion
after the withdrawal Of the Romans.
The sport had made but little progress
among the English, however, until Charles
H. granted a liberal subsidy to establish a
course on Newmarket Heath, somewhat similar
to that we have now at Jerome Park. Thus,
In 1867, our English cousins were at least as
far forward in the matter of racing as We are
to-day. More than fifty years had elapsed
after this before the Epson races commenced
Then followed, In short time, the Ascot races,