Middletown transcript., 1871-09-02


American Eclipse, got by Durcc out Of
Millcr's Damscl, by Messenger, was foal-
ed a, Dozon's, Queens County Long Is
land, May -. lsll. just one year in adj
vance Of that from which Mr. Herbert
dates the authentic era Of the turf in this
country And this bright era of the turf
did not close until about the year 1913.
The South met tho North in wholesome
rivalry. and the fruits of thu rivalry, con-
Quoted under such men as johnson, Tny
loc, Van Mater. Walc Hampton, Biga-
man, Stevens, Livingston Stockton. Jones.
and Gibbons, were apparent in the wide
dissemination Of blood, and the improTc-
men, Of the thorough bred horse. Long
Island was the chosen battle-ground Of
the champions, and year after year the
tracks there rcsoundcd with the drum roll
of feet.
Our limits viii not allow Us to trace the
history of the blood-horsc. link by link,
from Tie earliest times down to the pres
eut. Volumes are required to make the
annals Of the ,ntf complete, We make
prctcnsion Ia only a glance NJ the history
Tracing. desiring 10 show the vitality
Of the sport and the prominence il has
cujnyed
Tharc we're race M tincs in the yicini-
y Of New York anterior 10 1919; but il
wa, no. until that ycar that the people Of
Gotham seemed 70 take lively interest in
tia transactions # the turf In 1919 an
association was formed. ani course cs-
iail;.h,l At Bi,h long Island; hut the
loclii1n w1s not most desirable, aud IN
l>!l the same as.ocia;nu purchased
Mat " -nnnl cieh, mills from l.roohly
anil iranggrl,i II as tla j'nipn Course,
l.nrpr purses were now offered for speed
rnui .l,. an ! racing was established on
Respectable oal iru basis Th. Union
Course stands prominently on The page o.!
history act il was the theatre of some Of
thc aian!,i turf in,,l eyer decided on
American lil TIE great race between
llrury aul Amcri"n Eelipsc, ii no other
bal lgrn run ~ ~ tmtk in Quyous cn
veal jaya given IN cuiurjua fame 70 the
Union Corr.e. The racing career Of ~
mcrran y ip had been one series OF
brilliant -prc,-,t
>lr JD,, J llar,;.1n. of Brunswick.
Virginia chl'iue Mr. Van hanst IL
fm ii ig>n Ametirn l.in,r agniust
:'it Chrr.s, o,artAe Washington Course
i, Clm, -tu milehf', 'fhcrhal-
ING va rr,r#ily acfe:tgl, easi e.utle-
Mau - t4aa5 aa #5s r.s. nul iiz.
ilt ,H i. ID Aag..t9 r ta raef.
SIR Caa6 ,s.i6g ,af aah accident,
VI la u W5s aiI' taf tnlfit3
fg' he Ia run lis ir-t n single
f5arn, a.ll ag9iu.t EeiiNa., izr %iaat
ss.A .i''as aifer va. accepted ~ Nr
Van fqa,' The hef-es @asc prepared ia
the race aul the Northern champion a.
ehicycl m easy victory >ir Charles break
ing down on the last mile.
IT, ;le evening ui the same day. that
Napoleon of the 'urt, Wiliiam |, John
san. E,l II peht-hure Va pledged him.
.elf rfa3uci horse, - tho lztt Tues-
lay IN Ny -. ntan murnilc heais
against Eelp-e ettr tile tnjaa Course,
hong laaH1, IN S2n,eeh S,8@ forfeit
Tn tie pant ot sHferal E ailcmen tram the
Aorth Iii, challeHsr was promptly accept.
Il IS Nr john e stephens such. in
trief. are the faet- which icl to the most
Er,iing race ever witnessed on ths con-
tiaer,
The 9Th day ef May. ISIS. lawnci in
teaa'y. sud Is l. o',iaek il il estimated
tiat III t.. iian .jxty thousand people
hal assembled at thc | aiau course Tie
southern rity had brought iisf l.orses
with lh.m; aud from thi, live, Henry, n
spn of sir Arclrg. aud out Of marc BY
thu great neMnl. was selected rs the
npnpe titnr Of Eclipse John Richards. II
four ycur-nll, was Colonel .Iuhnson's IA
yori;r, AMI lIcury. hi, second choice but
the former having fallen lame, the fortunes
II the southern gentlemen were stnltea
upon the latter The race was run amid
the widest enthusiasm Henry winning
tn first hna, Is halt iength Mr. pur.
IL, m experienced jockey. and one wha
had pilated Eclipse TO many Victories.
changed places in the sal,!le with Crolts
for the second heat: anl when it was ob.
served that i'nsly was astride the son Of
nuroc, We are toll that Northern hope
revived Eclipse was n horse That re-
quircd punishment to force him to his
speed: though not 50 fleet Of foot rs Hen
rs, he WIS horse Of great sloutncss and
it was this stontntss which mnde him in
sincible in four mile struggle Purdy
understood this fac, full well; and when
they received the word for the second heal,
he drove tho chestnut forward, giving
Henry no respite. The tactics were good
aud they won the second heat.
At this stage # the battle the excite
meut was most intense, for heat had
been placed to the credit of caeh contest
ant. Thousands trcmlel in the balance;
and no, thousands only. hut the glory of
victory or the shninc Of defeat Arthur
Taylor, skilllul rider ard trainer of
experience, mounted Henry for the third
heat, the boy Walden not having ridden
him with sufficient tact in the former hca,
to receive the admiration Of the hackers of
the son Of Sir Arehy. Purdy took the
lead n, the start, and making good use of
his whip aud spurs, kept Eclipse hard at