The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-07-13
SARATOGA RACES.
Opening Day Of the First Sum-
mer Meeting.
Zine Attendance, Grand Display Of Elegant
Toilets and Good Racing Over q
Heavy Track
Harry Bassett Winner Of the Travers Stakes,
Frogtown the Sweepstakes for All Ages,
and Nema the Flash Stakes

SARATOGA, July IL, 1871.
This rare summer retreat is again itself. BY that
must be understood its hotels private boarding
houses ana saloons are assuming much OF their
midsummer activity, and clerks pro-
grasticating the early arrival of the period
when their 'dutes never cease" and pro.
pr1etors are in state OF blissful excitement
and having 8 "high old t,me In counting
dimes and dollars In years gone by however,
Saratoga has filed up earlier In the season than
now, the reasons for tins as given being many and
varied. The majority hold that the cold weather,
the mists and damps OF what Dickens would have
emphatcally called
''DRTY DAYS"
necessitahng the wrapping of tender frames in
warm and heavy clothing, did II ALL and possibly
such are right, as usually July, which Yields
. sunny sceptre is Urnnnous IN his reign
OF heat in this latitude. and then pleasure
seekers from the cities mock to its springs
It's drives and Its races in mighty multtudes. But
July Of this year, In its beginning, and the latter
part Of June seemed to forgotten themselves in
Saratoga. They were remarkable days. and it may
be doubted wener that authoritative and venerable
Individual abstraction, the coolest inhaoitant,"
ever experienced more remarkable days. Instead
Of heat there was GOODNESS, instead OF dryness
moisture, and out-of-doors was unapprocha-
bile ana indoors utterly tlresome, the
early visitors stayed ont sort Of hopeless period
wasted existence with mortal patience and sublime
Iortitude-trozen, diseusted damp, dismal-each and
every one apparently disliking men and women. as
Hamlet did after his interview with Denmark's
ghost Even yesterday was one OF such
NsUPFERABLY STUPID DAYS.
The armament was drowned in vapor, and people
sought in vain for any small Ararat of blue sky
TO show itself amid the monotonous and
dreary waste. To those who came to Saratoga
TO be present at the opening day OF the July meeting
OF the Racing Association the prospect was fright
rul. Ideas OF suicide became familiar to the best
balanced minds ana one looked rather with sympa-
thetlc pity than indignation recorded instances
OF self-destructlon. Damsels and dandies, ounces
and dowagers, bent on fashionable rural felicity,
and horsemen and betting men couldn't for their
ves see the beauty in that exquisite versi1cation Of
L0ngfellow,
How beautiful rs the rani
and 1t Is a matter OF much doubt If II would have
ever been written had the poet experienced few
DAYS storm In Saratoga.
But this morning bamier air began TO mng!e in
the inhospitabe atmosphere and the sun, shorn for
time OF its power arose from its eastern bed with
the strength Of giant refreshed with wine and
the birds followed and sang heaven-inspired peans
TO the unfolding of such a morning OF pristine
splendor.
The leading men of the Saratoga Racing Associa-
ton
HAVE NOT BEEN IDLE
since the last meeting The Lake road, leading to
The course mas been wdened to 100 feet, and three
rows Of ems and naples are planted-one On either
side and IN the centre OF the roadway. The
training track has been greatly improved. and with
new fences, fresh paint and lawns Of
more than satin softness and hues richer
than emerald green, agreeably terminate
under the shadow OF the grand stand
and pagoda buildings. The grounds, radlsung in
all directions Of the most picturesque and lovely
description. They show art good taste and deli
cate handling. Under the watchful eyes of Mr..
Charles wheatey they have attained that degree OF
symmetry which occupies the chief merit in pro.
ducng so much OF the alternating quiet and gay ETY.
deserted about race No better place
exists for the exhibition OF speed in horsenesh and
that it is appreciated is well known that Its sue
cess and victories need not here be repeated.
EVERYBODY Is NOT HERE,
but yet the crowd is very fair In matter OF numbers
In stroing about have met officers Of the army
and navy, who have dropped their gold lace Tor
awhile politicians from New York by the score.
such as Big Judge Connolly, who has forgotten his
duty there; BANKERS, presidents Of banks, members
Of your Stock Exchange, actresses, and husbands
popular physicians from New York and Brooklyn,
equally prominent contractors from the same SEQ
mon, heads Of dry goods importing houses students
for the ministry, foreign ministry IN political
and saloon keepers. several decidedly unpopular
MOTEL beats and two OF that species OF roughs
denoninated eXpresslveiy "ear.cnewers.n Yet all
these are attred quite unexceptonably, as il they
were on dress parade and are well behaved. There
is BEAUTY HERE LIKEWISE,
and the really elegant and variegsted costumes Of
bellies and mesdaines are charming TO witness.
There is much Of the piquant element OF mystery In
the female toilet as here seen-somethlpg real and
satisfactory; but all are not such many being phe-
ART. But such is the world OF 'Iemnnityn every
where, not excepting Saratoga
RrOadway a
Hall ana the Grand Union to the Clarendon ana
American Hotels, was billed at an early hour with
carriages. IL was the centre OF attraction. Some
enterprisng Saratogan fitted up an outdoor
orchestra on wagon which seated or spread over
the rude benches, devoted all its energies Onen
bach, making the thoroughfare OF The velest nature
During nis timefor be 1t known it is alter break
mysterious betting men assemble In groups, and in
whisperlngs low but prolonged canvass the
POSSIBILITIES and PROBABILITIES
OF the day. standing about them, now and then
alone, but generally In threes ana tours. the
ties OF the race-courie, listen eagerly TO wha,
these professionals have to say. The object OF the
money and have good time. Whether thev sue
ceeded In both attempts Is not given 10 the pryIng
public but II Is SAFE 10 say everybody seemed amply
satisfied alter the races, including the rural denl
zens even n with having the aforesaid good time
their expenses were larger than anticipated. Mean
wniie sellers tickets for the meeting are en-
deavorlag 10 drive brisk trade. Here they are
and there they go, with hands full OF money, Jump
Ing, bouncing, curvettng about the piazzas, DIS.
posing OF The neatly gotten up pasteboard, until
Tears they may never recover Their equilibrium.
Without doubt the betting men come to Sara
foga-that IL the betting men with sy-go-lucEy
splrits-rather sadly demoraiized pecuniarily as
their defeats and losses al Long Branch struck them
with such suddenness that many OF them now look
upon an unknown horse with certain
LIMITED DEGREE AWE,
and they enter the Whirlpool Of the betting ring
with cautions reiresninely amusing. wnen
you hear betting man, known at times
TO have had $1,000 $4,000 upon a
single race declaim TO admiribg friends that he's
$uong 10 be careful OF his soap this sure
before he lays DOLLAR you can imagine that he
has been taken In and feels ike switching OF until
his pocket is con, aescent But there plenty o
betLng and good deal OF noating capital ready tol
the lucky ones to SCOOP in. The pools large
and numerous and The ubiquitous Underwood and
McGowan dispensed these favors with liberal hands
THE GRAND STAND