The New York herald., 1871-09-19
Opening Day Of the September
TrOtting Meeting.
Grand Attendance, Charming Weather
and Fine Track.
TWO EXCITING CONTEST s
Lady Bachus the Winner Of the 1884
Purse-The 2:2S Race Middle
and a POstpOnement.
SCENES AND INCIDENTS

bright, breezy, electrical morning greeted the
thousands that yesterday determined to lend their
presence TO the opening scenes Of the September
trottng meeting at Fleetwood Park. The sun was
so exquisltey tempered by the soft autumn wind
that the neat, while never being disagreeable, Was
Of that pleasant intensity to suit the most exacting
eyes and not bronze the fair lece OF the most ele.
giant lady in the metropolis. Under ordinary cir
cumstanccs In the matter of an Indifferent rot the
beauty OF the day and loneliness Of the landscape en-
crcng Fleetwood Park would have drawn together
hundreds who would have departed with satsfac-
tion at the anlusements and pleasures Of the Occa-
sion; but there being presented in the events Of the
day fields OF thirteen and twelve horses, reputed TO
be in good condition and with records marking
nearly the same figures was attraction sufficient to
bring an immense gathering TO the charming spot.
Thus, at three O'Clock, according to the estimate Uf
good Judges there were on the grand stand, at the
club house and on the bluffs Overhanging the track
5000 or 5000 spectators
The scene just before the bells summoned the
horses for the final contest to be in readiness for
the word was enchanting in the extreme. The
frosts OF September had not yet tinted the foliage
with GROWN and golden ana russet colors, and Ma
ture never smiled more lovely from sky and grove
MOrrsania, embowered by trees, just over bey ond
the track, seemed more picturesque than ever be-
fore, and served as q beautiful background to the
exciting ana brilliant picture The grand stand was
wei hlled from end TO end the club house accom-
modated hundreds and scores OF carriages filed the
stalls and sheds on the hill, and were aligned
about the fence in the field. Pretty women sat in
the iron! seats on the grand stand, which are re-
served Tor them at all times, and on the spacious
balcony OF the club house there were gathered
bevy OF charming ladies. Costly autumn toilets,
rich In every hue OF the rainbow, and cut In the
latest mode, were around these charming American
fOrhs, While the enchanting picture about them lit
up their large and lustrous eyes with pleasure.
Seldom does such concourse Of fashion and beauty
exhibit SO much enthusiasm they manifested.
This gathering Of the elite preferred light
silks, lilac and brown while the deep. rich black
was frequently observed. trimmed with gorgeous
lace, making neat elegant and appropriate cos
tune. These ladies' nearly all of the families
Of club members or their friends. Among the gen.
tlemen enjoying themselves hugely at the pleasant
sights before them were noticed Commodore VAN
derblt. Joseph Harker, William H. Turnbull, VIII.
liam IL. Vanderbilt, Shepherd Knapp, Mr.. SchencS,
Mr.. Gillespie. Mr.. Anderson, MIR. Mccormick, Mr..
Petit, Mr. Ayres, Mr.. Van Brest, Charles kerner,
JOnn Harbeck, William Ii. HarpecK Mir, Wilkins
and Commissioner Galway.
At the late Arcularius Cottage, recently bought by
the association or the accommodation of the gene
raj public the veterans OF the turf gathered in over
whelming throngs. Their conversation did not lack
interest," excitement and occasional harshness Bets
were constant and flew about like hailsones, while
money was put up occasionally, IN the neat OF quick
ened discussion, IN strangers hands. Two Old
lovers OF the amusement sat with upturned chairs
against enc OF the wooden columns OF the rustic
building, and was peculiarly edifying TO hear them
exclaim, with expressions OF disgust upon their
laces, as II nwardly lamenng oyeI some OF tue ras.
calty Of the turf
.'Tnere's last trotting nowadays DAVID
ayes, yes, Simeon; very !"
"Don you think we might dispense with a little
Of the deep shrubbery and brush certain tracks,
and let honest people note these magnificent per-
I'VE might" sententiously added David; "and
snt II little queer tnat this remarkable time Is
made on such new tracksYn
"Very, very" quoth Simeon.
And this little by-talk, picked up amid the hub.
pub and CONFUSION Of a thousand voices. may be
ported performances OF the horses nov belonging
70 the hrni OF Messrs. Doble, HickOk d Co. IN the
aaa o pUa e OF
time in the matter OF inviting the throng to the
pool room where long before high noon, the ad-
vance guard were depositing their dollars on
avorltes. and feeling happy each and every one
thar their opinions were better than their neiRhbors
and they had a sure thing Spirited In the extreme
was the be ting, and at times the pools amounted to
nearly thousand dollars Jake was happy yesler.
aay and never before was his First cho.ce-how
much - more musical.
On the grand stand it was pleasant to note that
DIAGONAL Ribbed coats wers counted by N'i, the
diues. lew philosophers that evidently
ike the last rose love to bloom in the exquisite var
nure OF tnat season, displayed the TALL white hats
but yet all In all II was an assembage exceedingly
well dressed and gentemany.
1t is dlilcult ana unpleasant at such time OF sue
cess to appear rs a grunber ana fault-dnder. hut
the management oI Fleetwood PARK has certainly
neglected an important duty by not requiring
eacn ana every driver TO wear distinguishing
taught the several Associations about the
country since It's inauguration by Nara ganset
Park that recognizable cOl0rs worn by drivers gives
much satisfaction TO The general puolic: and this
satisfaction, after ALL ls what Il sought for should
Fleetwood have followed the excellent idea and
the twelve contestants III the 22s race OF yesterday
been easily distinguished tneIe would have been
less numbers Of such peeyisl cries as
''Wherc's DresdenW
"Ain't that Big harryF'
There certainly cannot be any objection nor but
little expense in adopting this pra;tce and It Is
The experience OF fleetwoods welwishers that II Is
wortl the trial.
wnen heat was finished many OF tile occupants
OF tue grand stand rushed 10 the commoJious res
aarant beneath, and vigorously INDUCED in cnow.
der, ham sandwiches and stimulating lager, which
were on hand In great prOiusion While nc the club
house refreshments OF delicate and pleasant nature
~ inc same intervals were paraken Of by the many
An instance OF the sternness which judges are at
times compelled TO DISPLAY was noted Yesterday in
the last race. 1t Is seldom that such field OF horses
start together, and drivers well know the import
snce OF good send or On this occasion II was
impractcabe at frs 10 start the twelve contestants
evenly, as each OF the several drivers were looking
for the better chance aud the dire confusion evoked
expressions OF impatience, which finally terminated
unpleasantly.
'Go below the gate ln shouted President Van
Courtandt.
"Aye, aye, sir ~ they responded, but they neither
thought nor cared for the direction n moment there.
after and turned near the Judges stand, each wish.
ing the best Of the word.
Ding dong, went the bell calling them back, until
at last eacn driver was admonished separately
with-
eco down TO the gate; Ill fine every man s25
that dlsobeys.n
Even This was not enough, and more than one
pegec,ed the warming; but when the President inl-
posed upon Two Of the more dsobedient the pen
atty there was alarm and immediate reformation
lor the time. But the trouble broke afresh,
snd as hereinafter explained, tins race progressed
until the scoring for the NTH heat when darkness
came on and II was postponed until to-day, amid
much confusion and not a little ill.feellng
Notwithstanding this, when the rottinp was over
The goodly company made merry the broad Central
avenue, Charming Harlem lane an the exquisite
winding drive Of the Park In returning home. The
very landscape about caught the Infection. ana the
sou breeze OF evening, as It bent leaf and twlg
seemed q feeling and pleasant accompaniment 70
the all-peryading Joy that resonnded alike from
open wagons and silken.ned carriages.
THE TR0TTING.