New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-07-09
- lsREAT 10.


Bnsset and LongfelIow Why Bassett
was Easily Beaten.
The New York papers contain lengthy
accounts Of the great race From the San
We take the following description Of the
running. and also an explanation Of Bias
sets defeat:
The two approached each other slowly,
uaeesd. and Longfellow turned again and
followed Basset to the starting point. In
two seconds they we're in line. and another
second saw them off, Bassett ahead by
half q length. The first bound sent an cleo
trio shock into the crowd. They re on
-feTbev're of e rang out from twenty thou
sand voices. and the yelling became deafen-
ing. McDaniel's blue jacket and red sash
showed IN the front at every jump on the
upper turn, but soon Harpers orange
Jacket and red cap came closer and closer
until as they burst into front view at tle
head Of the home stretch, they appeared to
" abreast. With military precision, up
and down, they clatteTed down the home
stretch, LoDgfellow's nose at one moment
IA front of Bassett's and Bassett's the next
moment in front Of LOngfellow's.
Both were under a hard pull, but gong
like steam engines. AS they passed the
Judges stand Longfellow was let out until
he had forged half q length ahead Of Bas-
this into q prolonged roar. This cheering
was not confined to any particular number
Of men. but seemed to come from the whole
body, tbs hackers Of Bassett and Longfel-
low alike.
THE FINAL STRUGGLE.
Around they went, yoked together, the
same stride, the same speed apparently
This delighted the stTaining assemblage,
who again and again yelled forth their joy.
There was no break in the applause now. 1t
arose higher and fell lower now and again.
rs some new phase Of the race was pre-
seuted sr disappeared, but it never ceased.
The crowd was rapidly becoming frantic.
Bssaett held his own until they reached
Che first quarter on the last mile. Then he
began TO fall behind. He was a length
there, and six lengths at the half mile.
Here his tail fell, his ears lay back and he
doubled himself up and appeared az If
kicking. Before he recovered LODgtelloW
was twenty lengths ahead.
The spectators we're now mad. The yell
ing was indescrihable. They jumped into
she quarter stretch at the imminent risk of
being run down. Longfellow continued to
improve bis advantage, coming in an easy
winner ia . canter. Bassetts jockey
whipped him under the string.
The cheering over the result lasted, with
out interruption, until long after both
horses had been taken to their stables. One
HfH5M GlEB AAbtAI 1DA-
ored jockey, and soon purse was made p
Everybody crowded around old John
Harper. who was slowly toddling down the
uuarter-streteh, his ancient usage wreathed
ii smiles Even ladies ran forward to shake
his hand and congratulate him.
HARRY BAssETTs CONDITION.
We do not suppose that there are ten per-
SONS in this country, protesting to have any
knowledge Of hOTsehesh, who could believe
for one moment that the miserable show
made by Harry Bassett in the race Of yes
terday was any criterion OF his racing
ability It is true that the fret mile was
run at rafting pace, and also the mile and
a quarter, but after getting into the stretch
it was patent to every one that Harry Bas-
sett was in distress. He apparently was
holding his own at the spring, one mile and
q half from the start, but directly Long
fellow went up to him be literally went TO
pieces.
At the end Of two miles, which Lonfellow
ran in 1854, Harry Bassett was fifty yards
behind, and we win endeavor TO show how
inconsistent this running was with his real
form. At Saratoga last year he ran two
miles under pull in 1851, and carrying
40 pounds Yesterday, when year older,
and, therefore, by the rule Of horse racing,
entitled to carry eighteen pounds more, he
carried two pounds less, or, in other words,
was running with twenty pounds advantage
In the weights, and yet could not get within
hailing distance of bis antagonist in nearly
a seond longer time. The time Of the whole
race yesterday was 4:34, or at the rate OF
1;49 is TO the mile; certainly not
within twenty-five per cent of what
Harry Bassett showed he could &C
last year. Then, again, look at
the average Of the two miles. Harry Bassett
ran the fest mile under pull, and to all
going within himself in l:44,
and yet, although TIE race in the second
mile fell off to I:52I9, he quit like 20 steer"
aa the turlmen say, and actually could not
raise a decent gallOp. What is the natural
sequence deduced from these facts 1t is
one OF two things. Either that Harry Bas-
sett has entirely lost the form he showed
last year and this spring, and was quite out
Df condition, or else that meeting for the |
first time horse Of as great speed as him
self, he ran cowardly. We are 10th to be-
Iieve, however, that this is his true charae-
ter, and are of the opinion that he will yet |
prove himself a race horse Of the highest |
class, and that before the year is out.