The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-07-05
THE LONG BRANCH RACES.
Contest Between L Longfellow and Harry
Bassett.

LONG BRANCH, July 2.
The second day Of the Long Branch races
opened With fine weather, anG the track IN
splendid condition. The attendance surpasses
even. the expectations formed, and Is simply
immense. Both the regular and extra boats to
Sandy Hook were crowded to suffocatioD, and
o6the cars from Sandy Hook 10 Monmouth
PARK the platforms and even roofs Had their
occupants. Most Of the prominent sporting
men of the country are present, and Inc ialr
sex is also well represented.
The first race was for the Hopeful stakes,
valued at $500, added to the sweepstakesoI OF sou
each for two-year-olds, the second horse TO
receive 500, and the third $50, out OF the
stakes. The half mile dash was won by Mol
lie Jackson, Tom Bowling second, and Aster-
old third. Time 5l4. Tne second race, mile
heats, for $500, was won by Harpers Littleton,
beating six horses. Time l.45, l4o, l.4S.
The great race of to-day was tor the Mon
mouth Cup, dash OF two and half miles,
which had twelve nominations at fifty dollars
each, play or pay, added to The purse OF $500,
the second horse to receive $500, and the
third $3.50 ouC of the stakes. although Q
number Of other good horses were expected
TO run, the real contest anticipated was be-
tween the celebrated horses Longfellow and
Harry Bassett. The career of Longfellow has
been brilliant one, his greatest feat being In
the race for the Saratoga Cup OF 1871, when
he beat Kingisher, the tavorlte Of the day,
easily, and made the first mile In .4O. when
l.43 was the fastest mile on record. He was
beaten In the Saratoga four-mlle race, how
ever, but 1t Is known he was not IN proper
condition at the time.
Harry Bassetr's career has also been nL.a-
BILE one. He carried of In succession all the
great three-year-old stakes OF last year. and
wound up by beating Helmbold In Baltimore
ina race Of four-mlle heats. A lew weeks
ago he won two races at jerome Park with
the greatest es5e. Bassett's speed has never
been considered extraordinary, all hls pub
lie races having been won with apparent
ease In ordinary time.
at the sale of the pools, Bassett brought
$500 and Lonofellow 500. Subsequently Bas-
sett brought $4,000 and LoDgfellow $1,000. The
excitement was lat fever heat. LongfeloW
was winner by twenty lengths-time, "a.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RACE. s..ya
But little difficulty was experienced In effect
BaBsett having the inside track. For the first
half mile they ran head and head, the only ad-
vantage, II any, being In iavor Of Bassett. AS
the horses, warming Into their stride, passed
the grand stand, the excltementrose- to fever
pitch. The first mile and half found their
positions unchanged, but the hackers OF Bas-
sett evidently had misgivings, as their favorlte
was doing his best, while 1t seemed Longtel-
low was still being held!a by his rider. Their
fears were confirmed When the horses swept
past the grand stand the second time. Long,
fellows rider gave head to bis horse, who gal.
lsntly responded. and quickly placed Two
lengths between himself and Bassett.
The scene, was indescrilable. Men threw
their hats In the air and che,red wildly, while
ladies' waved handkerchefs and bet countless
paire of gloves on John Har,,er's steed. From
this moment 1t was evident all was up with
Bassett, and although .is rider used whip and
spur without stint, 1t was Of no avail. Every
moment LoDgtellow increased his lead, and
landed an easy winner In 4.34, or, as some OF
the Judges claim, In 4S3. Bassett was beaten
over dozen lengths. The enthusiasm OF the
western men was unbounded. They crowded
around john Harper, cheering and congratu-
lating the old man, who also seemed laboring
under great excitement. Immense sums
were lost on the race by New Workers.. John
Morrissey is among the heavy losers. the
DAVIS races are acknowledged the finest and
hest conducted Of the American turf.