The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-19
Winding Up the Races at
Lexington.
a Rainy Day and Muddy
Track.
THREE EXCITING EVENTS.
Longfellow Proving His High
Character.
Aureola the Winner Of the Consolation Purse,
Platina the Harper Stakes, and Longfellow
the Woolley Stakes, Dash Of Three Miles.

flauna INC harper otakes ana L0ngfell0W
the Woolley Stakes, Dash Of Three Miles.
LEXINGTON, KY, May Is, 1872.
This afternoon the flags OF the Kentucky Asso.
citation were again furcd, and the spring meeting
Of 1872 is among the racing events OF the past; but
It's success and the brilllancy OF its numerous
tests together with the daily attendance OF beauti-
fu and arrstOcratic ladies and their enthusiastic
escorts, will live long in the memory OF those who
were fortunate enough to be present Day after day
fashion has smiled her sweetest smile from the grand
stand, and proud horses and prouder jockeys re-
ceved the hearty plaudts they deserved. Organized
f0rtysix years ago, this association has borne
nnsullied reputation, and stands to-day, as it
always stood, among the first of similar clubs
In the land From the time OF its for
nation, by such gentlemen as Warneld, Pindell
Duke, Combs Boswell, Downing, Bowman, Bruce
Tlford, Dudley, Morton, Breckenridge, Buford,
Brand and Wicklifre, Its many reunions have been
prosperous, and those familiar with the hundreds
OF events that have been decided in pre-
sence OF thousands OF spectators could never
recall anything tending to the least
unfairness OF all that band OF noble racing men
composing the original forty nine subscribers be-
iieve there is but one remaining-the ever-youthfu
General Combs-but their places are filed by
tuVso WHO COuInaHu inc same respect In this day
~ did they in their generation. The old course
has been the scene OF the debut and subsequent
nOwn Of the most noted horses that have appeared
On the American turf for thirty years or more, and
not season passes but that chronicles the tale OF
some great and coming racer. Here appeared Jim
and Josh Bell, Sarah Morton, Rocket, Motto, Gray
AedOc Ludn Alaric Darkness, D0ubloOn, FlOrin,
Louis dor, Rube, Tampa, Star Davis Sally Waters,
Frankfort, Blonde, the Incompatible Lie xington Wild
trishman, Charley Ball. Dick Doty, Vandal Balloon,
Princeton, Daniel Boone, Ruric, Bonnie Lassie,
Nantura Lavender, Satellite, Mollie Jackson,
lightning, Thunder, Asteroid, Lancaster, Cotton,
6herr0d, Lila, HerZog, Versailles Lyttleton Engi-
neer, LOngfenow, and many others that first gave
promise to their owners OF subsequent fame and
greatness not to be forgotten Frogtown and
Planetarium And during the past meeting there
were on the track hundreds who remembered when
1t was
ENCLOSED BY A RAIL FENCE,
pnd the grand stand was only an DID, rickety struc
ture with high steps, standing top OF the hill in
the centre Of the They also brought to mind
and discussed the great sixteen-mile struggle be-
tween Sarah Miller, Jim Allen and Grayfoot; the
morable race between Mary Dacie afterwards Belle
Anderson, the dam of Zenith and Susctte, three.
mile heats; the brilliant promise OF Gray Eagle
three-year-old; the great three me-heat event in
nose, by Medoc, dam Lucy, won the first heat In
$780, the fastest and first time 1t had been made in
the following year. when he went the mile in l 40,
and which stood for many years before beaten; the
great match in 1912 between Zenith and Miss Foote,
when the former broke down in training and
Foote over Argentile- and Alice Carneal four.
time made In Kentucky before that pcriod and
In 1S43 the Great Produce Stakes for three-year-
Odds, with seventy-twO subscribers, when Joseph
III. Boswell. KentuCkiaU.N
the gold cup and 100 with Rufiln, by imported
Hedgford, dam Duchess Of Marlborough These
to by many, thousands spoke of more recent per-
formances Of great note, among them Salina, as
the best time on record also similar performance
by Fadladeen, four year-od, and old John Harper's
bay colt Lyttleton dash OF two miles, in s:s4h.
Fully aware that
IMPROVEMENTS WERE DESIRED
In the buildings, the track and surroundings, the
termined to expend $4,000 for ' the object in
view, and with this sum, under the judlcious man.
have made it one Of the most attractive race
courses in America Under the supervision OF these
gentlemen the hill at the head OF the quarter
stretch was cut down and the backstretch newly
graded, making the track nearly level 1t was
resurveyed, and now measures one mile and six
Inches, instead OF twenty five feet over the mile,
as heretofore. 1t was also widened all around, the
quarter-stretch being seventy feet IN the clear
The track has always been considered fast one,
and 1t was reasonable to expect from the grading
and other improvements, 1t would be faster than
ever. And such antcipations were realized, as the
gallant exploits OF Frogtown on Tuesday and Thurs
day. In his one and quarter and one and three
quarter mile dashes, recording the figures 2:O9H
fences enclose the course and the cooling ground
formerly located IN the rear OF the grand stand, Is
now In front and In full view Of it, enabling the
spectators to see the horses at all times, which
greatly enhanced the interest manifested In every
contest. Next in point of consideration with the
management was the
RECONSTRUCTION OF THE BUILDINGS
and this duty was faithfully discharged. The grand
stand has now q frontage Of $50 feet and is thirty
feet wide and thrty-two feet high, presenting
very handsome appearance, but vet, spacious as 1t
ID, It was found wholly inadequate to accommodate
che thousands of ustrous-eyed beauties of the blue
grass country and their escorts who congregated
to witness the great struggles between the best OF
flyers that were engaged in the several events;
and the officers were required TO erect another
during the meeting. That they may not again be
found without accommodations for the crowd, how
materially enlarged and handsomely decorated, ex-
Ceeding in beauty anything of the kind In the land
The track Is charmingly located and
THE LANDSCAPE VIEW
In all directions from this structure is beautiful
beyond description. But mile distant Is Ashland,
where Henry Clay, the greatest representative OF
Kentucky, had his home for more than fifty years,
and on the right standing proudly against the sky
he was. and is and win be, Is the cylindrical shaft
Of stone marking the departed statesman's resting
place. The quiet and arstocratlc city OF Lexington
Ia also In full view and the beautiful and bountiful
country mingled with smiling hills fields neat and
elegant az . paror and gently undulating Ike the
waves OF lake, ana statey .Iees .has pns, y,
picture From the rear OF the stand may be seen
The "Meadows,n the home OF Dr. Warneld, one
OF the founders OF the association ana on the iei.
d remnant OF the late war; In the shape OF an old
g0rt-though never used for military operations
which adds to the general attractiyeness OF the
view.
DIRECTLY IN FRONT
OF the grand stand and at the edge OF the track u
tne Judges stand and across the track the timer
stand both models In their way. The old distance
stand was removed ana a new one erected, when
es the neatest afair Of the character in the coun-
try, as 1t is on wheels adjusted to running on
rails, which facilitates Its removal for all distances
very easily. The peoples stand, where the "culed
gemmen" do their chatting and make their pro-
Phecies, have before referred to-
TIE RACING T0nAv