The New York herald., 1872-09-15
LONCFELLOw AND HARRY BASSETT.

The controversy between the respective ad-
mirers OF these distinguished racehOrses exhibits
prejudices and contemporaries. and does in
justice both. Their great contest for the Sara
toga Cup, unparalleled N this country, should
cover both with unfading laurels. 1t Is entirely un
Necessary to claim for either more than plain and
unvarnished description OF the race would snow to
be his due. They ran the best race ever run In
America and were never separated from the start
to the finish. The incidents OF the race leave room
to believe in the possibility that both might have
done shade better, but 1t Is scarcely probable.
In casting lots for the pole Bassett was lucky.
and started viii its possession while his adver-
sary took position close by his side, the two
wonders passing the score as evenly as possible
The pace was terrific throughout the race, Bassett
taking an advantage of about half a length In the
first furlong, which he never increased. L0ngfe
low went up several times. as II making effort
to pass him. but failed to show in 'front.' Bassett in
each instance promptly resuming his half length
advantage; and LOngfelow's final effort, within
two hundred feet OF the winning post, needs no
other description as his gain was but mOmentary,
Bassett winning by about six feet.
Now, 1t is very easy to say, as some do, that Bas-
sett pulled to Longfellow, as he evidently had done
to Littleton, and that he could have run much
that no sane rider would have had the courage un-
necessarily to risk so important race to an ad-
vantage of only half length with horse of Long
fellows known speed at his saddleskirts. Had he
been able in the last furlong to have increased his
advantage he would probably have done 80. Still,
rs before remarked, there is possibility that he
could have accomplished something more. He did
enough.
1t Is just as easy to say that Longfellow was run.
ming waiting race, and that it was intended that
he should win by 'chifney rush, at the finish,
which result was only defeated by the twisting of
his plate and an injury to his leg. Many so say,
and doubtless so believe. But the steadness OF
the pace (Which was really the most remarkable
feature Of the race) from beginning to end would
seem to forbid all claims to probability for this
theory.
Though "talk is cheap" 1t is not worth while to
indulge in speculatiOns in regard to this race. The
exalted regulations of these two wonderful
horses do not rest upon visionary theories. The
facts are enough to place them both at the pinnacle
of fame
The first two miles of the race were run in about
three minutes and thirty seconds and the two and
2 quarter miles in three minutes and ffty-nne
seconds-tw0 and half seconds faster than the
race Of the famous Kentucky although he at the
same age carried four pounds less than Bassett
ried. Bassett won without having permitted him.
self to be headed IN any part Of the race, anu
mains champion Of the American turf Glory
enough for any horse.
But facts also stamp LongfellOw as the equal OF
Bassett. The big horse ran the entire race outside
Of Bassett, never trailing for inch. 1t is very
fair to say that he ran three feet further
from the pole than Bassett did, In
this position he ran around each Of the
two semicrces twice. simple mathematical
calculation shows that he therefore ran thirty
and sxty-nine hundredths feet further than Bas-
sett did from which deduct the few feet OF Bassetts
advantage at the finish, and 1t appears that when
the race was lost by LOngfellOw he had actually run
about thirty-two feet further in 1850 than had
his victorious competitor. Longfeow's time, two
and quarter miles, must have been about 3 :58K.
he had drawn the pole 1t is at least questionable
whether Bassett could have taken 1t from him, and,
| ifpOssbilites are to be considered, the result
| might have been different.
| The facts are above all theories, and place both
| horses beyond the reach OF detraction. And now,
| having said thus much, 1t may be pardOnabe to
speculate little in regard to the vexed question
as to where the injury to Longfellow occurred.
1t Ii very difficult to believe that horse injured
in any degree could have run as did Longfeow
AS before remarked, the most wonderful feature Of
the race Was its constancy. Longielow did not
falter at any point in the race; for, had he
relaxed his speed in the slightest degree,
he would have lost his proud position
alongside his dying competitor. 1t is absurd
to claim that horse with failing tendon or even
with plate doubled under his foot. could have
maintained steadily his position beside Bassett,
flying at the rate Of two miles in $3.50. Those who
assert that Longfelow fatered do him the greatest
injustice. He had no time to spare for faltering.
The brightest truth which his history contains Is
that he ran that wonderful race without ever for
an instant giving up his position, and finished In
style which stamped him as unninchingly game.
The most reasonable theory of his injury is SIM
ply this:-Tired as he must have been, he was
pulled up too suddenly when the race was over,
and probably struck his fore leg with his hind foot
at the same time catching the heel of his plate and
tearing it partly from his foot the next step doub
ling the plate under the foot as found. More than
| one person observed two separate blunders Of the
| horse as he was pulled up. All the mischief was
| probably done by the same accident. 1t is the
more proper that this theory should be presented,
because it will add another to the thousands OF
former warnings to riders OF the folly of suddenly
pulling up horses, more especially when exhausted
by q severe struggle.
HORSE NOTES.