Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-06-18
HARRY BASSETT.

Thursdays Races at Jerome Park.
The last race Of the day was one Of two
mile heats, for a purse of 81, 900, which lad
only two entries, the McDaniels crack
Harry Bassett and J. W. Hunt Reynolds
chestnut mare Metella. No doubt there
would have been several more entries in
this race but that it was well known that
Col. Mcdaniel intended entering Bassett
and that he would make the pace so hot in
Lhe first heat that all the rest wOuld be on
the wrong side of the distance flag at the
end OF the heat, and consequently there
would be no second money. 1t was even
rumored that Bassett would try to wipe out
Littletnn's record of 3:34I for two miles
made at Lexington, KY, in May, 1871. Be
tbis as it may, the race was certainty for
Bassett, and no pools sold on it; there was
little private betting at the odds Of SlOO
TO 10 that Bassett would distance Metella in
the first heat, aud even this offer found but
few takers. As usual Bassett was saddled
in the lane under the hill, and when led in
TO the track, with Jimmie Roe on his back,
Looked perfection in every point. After
taking a W w-.rming gallOp round the track,
and cautering up and down in front of the
stand three or four times, receiving loud
encolniums on his magnificent appearance.
With no trouble or delay the flag fell with
Netella three length in front. Before
reaching the turn Bassett was even with
her. and at the picnic grounds was a
length I'm front. At the quarter pole he was
two lengths in front, in which way they
ran the whole of the first mile at . pace
.y,de-,iv TOO slow for Col McDanieps
noricu. for long before Bassett reached
~ q Il =, F1p1nv,o1 vva in the Tn1nnIn
of The track signalling Roe TO come
faster. As they passed the stand Roe let
,ta horse ont a tribe, but seemed afraid to
give him his head. At the quarter, in the
second mile, he was leading five lengths,
-yghtch was increased to twenty before they
reached the hOme-stretCh, Bassett still 60
inc VERY easv. and with but little apparent
eXertion. Metella stuck calamity to her
work, aud coming up to the stretch shut up
a trife of the gap between her and the
horse, whose speed seemed TO have Qled
AWAY trifP, Roe keeping a steady pull not
,yfthstandiDg McDaniers persistent oiders
: ~ move ahead. As Bassett passed under
the string Me.e!la was just at the distance,
ifuot actually on it. The stewards decided,
however, that she was outside, and that
l .ssett had won the race in one heat; Me
ella dlSLanCSu' ll!uVy O'oJ 4---lio Hio0
mile having been run in 1887, and the sec
oud in AS. Bassett's performance in this
race disappointed some Of his best friends
while it proportionately delighted those who
are inclined to believe that LongtelloW vii
beat linn for the Monmouth Cup at Long
Branch on the I'd prOx. 1t was also rum
ored that some four or five thousand dol
lars has been laid against Bassett at ever
i,1.reg siace MS race With Llttleton las
Saturday. The Bassett part = are conhder
however, and win No doubt ,be glad to &C
commodate all willing to lay money a
even figures, or even to give slight ODDS OF
the fayorite against the Kentucky cham
rpiOn.
SUMMARY.