The New York herald., 1872-10-05
Horse Racing I'm Amcrfca-The Jerome
Park Meeting.

Park Meeting.
The Fall meeting at Jerome Park, which
opened so auspiciously on Wednesday last,
will hold its second festival to-day. As
the world of fashion has decided that this is
one of the occasions where it Is not 'the
thing" to be missed. we feel assured that it
will pour out its thousands according to its
wont, and make the beautiful grounds that
enclose the track more beautiful still Nature
in its loveliness must be supplemented by
humanity to make even horse racing enjoyable,
and the refining influence Of the fairer sex
can be spared least of ALL On Wednesday
the racing was of the finest and the weather
all of glad sunshine, mild breezes and blue
sky that the most dainty could desire The
attendance was very fair, and with the history
of that day of enjoyment already recorded, it
will need the most threatening weather and
the fight of all gallantry from the bosom Of
man to hinder lovely woman, in all the warm
glory Of the Autumn modes, from gracing the
piazza of the Club House and the raised
benches of the Grand Stand The weather will
scarcely dare to frown to-day, and America in
its Man is happy in his courtesy, SO that we
look forward to chronicling joyous brilliant
throng and slashing day Of sport in perfect
roll of felicitous phrasings. The American
Jockey Club, which is the medium through
which the gods dispense their equine favors in
the present case, is in fourishing condition,
with roll Of fifteen hundred members
this years additions numbering one hundred
and forty. 1t is gratifying to note how the
to make it rs popular as it deserves. Such
gentlemen as Messrs. Belmont, Travers and
Jerome have done much to place it thus favor
ably before the public, and, in providing q
chance for city-bound humanity to breathe
pure air while catching dash of exhilaration
as the feet coursers stretch for the goal, have
earned claim on our recognition.
view of their work, although one in which
interest may not be so general, is the perfec-
tion being reached in the breeding and train
ing of blooded horses. A slight consideration
OF how this reacts to improve the breed of
horses throughout the land would at once
point its Importance; but our business now is
more with the racing generally than the
racers, and we are content merely to mention
it. Horse racing on this Continent was once
one Of the great sports Of the South, where the
wealthy planters thought as much of blooded
horse as a small plantation. 1t was banishod
along with others of the games which en-
ivened Southern life when the war burst
forth. The blooded horse was wanted then
for other work. as if turning back to the
fabled time when, at the call Of Mars, the
horse, with flashing eyes, distended nostrils
streaming name and smoking fanks, came
bounding from the EARTH an emblem Of the
blasting fields Of war. And heavily did
the hoofs of those Southern chargers
under Southern leaders sweeping around our
legions tell us where the North was at disad-
vantage in the poorly bred horses it had
brought into the field. Since the war has
closed horse racing in the Northern States
has been steadily gaining in favor, and right
glad we are to say that in the crushed and
broken South the sport of the turf is once
more holding up its head.
1t is noble sport and well worthy the
attention Of the people to-day, as it has fasci-
mated men and women for thousands of years.
How the horse in his strength and speed and
symmetry was admired by the ancients we
need but refer to the fine description of the
heavenly coursers of Achilles, over which
Homer fairly gloats as he sings their praises
in his sounding lines. We can still see in
fancy the fve-nlile four-horse chariot
races Of the Olympic games upon
the plain of Ellis, with the half
clad Greeks guiding the rushing steeds
in their giddy flight, while oil Greece stood
looking on, and waking the echoes of the
sacred wood where stood the temple of the
Olympian Jove. Or can we not see the
youth Of Rome hurry from their luxurious
ease in the baths Of Caracalla to watch or join
the charioteers in the excitement of the
curriculum, with the wealth and beauty
Of the Eternal City sharing its fercer
joy and making the glittering scene more gor-
geous still? All this has passed away, but
Rome to-day, not oil forgetful of its equine
glory, yet shows its race Of riderless horses
in bright trappings among the dying splen-
dors of the carnival as they dash magnif-
Gently along the Corso. If the sport was
neglected in the Middle Ages it was only
because the horse was almost made q
portion of the stately knight who
used him in grim sport at the tourney
and who in the Crusades only learned to
value the Arab blood because the Moslem
horsemen swooped down on them in whirlwind
force and showed them their heels so swiftly
when it was dangerous to stay. Europe to-
day has revived the ''turf," and the gather
ings Of EPSON, Doncaster and Goodwood in
England are We'd with in the assemblies at
Chantilly, vincennes or Baden Baden.
AT Jerome Park to-day the sport will be Of a
high Glass; and, as it is within easy reach by
rail, will draw thousands who cannot spare
the time or money IN eniov tho road Tf fharo