The New York herald., 1872-12-01
SOUTHERN TURF HISTORY.
The Motairte Course-Its Rise, Progress
and Decline.


The Mctairkc COurse-Its Rise, Progress
and Decline.
NEW ORLEANS Nov, q, 1872.
Even the turf world OF New Orleans has not
passed unscathed beneath the transforming fingers
| which the restless spirit OF change keeps ever
| busily at work tanglng the woof OF mans
| worldly affairs, and the closing year will long
| remain memorable In its history having wit
messed the death OF the Oldest jockey club in
| America together with the birth of its younger
| and more vigorous successor. The old Metairie
track, radiant with the triuMphs OF successive
| equine generations whose golden dust has been
whrled by all the deetest hoofs that adorn
the Tu,y Re0ister-thc scene of Lexngtons
| grandest victories with his splendid army Of COM
| peers and his illustriOus line of descent-the
"Mode Course" It's rich old patrons so loved to
designate Ii, Is now silent and deserted. The gal
| liant spirits who reared and maintained its fame
are now either dead or scattered. Ere long the
gardeners SPADE and the masons trowel will be at
work transforming it into city OF the dead, and
the old track, which still stretches its deserted
length around the field, instead OF echoing the
flying feet OF cOnquerors, will merely cushion the
mournfu roll OF funeral wheels. No wonder the rem
nants OF the Old club now few In numbers. grizzly in
beard and a little totteIng in carriage, look with
rival track which dealt the death blow, and that
they affect to see in the air Of elegance and ex-
travagance surrounding 1t the unmistakable and
fatal elements or early decay. They miss that
rude, rigid, yet sportsmanlike simplicity OF ap-
pOntments which belonged to the old course and
regard with jealousy the splcndor which supplants
1t in the new. Its palatial club house, with mag
nifccnt private grounds attached; it's we'll
ordered stables and training quarters; its
gigantic stand and numerous irnovations in
trOduced from the iconoclastic North, all tend
to beget envy, II not ire, and although the attrac
t0ns OF the quarter stretch and the starting bell
still irresistible the Metairie veterans but
very few consent to take an active part in the
new dispensation. This is much to be regretted
as the Louisiana Club with all its youthful bravery
and vlgOr, sadly lacks that experience and init.
mate knowledge of turf lore which more accom-
m0dating spirit on the part OF the Metaire Nestors
woulo afford. 1t is, however, the old story OF
January and May over again. They utterly refuse
take grim satisfaction In fading out OF existence,
confident in the beef that the brightest gl0ries OF
do the heche can ce II IS not acknS
in efforts at conclliatiOn but it only brags about
conflict OF faith. In which the old, fortified with
years Of success, refuse to swerve one iOta from its
creed, no matter how attractive the guise In which
the new paints ITSELF In view Of this great change
pressed by all turtles for the dead Metaire, which
closes the most brilliant career ever achieved by
any similar institution In this country
THE MErAIRIE ASSOCIATION
upon which the Metarie Jockey Club was founded,
came into existence In the Fall of 1885, In the
Spring OF that year gentleman named Oliver,
who had owned for several years previously the
Eclipse Course, then situated near CarrotOn,
about four miles mp the river purchased the pres
racing exploits to that locality. The new track
was more eigibly situated upon the Metarie
Ridge, q small belt OF high ground which extends
around the city about two and half miles In It's
rear. After some three or four meetings Mr..
Fall OF 1896 an organization OF twenty gentlemen
was formed, who purchased the ground and estab-
lished the Metairie Association. Only three
four OF the original members yet live but
ownership and transfer OF the shares was so regu-
lated that its integrity has been preserved through
all mutations up 10 the present time. With the eX
ceptiOn Of the interval occupied by the Spring
and FAN meeting has been regularly held upon this
earlier history its contests were confined to local
stables, among the owners Of which were many OF
planters once so plentiful in the south, but now
passing away forever. Adam Blnghaman OF
EDWARD ' Everett " at Harvard I College; ". r. John.
son, or Virginia, the Napoleon OF the Turf" OF
whom John Randolph once said that he had heard
more wisdom from him on the race field than he
heard in the Congress OF the United states;
General T: J. Wells of Demerara, the owner
tain w. J. Minor Duncan +. Kenner, John Slide
(of subsequent Confederate fame) Garrison, OF
Virginia; Kirkman, OF Alabama |; A. Keene Richards,
OF Kentucky, and many other names written high
up on turf annals. Under such auspices this organ
ization nourished for over quarter OF century,
holding throughout its place at the head Of the
racing world debating the laws by which its was
governed, and furnishing the model upon which all
subsequent clubs were founded. Among the large
family OF imitators which sprung up everywhere it
was not free from competition. It's great success,
% m and
SO that opposition clubs were repeatedly started,
all Of which 1t conquered in turn, until at last its
ent Louisiana In 1889 the "Binghaman,
Course was started but gave out after three meet
able career OF two years: The Union Course gave
up the contest In about the same length OF time,
and one or two others OF minor Importance added
II was on the Metairie that the great Post Stake
race took place, between Lccompte, Lexington,
Highlander and Arrow-an event which thrilled the
entire Union with q whirlwind Of excitement, and
was so magnincently described IN the f.cdvune OF
Lexin99ton scored his great time race But the
Metaire Is sunny with glorious memories II was
the scene OF Reels triumphs, OF Gray Eagles VIC
Lightning, Planet, Panic and Louis dor their
well-earned laurels. 1t echoed to the conquering
Helmbold, Monarchist and countless scions Of the
noble blood which nows through the veins OF
During this entire period Its administration was
conducted with the most impartial justice and the
most lavish generosity. AT none OF the many meet
ings embraced did its purses ever amount to less
than 100000 and often they rose to $4,000 and
$25,000 always paid promptly on the spot Nobody
its DEGREES; % from the decision OF It's long line
OF judges none OF the racing world ever dreamed
OF appealing. Eminent and supreme 1t gave
tone and character to the sport, and unquestion-
ably did more than any other institution to maih-
tain that elevated hold racing has to-day upon the
appreciation OF the American people. All turtles
must, therefore, view Its final dissolution with re-
gret; but In dying, IL only gives way to that irre-
sistibe march OF Improvement which In all modern
cities IL constantly tearing down old idols and
plougnng out the foot-tracks Of our most hallowed
memories.
The Metairic has, however, left worthy success
sor /; one OF fresher blood and more enlarged enter.
prise-0ne more In cons0nance with the spirit OF
Improvement marking public enterprises OF the
present day, and one that promises to build up In