The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-07-27
A RACE IN A SHOWER.
ALL THE FAV0RITEs BEATEN
Sallie Watson, Harry Bassett and
Duffy Beaten.
A RACE TRACK LIKE A MILL POND.
Minnie W. the Winner Of the Alabama
Stakes; CrOckford, Of the Three-Quar-
tiers Of Mile Dash, and Lanty
Lawler, of the Steeple- Chase.


Lawler, ofthe Steeple-C Chase.
SARATOGA, July 20, 1873
'N0w then, Patrick" said q lawyer, while ex-
aiming an Irish witness In court, "could you tell
the Court the day of the week it is ~ The ques
ton, simple as 1t was, seemed to puzzle Pat. He
hesitated for moment and then answered.
''No, SIR"
"Don't know the day OF the week 1t iss, repeated
his quesuoner.
"'Pon me word I dontt, sir; but think it's
Sunday" replied the witness, with q peculiar
twinkling in his eyes.
SUNDAY" exclaimed the lawyer in surprise;
"sunday. Well now, my good fellow" he con-
tnued, twill you be 80 kind as to explain why you
think this day is Sunday ?"
/ Patrick hesitated o moment aud then com.
menced-"Well, Your Honor, the raison why think
this is Sunday Is bekase upon lookin' around me
see 80 many fine people, 80 dacinty dressed, and
not having anything to do. That's the raison
thought 1t was Sunday"
Could that same lrishman visit Saratoga at the
present moment he might possibly If he pursued
the same line OF argument, arrive at the conclusion
that all the Sundays in the year were arranged so
as to follow each other cOnsecuttvely for here.
people don't seem to have anything to do, and
! dressed,
ON THE SUBJECT OF DRESSING
word or two at the present moment may not be
out OF place. While the most of the ladies this
season dress with noticeably good taste there is
very considerable falling of in the display Of
jewelry and rich toilets which distinguished other
seasons; and the change Is for the better. The
wonder Is that American ladies who annually
| ''do" Saratoga had not inaugurated o reform in
this direction before now.
THE FIRST OF THE SEASON
Last night there was full-dress ball at Congress
Hail. which was largely attended, and everything
went or very pleasantly. 1t was the first ful-dress
ball OF the season at this hotel. A great many con-
spicuOus New Workers figured there or had
their names printed on the programme among
the Committee Of Arrangements. Commodore
Vanderbilt headed the list, and ex-Mayor OPP
dyke aud Recorder Hackett were but few re-
moves from the sturdy old Commodore, still
further down on the list. The display Of toilets
! was very fine, and but few gentlemen in the room
| wore other than the inevitable steel pen coat
which fashion designates as the regulation uniform
| OF full dress. The dancing continued until after
midnight.
THE MORNING OF THE SECOND DAY.
This was another of these bright and beautiful
| mornings which gave promise OF delightful day.
As on Thursday good breeze was stirring. In the
1 Y,
that matter in greater numbers strolled out before
breakfast to take the waters OF their favorite
springs. the programme of the day was usually dis
cussed, and the prospects of It's enjoyment went
good way to swell the gossip OF the morning stroll.
AS may wen be imagined the prospective racing
was the principal subject to talk over or course
every one was thankful for the bright skies which
SO far were vouchsaied them. and hopes for their
continuance throughout the whole season were
not unrequently expressed.
AMONG THE CARRIAGE DRIVERS.
preached the tide Of vehicles began to thronp
Broadway, in front OF the hotels. Long before the
hour for going had arrived the industrious drivers
| importuned the passers-by and movers to and fro
TO patrOniZe them and take seat seats for the
race course. The little breeze of the morning
about began to die out, and this, too, worked
agains tae drivers, for no person wanted to be out
| on the course any sooner than was necessary. II
the morning had been cooler many might have ran
out little earlier, and this would have added to
the number Of trips each driver could have taken,
but they found the hour approach they increased
| the time to be
| OFF FOR THE COURSE
arrived and, after few carriages set the example,
| the tide commenced to dow in earnest for the
| track The hotels began to empty themselves, the
corridors were crowded, the stairs were crowded,
the Offices vesttbues and plazzas were thrOnged,
literally TANNED with ali kinds OF vehicles. The
an @ now e
one more that's it pull the door to your and
an hour before noon everybody seemed on
the stir, The only people who seemed provoklngly
cool were the cockaded gentlemen in livery
perched up on the boxes OF the private equipages
Even the intense heat OF the day did not make
these chaps perspire with half the freedom that
their masters did From eleven O'Clock to noon
the road was crowded with carriages of all dis
tinctiOns moving with rapid pace towards the race
course. The distance to the field was SO short
there were no small boys along the road, similar
to those one meets going to Jerome Park, who,
with sponge IN hand and bucket close by are eyer
ready to sponge down your animal and give 1t q
drink for small consideration.
AT THE GATE
the number OF vehicles was greater than that OF
Thursday. Fresh accessions to the hotels helped to
swell the number. Learning experience from the
previous day people were more particular in buy
for sale, and those who were deceived on Thursday
invested now in those known to be genuine
THE GRAND STAND
was fully occupied before noon with as gayly and
fashonaby dressed an assembage as that OF
began to gather and flashes OF lightning gave the
premOnit0ry signs OF q coming storm. A refresh
threatening signs Of the weather, it cheerfully
welcomed. Just after the judges bell sounded the
signal for the horses to come to the post i1
DOWN CANE THE RAIN
In large and heavy drops. This scattered the
crowds on the quarter stretch and in other parts
OF the field and grand rush for the Grand Stand
and for other places OF shelter resulted. Bright
flashed the lightning, deep rolled the thunder, and
down poured the rain In torrents For fully half
an hour the rain came down heavily. A few at
tempted to brave the storm with umbrellas. but
they soon found IL was useless to continue the
struggle. Instead OF bright skies now deep black
clouds overhung the whole country, and the rain
which was fast and heavily falling, was quickly rem
dering the race course more like mill pond than
horse track. Some among the most lacetious OF the
crowd, now drawn still more closely together by
the fear OF wetting, suggested that regatta
be substituted for the horse races the track
now all the appearance OF having sufficient water
on IL to run light boats. At time 1t was feared
that che race would be postponed especially ON
account OF the steeplc chase. After about twenty
minutes duration the skies began to tighten and
the clouds clear on. The rain ceased falling but
II left the track In fearful condition few min
uteS later the sun again came forth. The atmos-
phere was now delightfully."- cool and only Cor the