The New York herald., 1873-12-17
RAClRe AT NEW ORLEANS.
Bonnabel Wins the First Race. Silent Friend
the Second Race and Cape
Race the Third.
NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 10, Il


H seems to be pretty well determined that we
are 10 have no winter weather. Bright skies and
balmy spring like breezes remain with us, although
we are upon the very threshold OF Christmas. The
trees are clothed with verdure and the lawns are
as green as in May. Nature herself has been
deceived for all the trees putting forth tender
buds. and the very birds themselves seem half
inclined to 90 w0oing and nest building under
the impression that winter has In some way
come and gone and spring has been usnered
In In earnest. 1t was almost impossible to
realize last evening that we were whlrl-
ing out to q fall meeting, SO pleasant was
the air and 80 springliKe was every surrounding;
and the course itself sustained the alluston, with
its green fields ana waving trees. The Shell Road
leading to the course was alive with carriages
ned with ladies, whose attire was in keeping
with the day, and whose merry laughter made
pleasant music as II rose above the sound OF rapid
foOtstep and the whirring OF soft wheels over the
hard and level road. The attendance was not,
however, what we hau anticpated but as the
moment drew near FOR the start in the first
event the grand stand filed up rapidly,
and we were glad TO observe great interest dis
played In the sport OF the day. The quarter stretch
was enlivened by the presence OF well known turf
men, many OF whom were willing to back their
horses with money. The track was In excellent
condition, having been thoroughly narrowed since
the rain on Friday night last, and II not fast was
very near It, the horses in their preliminary can
ters kicking up little clouds Of dust. 1t thought
that in the mile dash :4e might be made, but sub
sequent events did not fulfil this expectation.
il" THE FIRST RACE
was for the New Orleans Stakes for colts and FLIES
three years o.d; $25 entrance, p. p., with 500
added; secold horse to receive 5000 and third
horse 500; two miles. There were 20 entries, but
OF this number only seven came to the scratch,
viz. :-Philolena, Meta s., Fred. B0nnabel, Astras-
see, Edwin Adams, Western STAR and gray colt
by Lightning out OF Jessamine Porter. Western
star was the first iavorite, the colt second and
Edwin Adams third, with no betting to
speak OF, the absence OF greenbacks being
painfully apparent The horses all appeared in
good form, and when they were marshalled before
the grand stand, with the sunshine bringing out
the bright colors of the Jockeys costumes and bur-
nishing the beautiful coats Of the animals, it was
pretty picture. TO start was by no means easy.
Every horse but the favorite desirous of lead
jng on, and the consequence was number OF false
starts. western Star was particularly fractions,
and gave infinite trouble by his muishp ess. 1t was
almost impossible TO get him in line; he was not
amenable to coaxing, and whipping made him even
worse he kicked and shook his pretty head, and
In every way was as ugly as he well could be-
mount, and then the rascal walked up quietly
enough and so, after three false starts, they got
ing away in the lead, hotiy pursued by the favor
tte, and the blue cap OF the latters jockey soon
showed plainly in the 'front.' and passed the
FIRST quarter pole several lengths ahead with
ana the rest scattering. ON the backssretcn Bon.
own gaflantly, and they dashed 'd9wn the home
Bonnaoei second, the gray colt third and nd Meta
fourth. Round the turn they swepE0pd. as the
more more bunched On the the back baokstretcS there was
most exciting and beautiful contest. Every horse
evidently let himself out, and all the way down the
stretcn and into the three-quarter turn 1t was
was @ in the leaS@wesiern star bonnsDel "a s or the
three, and the excitement on the grand stand be-
came intense. And now they come down the home
suon kaleidoscope vision Of jockeys costumed,
esf a sne people nas met 9ssR
drew nearer BOnnabel was discovered in advance
Di the party, with the gray colt Q hot second. The
length, the gray colt second, Meta third, Western
star fourth, Edwin Aea%s afs9 Phiomena sixth
This was quite an astonishing result, as Bopna-
eel Nas away down In tne pools, and not booked
70 win. This was another fall for the knowing
"n''' ''e' w." S55 sE65sp RACE.
This was race Of two mile heats, for all ages,
club purse $780, the first hoise to receive $780, and
the second horse $780, There were four entries
Nele Tho horses were all in capital trim and
the favorite could not well have been in better
ax lor quarter st stretch; silent Friend was s the
ssI Der, q persons being S.n, the opinion oH.
ana and would do to back against odds. AT the
tap OF the drum m they hey got awsy wen together Port
tendance. just before the quarter pole was
reached Carrlngton shot to the 'front.' Port Leon
ard ard keeping well up as second: Az the nalfme
second and Nellie r. third, the favorite keeping
well in the rear and running Waiting race. They
Port Leonard, Darlington. Nellie r. and Silent
Friend. In this order they went py the quarter
and haf-mile posts. but when near the three-quar-
ter turn Silent Friend suddenly '1et out a link"
and shot to the front like an arrow. The heat was
e ~a % tine
Silent Friend several lengths ahead, Darlington
second; Port Leonard third and Nellie r. fourth.
s:zsx. '''
Second Heat.-The betting was now all on the
takers. After one Ialse start they got away well
together, Nellie r. in the lead, Darlington second,
IN the rear. In this order they ran the
whole mile Nellie widening the gap to
sSt s1owng between the other horses just
before they reached the quarter pole Silent
Friend with all the % ease In IN M the world again came
nance. This order was maintained throughout,
with the exception that Nellie r. got third place at
the quarter pole. They passed the string as fol-
lows Silent Friend, Darlington, Nellie r. and
Port Leonard. Time-First mile, 1864; second
mile, 1:47k.
This time the favorite won, ami the faces OF the
knowing ones were for the time radiant with
smiles.
THIRD RACE.
One mile, with 100 lbs. on each, three-year-olds
10 carry 81 lbs, allowance Tor mares or geld
ings, club purse OF $500. First horse, 5000 second
horse, SO; third horse, $S5 There were
Race, Tom LeAthers, Romping Girl, Vidal,
Wanderers, Falmouth, Minus, Lotta Moore,
Mary Forrest, Florne and General Palmer. Minus
was Withdrawn before the start. With such field
q was not to be wondered at that there should
save been great difficulty In obtaining good start.
II seemed almost impossible to get them OF, and
attempt after attempt was made IN vain; some
TWO or three would get away, while the rest were
cit standing still. After trying every conceivable