The Caucasian. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1874-1875, 1874-05-23
Great Four Mile Day.
THE FASTEST TIME ON RECORD!
7:26 -7:3S "a!

| tNeu hiVeF hepuoIl'dlI, ApTtI 10, loo4
"The fashion of this world passetl
away" saith the good book, and We
have new illustration OF it furnished
us by the events of yesterdays race on
the Metaire Conrse Fashions 1921 and
7:45 on Long Island in 1912, and George
Martins 1888 and 7:42, here in lSl3
the two best races that have ever bes,
run, having been signally beaten nv
the winner of the day. Where is
Eclipse now exclaimed Young Ameri-
ca, when Fashion beat Boston, in five
seconds less-time than was made by
the conquer"r of Henry. Where is
| FashinIs, now -? we, in our turn. de-
manded, as we see her beaten in six
seconds and half less time than her
| own.
Trulye we live in progressive age,
and what we are coming to, who can
tell?
During the week past, the question
has been repeatedly asked, if any of
the contestants in the late State Stake
race would run again durin. the pres
ent season. A feverish excitement per-
vaded the community in view of such
IL possible event, and the cnnviction
was freely expressed that if it were to
come Oft, Lexington would he likely
to have his well won .lanrcls cropped
If not lose them entirely. A contest
between Lexington and Lecompte was
freely talked OF as thing that must
be and when, on Friday evening, it
was announced on the course that an
arrangement to that effect had been
made, and that the next day would
see its consummntion, the news spread
electrically, and we found ourselves
again in the midst of an excitement. Of
course.
Everything was in favor Of the pros.
poets for spolt. The track was in tin
top order, confesscdly. The day rose
fair, and continued so.-The ride to
the Course was delightful. Every
thing seemed to favor the occasion.
From an early hour to late one al!
tho reads were filled by travellers,
awaiting themselves Of every kind and
description Of locomotinns. Every
thing, from aAhray to four in hand,
was in requisi1ion, aud they who were
9: TOO late for the wagon" walked,
Fully ten thousand people must have
been present on the stands ana in the
field. The sight was truly animatny.
The ladies', as upon the former great
orcasion, made a goodly show on the
stands appropriated to them hy the
gallantry of the Club, and added 40
little to the pleasure Of the hay-Brt-
ting, which was WAS hy no means SLOW
in any part of the course, ran amusing
iy high in this department ooit, and
we saw many anti Lecomte bets most
clccr!uIly and smiingly paid hy laugh-
ing losers, while maay musical remind
ers that Lcx0g'on had lost suggested
to as many overtaken gentlemen tIat
"placfatar Games" should he their not
to in setting their books. We sri.ve
to say that Lexington, by the by,
proved to be the favorite among the |
ladies, who, we will do then2he credit |
to say, paid up with most commendo
able promptness; so far as they could
10 so, on the field. OF the gloves, and
and other pretty trit'es,
which they wagered, we OF conrse can
not speak, with equal confidence.
The race, of which we give below a
detailed account, was indeed an cx-
citing one.-Since the races we have
alluded 30 as hitherto among the great
est that have been run. there has been
nothing like it and in all it's incidents,
rom the start to the victory, it will
always be remembered as prominent
y the greatest four milo race on re-
cord. O
The oetting was extremely heavy;
still 1t was less than Oh the last weeks
ace, as there were not SO many s.rang-
'rs III town and money had not been
sent here from abroad to be invested
III the SIDE Of any favorite. Before
eaving thS city, Lexington was the
avorlte, at even money, against the
ield but a few minutes before the
ace; we witnessed some transactions
II which Lexington was backed at 100
o 80 against the field, or 100 to 60
gainst Lecompte. Muci, money WAS i.
Isked on time, but the lowest time !
hat we could hear Of being marked
vas 1882. s
S" fU as we could judge the horses
II APPEARED to be in excellent copdi- c
ion, aud :'eager for the fray" as they c
aoved to and fro before the stands, to
he admiration of the anxiousoLou- .
ands. '
The drum taps; and the horses !,
ash off with rush for the first heat, I,
I'd on passing the first turn Lecomte :
ID, Lexington being second. and Kube !,
railing behind, bnt at as fast a gait :.
nd AS bold q stride as he could well
ccomplislao Their position did not
airy Tor nearly three miles, altln ugh
ie pace increased; the space between 8
'e horses at time increasing aud di-
finishing Lexington several times
aklng brush to take the lead, but \
ecompte increasing his speed to p,e-
snt it. On entering the fourth mile
I'd on the back strSch of it, Lexing, ]
N partially closed the gap that Le-
ANITA bad pnoCnI. M lin, or,1 :.