The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-07-05
A Coed Days Sport and Large
Attendance.
TEE MULTITUDE DELIGHTED.
A Vivid Exhibition of the Poetry
of Motion.
FOUR CAPITAL RACES.
Of the Mile Heats, Brigand Of the Jersey
Derby and Bullet fthe Steeplschase

The races which opened the first summer meet.
ing of the New Jersey Jockey Club at Monmouth
Park yesterday occurred under the most favorable
auspices. The weather was delicious to begin
with. The clouds OF the later part OF the morn
ing, which threatened rain and portended
bad track for the day, were swept away as
the 9:40 boat steamed away from her dock,
leaving behind them glad streaks OF sunshine
and delightful breezes. There was oppressive
heat, but everything to crafty the seekers after
pleasure who sought for it at the races. 1t was
anticipated that the regular boat would carry
down an immense throng OF people, and conse-
Quently everybody who couid get away in time
went down by the early boat, while many persons
waited for the extra accommodation. This had
the effect Of depicting the 9Ao boat OF the
great crowd that was expected and distributing
the visitors in such way as to make each trip ex
ceedingly comfortable. There was no overcrowd-
ing, no PRESSURE Jam, either going or returning,
and. best Of ALL there were no vexatious delays
either at the ground or at Sandy Hook. more
pleasant excursion never sailed out OF New York,
the manner in which the transportation
Of the visitors was conducted adding
largely to the pleasure OF the occasion.
Indeed, the ease and order with which
everything was done were double surprise. for it
thronged the grand stand, the club house and the
quarter stretch could have been quietly brought
together Yet there they were, thousands of eager
faces, and as the first sound of the bell which
nounced the beginning OF the races had not, like
Roderick Dhu's hugle blast, the power to summon
chem. it was plain they must have come by boat
and train.
characteristic feature OF the meeting at Mon
mouth Park yesterday was seen in the diverse ele-
ments OF the multitude. The assemblage was not
motley, but cosmopolitan. The sporting fraternity
from every part OF the country was, OF course,
largely represented. This could hardly be other.
wise when the horses entered represent
stables, we might say, in almost every
State. The South was especially well repre-
scented, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and
Tennessee being among the Southern States which
have contributed entries to the meeting. But the
multitude was not alone remarkable for the turl-
men who were present. Mingling with the crowd
were tue Governors of four States, and there were
public men In abundance, from Senators and ex-
Senators at Washington to Assemblymen and ex-
Assembymen at Albany. Then came Aldermen
and the lesser sort OF politicians in profu:
sion. And even the lobby-that peculiar
influence on legislation which no Con-
gresham who ever became mysteriously
rich was ever able to discover, sent some Of its
very best men to bet and be jolly at the Long
Branch races New York contributed specimens
OF almost every class OF its society. The solid
men and The hght-dngered gentry jostled each
other in the crowd. Wall street elbowed Houston
street in the busy throng. The merchant prince
and the pale and sickly counter jumper met, and
II was not easy to tell which bought the most pools
for the impending Authors, actors
and artists exchanged mods Of recognition
and ASKED each other what they had got. "Whatve
you got3" was lavorte form Of Interrogation.
And everybody seemed to be winning largely for
everybody was smiling and happy. Besides, If
everybody was not winning largely the liars in the
crowd must have Outn numbered the proportion in
that famous Connecticut school, where out of 1872
pupils 1871 economical Of tile truth, for it was
impossible to discover anybody anywhere who
had not won all his BETS
Another feature Of the days races was the man.
ner In which the races were conducted The pro-
grsmme was carried out TO the letter. The starts.
which were made under the direction OF Colonel
johnson, who came all the way from Tennessee to
see that the horses got well OF, were satisfactory
and free from vexation. There were no tiresome
or unnecessary delays between the races. The
FIRST mile dash was the sherry before dinner. The
three heats Of the second mile dash was the soup
and the fish, with course OF rare roast beef ia the
evenly contested race between Survivor and
Artist. The jersey Derby, as 1t was called.
was the reed birds and other delicacies
which precede the dessert. The dessert itself,
which was more elaborate and magnificent than
the dinner was found in the steeplechase, with
the cigars and French coffee and cognac thrown in
by means OF the misnaps and what may be called
the after race for the third money. This simiie
of the different courses OF dinner for the days
sport is irresistible so piquant ana SUBJ
atantial ami envening was II in all
its parts. The almost neck and neck race OF the
two horses in the last heat OF the second race
reused the enthusiasm Of the multitude to high
pitch Of excitement, mostly on account OF the
beauty and poetry OF the struggle But the poetic
feature Of the day was the triple leap OF the stone
wall to the left OF the grand stand. The three
horses leaping the wall simultaneously and touch.
ing the ground with the precision OF a
battalion OF trained veterans, their limbs
glanc,ng in the sunlight with perfect blending of
color was picture too fine for an artists mag-
nation. IL was scene vivid almost beyond the
power OF belief Three flashes OF heavens artillery
alike in form and color and beauty, and darling
parallel to this poetic leap. 1t VIII last In the men,
DRY of those who Witnessed It as long as the
poetry OF motion finds favor in their eyes. Even
the exciting scenes which followed 1t OF the fallen
horses and their thrown riders and the cup and at
It again" spirit that manifested In the close Of
the race could not eradicate for moment the pic.
ture which crystallized in the Imagination while it
was depicted to the eye This beautiful vision and
the general excellence OF the sport made the occa.
sion fully worthy OF being considered q fitting
cele bration of the anniversary Of American inde-
pendence.