Los Angeles daily herald., 1874-03-15


horses for the pecuniary value of the
prize to be won, but solely for the
honor that horse of their own breed
ing and training should distinguish
himself. The prize was not purse,
but piece of plate, and not few OF
these souvenirs are still preserved in
the families descended from those who
owned the race horses of that day.
The chief of the turf at this time in
the State was Ranger, a gray horse,
owned by Colonel Washington, of
Revolutionary renown, who won all
of the principal races until beaten by
Comet in 1888, carrying 40 pounds,
four-mile heats. Comet was bred in
North Carolina, black horse, only
fourteen hands and half high, and a
winner from Petersburg to Charleston.
Sometimes he was entered by Colonel
William Aston and sometimes by
General Wade Hamilton. Ranger de-
scended from the Godolphin Arabian
He was imported into Maryland about
the year 1857 by Thomas Hamilton, of
Prince Georges county. Marc Antony,
the sire of Comet, was the rival and
successor of Janus in the southern
part of Virginia and along the north
ern border of North Carolina. He
was the result of Partner, out of a fine
imported mare. In the year 1892 the
South Carolina Jockey Club changed
it's racing ground from the Newmarket
Course to the Washington Course,
where it has ever since continued to
hold it's meetings. In 1896 the old
chronicles record that "the pleasure of
the club was much enhanced by the
novelty of match race between Sir
John Nisbett, of Dean Hall, of the
ancient house of Nisbetts, near Edin-
burgh, and John Randolph, of Roa-
noke, in Virginia, each gentleman
riding his own horse. Mr.. Randolph
won after a close and exciting strug-
gle.n One of the great races of the
country up to that period was run in
Charleston, February, 1926, between
the bay horse Bertrand, by Sir Archy,
five years old, handicapped 1l2 pounds,
and the brown horse Aratus, by Direc-
tor, five years old, 112 pounds, three
mile heats. Bertrand, the winner,
then ran twelve miles Qess 16S yards
in 1892. In 1916 the English custom
of costuming the jockeys was adopted
by the club, to the end that each horse
might have in its rider distinctive
dress.
1t is impracticable to enter much
into the details of the racing calendar
of the oldest jockey club in the United
States, but the facts above presented
will convey some idea of the enthusi-
asm with which the sporting gentry
of South Carolina have annually gath
cred in Charleston since the RevOlu-
ton until 1861, and of the singular
care that was bestowed on the accum-
ulation and propagation of first-rate
stock during this long period.
Before the recent war the income Of
the club was very large, amounting to
of $4,000, and it is scarcely
necessary to say that its hospitality
was unbounded. Respectable strang-
ers from other States were never per-
mitted to pay for admission to any of
the stands on the course, and immedi-
ately on their arrival were provided
with tickets and q ribbon, which
franked them everywhere during the
meeting. A great banquet and ball,
at which assembled the elite of the
country, was always one of the fca-
lures of the race week. For obvious
reasons these will not take place on
the present occasion, but there will be
recalled in the contrast between now
and then the memory of many an an
cient glass of wine, rosy with the age
of many generations; many wrestle
between the gathered intellects of the
State, and many "Reminiscences of old
families and faithful servants who will
meet no more on earth.
The race ground, or, more properly
speaking, washington Course" is
within the city limits, distant from
the Custom-house and PostOtfice say
about two and half miles. Street
cars convey one within few hundred
yards of the place. 1t is a full mile
track, and has been put in excellent
running order during the last ten days.
The grand stand, erected in 1887, still
retains many traces Of its former ar
chitectural beauty, and is calculated
to accommodate many hundred spec
tators. Retiring and refreshment
rooms, apartments for stewards and
for weighing the jockeysand changing
their liveries are also amply provided.
To the right of the principal stand is a
separate stand for the officers, the
President, Vice-President and timers,
and Immediately opposite is box for
the starter of the horses. The track is
oval, the soil sandy and well enclosed.
The races have taken place in Febru-
airy from time immemorial.
In 1887 Mr.. Tattersall of Hyde Park
Corner, London, presented to the club
a richly-mounted whip, to be run for
annually upon the principle which
governs the Whip in England. In
compliment to the donor it was named
'TThe Tattersall Whip" 1t was won
by Colonel Wade Hampton with his
imported colt, Monarch, by Priam, out
of Delphine, and has since remained
in the family of that gentleman I'M
challenged. AS part of the history
of the course it may be stated that it
has been singularly exempt from acct
dents. There have probably not been
more than three occasions where a
jockey has been thrown, and not one
of these mishaps was attended by Sc
riOus consequences. Other incidents
have occurred, however, that are more
worthy of mention. Fatal duels have
occurred there. Men have gone cut at
daylight to front the pistol bullet and
have been brought back cold and
CHASTITY. The grand stand, too, has
looked down on great encampments OF
sOldiery.
Here were assembled the regiments
that rallied to the city from all parts
of the State before the first lombard
ment of Fort Sumter Later many
prisoners captured in the war were
temporarily encamped on the grounds
Then it became the scene of a great
State fair. And recently it has been
taken possession of by colored maroon.
ers of picnic parties, who found in its
deserted halls and spacious acres ample
room for the pniOyment of their Sum.