The New York herald., 1874-09-10
AN EXCITING HURDLE RACE.
Tabitha Breaks a Leg and Is Shot
to Death on the Track.
Two Races, a Walk Over
and a Forfeit.
Kadi, Mate, Impecunious and Erastus
Corning the Winners.
A VIEW FROM THE CUpOLA.

VIEW FROM THE CUPOLA.
81 near mat Dublin has picked up nail and Will
be counted out to-day" was the first sentiment
heard at the Prospect Park Race Track yesterday
morning.
eyes and more's the pity too." an Irish stable
man. with scrubby tuft OF hair on his chin and
wearing damaged hatband, replied; 81 saw him
this morning 90 around the track like a cannon
ball. More's the pity, shure."
The ride to the Prospect Park Race Course from
Fulton ferry and back to the starting point is just
eighteen miles, nine miles each way. Part of the
route Is through Prospect Park and then there Is
grand boulevard OF three miles to the entrance
OF the track, the boulevard being a magnif-
cent ana wide road, with trees OF an
immature growth planted on each side OF the
road. No fault can be found with the road, which
Is as level as board, with the exception OF the
fact that 1t was very dusty and should be sprinked
well and constantly by the city Of Brooklyn or the
association. 1t is a scandalous thing that a great
public highway like this, so well made and COM
manding such prospect. should not be in order
for the purpose for which 1t was designed namely,
pleasure driving.
There is no more pleasant racecourse, or one hav.
ing more beautiful surroundings, In this country
than that OF Prospect Park. Every convenience for
man and beast is In readiness and can be procured
without any trouble. At nearly every other race
course. with the exception of Jerome Park,
the restaurant accommodations for ladies and
families are wretched, ana it is impossible to
get warm cup OF coffee or bowl OF soup at any
price. But at Prospect Park the club house affords
every facility. and an excellent dinner may be
obtained there at very Moderate prices.
up here In the cupola carriages, landaus and
pnaetons may be seen coming in rapid succession
toward the race track. The horses are be-
ing ing driven driven fast but at such height
the motion Is almost faint and hardly
perCeptlDle. Hdlt-grOWQ negro lads swarm arOlnd
IN their attempts to earn a shilling, and some
times times they have to be whipped from the horses
heads by the driver. The barking of dogs. the
Growing of cocks and the busy hum of mutitudi.
nous insect life hardly definite on terra a,naa is
track lies below. belted round with trees and
1armnouses, groves OF oak hickory and birch,
from such q height appears wide ribbon of
dust and wooden fence, in the shape OF an
isosceles triangle with the corners rounded of. A
look at the field within the fence discOses great
streaks of stunted and famsned grass, dried by
tne August sun, with here and there Gases OF
green heritage, and around these green spots are
gathered open carriages containing merry parties
OF ladies and their attendant cavaliers who devOur
lunches and drink choice wines with zestlu rapid
ity: And ever and ever comes the dntiring chant
Of the pool seer-"How much am bid for Quitss''
~'What'l you give me for FrankYn
IN THE CLUB HOUSE PARLOR.
TaKlng stroll downward through the Club
House 1t is noticeable that within an hour the
scene mas become envened by the presence OF
beautiful women, handsomely dressed, who saun-
ter around and seat themselves on the piazzas to
Donau" played by the immense orchestrion in the
parlor. In the main parlor, which is richly car.
and underneath the pain ting magnificent piano
whose melodious tones are being expounded by
VERY psesy rex g belle IN @ black and
her nicely looped up hair. TO those who nave
literary taste, there is ample accommodation on
the marble tables in the parlOr, Tor the writer
found spread a natural history In monthly parts,
and In addition history OF the world, which con-
tanned hilarious engraving OF the battle Of Buena
Vista.
For the gourmand there Is also great encourage
ment and comfort In the views and vlstas which
he obtains oil adjoining saloons with tables covered
with white cloths, cut glass. silvery casters and
snowy napkins Rushing hlther and thither may
who welcomes ladies' and gentlemen with cneer-
full countenance to the banquet. And ali this time
she pool seller, ike the death song Of the Indian
victim, is monotonous and interminable.
THE DEATH OF GALLANT TABITHA.
Spain has its bun fights and Ashantee its human
1olocausts, and the American race course has its
deadly hurdle races Yesterday most mournlul
the crowds who gazed with more curiosity
than a1iarp pity yon on the dying struggles or the
mind leg was Smashed 'inA in the wn0se attempt mt
OF the animal to lift itself clear OF the last
hurdle before reaching the judges stand. Four
race over eight hurdles, and they were named
vesuyius, lmpecunous, Camden and Tabitha. Tabi-
sble and generally probable in all hurdle races. :.
Camden's rider was pitched head over heels
dCToSS Jue horse $ neck, ana ne was seen plough
1ng the dusty track with his nose scarlet Jacket
covered with dust, and shout arose that ne was
Killed, but the LAD Jumped up, or rather scrambled
up. gained his leet, and Camden, whom he had so
lately bestrode, ran or with that instinct that
always tells horse on such occasions that he has
been doing wrong. The great crowd, who few
moments before were palpitating at heart, fearing
that the jockey was killed, cried out.
how was Il with Sop poor K Ss was
more serious accident and one To be deeply re-
GREETED. On the first half mile in the race the
r.Vn r-0l6 n mo obi a
though she had sod lowest in the pool yet people
opened their eyes when they saw her leave Cam
1avorlte Vesuvlus, until 1t locked as II she
might win the race. But the picture changed in
The green hedge OF a hurdle. Tabltha lifted her
iorelegs and made her leap, and then came down
In lnons % broken error mass %,o s Tnere was wa
vapors and there picture of lad In
2 lilac Jacket running of TO the fence, while the
noble animal lay there, her lett mind leg smashed,
her breast torn, her lore knees broken badly and
her hanks and ribs rising and falling with the mo-
hOn OF bellows. me leg was broken on short
Rnd low down, and 1t hung by mere snred OF
flesh. while the blood slowly formed a pool around
and between the hanks OF the suffering steed.
the track, rs there was another race announced,
and Tabtha was taken and placed gently outside
There she lay IN torment, and crowd gathered,
while the horse flies came In battallons to |
her s Blood die m is 70 nard thing
man dic the picture OF horse on the very
field OF contest where he might have won, lying |
IN agony, Is q sad sight But IL was necessary to |
ease her from her torments, and the eyes of Ta-
bitha looked up piteously, as much as to say, |
XIII me, II you care for me-" Her owner went to
two or three men IN the crowd connected with
the stables, but they would not or had not the
heart to end the horses snfrerngs Finally he
asked stout young Irish lad named jim Dowd
II he would Kill her.
"I'll try" said Jim, ..but don't like to do it."
Here's pistol Kill her quick and put her
out OF misery. That's all l ask your
J., jim Dowd took the pistol and Tabtha looked at
;llin pte0usy for an instant, and the lad took aim,
put he was afraid Of her great, soft, mourniul
Eyes. ne LOOK aim again, and fired, and fired
again ana again, three shots In all, into
lhe nead OF the horse AS the first shot was fred
. rili ol oloou spouted up from the horse's head
anu olood came nowng In red stream from the
nostrlis. me crowd wdened out a little, some
Dne crying out, LET him have room 10 and in lew
snort moments the gallant Tabltna was as dead
Us ooor hail, another monument TO the Jolly and
crime OF nurdic racing. But what matters the
peril to lie and lirlbp No one cares and on next
saturday they VIII have another hurdle race at
Prospect Park, with the same chances In favor OF
lfa