The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-08-13
CLOUDY WEATHER--MUDDY ROADS.
a Fine Attendance and
Good Sport.
THREE VERY INTERESTING RACES
Ozark and Miner Make Dead Heat for the
KeDner Stakes Grinstead Wins the
Mile and Half, and Brigand
the Selling Race.

Tho sloppy dsagrecablo weather yesterday inercred
somewhat with the attendance at the Saratoga races
The day formed . striking contrast to last Monday,
when tho August meeting inaugurated and when
the sun shonc bright the air cool and balmy and
thesky Of ceruean blue Yesterday the clouds from
above and tho wind from below threw something of
damper upon the splendid course, the air was
close and hot and breath stirring in the pic
surcsque woods that form tho background Saratoga
, place at which the influences of the weather,
Of the caprces OF rain and sunshine always felt to
Astriking degree. The men, OF course do not mind
little rain mud much, but everybody knows that
the male is here but an appendage to the female
II Madame says sob, can't go to the races, it's
mnddyi" her husband her brother her beau,
perhaps all OF them doomed TO stay at the hotel
and iose the enjoyment OF tho SPORT and the ladies'
mon only go 70 the because their fair friends like
10 60 and show their dresses and would rather stay
home than go nlone
THE BETTINo nKSrRUTED.
All this accounts for the fact that thcro was not
that great crush the grand stand which marked tho
opening day OF tho August meeting and which had
boon confidently expected from the ovcrned condition
OF the hotcls but drizzng rain descended Wednes
day afternoon 70 spite tho lovers OF tho turf Tho
effect was seen at at the pool rooms that very
evening" where the bidders much smaller in num-
Der tinn generally the in fair weather The bad
walks kept many Of tho usual cquentcrs Of Morrisseys
shrine at homo and compelled them to content them
selves with game Of billiards cards. dance at
the chop" Others who did go, Drawing the rain and
mud from the lovo of the turf and the betting kept
somewhat back in the bidding The uncertainty OF the
condition OF the track made them disincined
10 bid as freely and largely they would otherwise
havo done Usually the question is 'What is the best
horse'" but now it suddenly becomes (which is the
mud horse7"
THE 'MUD HORSE" QUESTION
II rather puzzlng question, for the solution Of
which but few had come prepared. People discussed
the relative merits OF different horses on muddy track
and great varieties OF opinion seemed TO prevail in
regard 10 this point The seasoned old urfmcn well
knew that the longstding horse is the true 'nud
horse" because he is apt to slip in his long strides
and does not gather quickly and that the short,
quick jumper is entitled to tho distinction
which that otherwise rather unenvabe designation
fcrs Tho discussion from being first about the qualities
necessary to constitute the mud horse par excellence
thon naturally turned the question: (which is the
best quick jumperf'' This another knotty point
70 SETTLE and for oil these people were rather
cautious in laying out their money. Every one was
watching his neghbor to what he going to do
and although considerable betting INDUCED in it did
not reach previous proportions.
GRAND STAND.
Tho grand stand, although IL did not present tho re-
markably brilliant appearance Of the first day. was
nevertheless comfortably filed there being compare
lively few vacant seats As the seating capacity of the
Eand large, being probably not less than 1000
II can easily be what evergreen attraction the
are in Saratoga, in sloppy weather. OF
course the facilities for reaching the race course from
the more remote parts of the town greatly i'm
paired while thestages plying between the hotels
did capital business and had many passengers
who would otherwise have walked These stages old,
jong battered vehicles though they are charge twen-
tyvo cents for tho ride, which only occupies five min
utos In New York you ride from the Fulton ferry
to tho Windsor Hotel for ten cents here you must pay
twenty-five cents for riding about three quarters of
mile Tho road leading to the lined with
long of hacks and also of elegant private equpages
whose fortunate could generally afford 10 expose
Me dresses of their ladies' to the peril of few mud
Itains