Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-06-17
MEMPHIS, TENN: THURSDAY EVENING, JUNE II, 1875.

that the mass of the people became
speedily shrouded under huge shield Of
umbrellas The first race was mere
hzzle, one single competitor only pre-.
senting himself, and the jockey dis.
dained to even walk his horse over the
course under the pelting Of the pitt.
less storm. At last, just as the
horses were being led out for
the second race, the dark veil Of clouds
was drawn up like theater curtain,
showing the clear blue sky and the ra.
diant sun OF May. As suddenly as the
storm had come so swiftly did il depart.
Wsterproofs and umbrellas vanished as
1t by magic. Carriage tops and leather
curtains were dispensed with. There
was a show of splendid toilettes and
dashing danes in the epen vehicles.
Like swarm Of drenched butterflies at
the first touch Of the sunshine the CAV
irequenters of the race course huttered
forth in all their glory. Only the steam.
ing horses and the dripping coats of the
coachmen remained to tell of the past
discomfort. The second race passed off
gayly with much applause for the win
cor. Nobody was much hurt, no horse
rell in the dangerous leaps over hedges
aud bitches. Then came the great race
ol the day, the one for 10000 francs.
Eleven horses started for the prize
beautiful, graceful, high-bred animals all
OF them, among which we're numbered
several English horses, fact which
rendered the general interest in the race
all the more intense, as of late years
the English have had an ugly trick OF
carrying off the great prizes Of French
race courses, as witness the Grand Prix
de Paris last year A novel feature
oil this race TO my eSes was the
presence of a starter" an indi-
Vldual in full dress, and mounted on
a superb thoroughbred, who ac-
companied the horses for little
distance, gave the signal for the
start, and then, after following
them for little way, returned to his
post, The distance to run was ak thou
sand meters (about six thousand Eve
hundred yards), which is twice that gone
over in an ordinary race. Away the
horses few, the bright-colored jackets Of
the horses flashing like mauy-hued mete-
ors in the distance. A shout, cheer. a
frantic rush of the crowd from one side
OF the ground to the other announces
that the main obstacle, deep and wide
ditch, has been cleared. Round and
round again they go; some falter and
fall behind; the crowd shout or groan as
now French horse and now an English
one gains the front. Here they come at
the finish, two French horses holding the
lead. They keep it and dart past the
winning post-La Veine first and Con-
reause de Mutt second-both belonging
to one owner, the Baron j. Finot, and
the Grand National Steeple-chase is
over. The crowd kept back by the police
are let in at last to exercise the time
honored privilege of saluting the winner,
which receives perfect ovation. Hats,
handkerchiefs and umbrellas are waved
wildly in the air, and some enthusiasts
even 60 so far as to kiss the archiug
neck and glossy side of La Veine. As
a dark contrast to this brilliant triumph
we see one beautiful horse led from the
course limping painfully on three legs,
having either broken a leg or dislocated
a shoulder in his fall. One man was
thrown, but escaped uninjured.