The New York herald., 1876-07-21
POLO.
FfATs OF HoIsEMASsHIp AND HxcITING
GAMES BY THE CALIFORNIA POLO CLUB AT
MONMOUTH PARK YESTERDAY

GAMES BY THE CALIFORNIA POLO CLUB AT
MONMOUTH PARK YESTERDAY
The California Polo Club played three exciting games
of polo at Monmouth Park Race Course
yesterday. Tho play was preceded by marvel
lous fcas OF horsemanshp by the members OF ths club
whose exh bons. whole, may be truly said to cx
Gel anything OF tho heretofore cast OF the
Missouri Such . masterIy display can best
convey an idea OF the advantage the CaIifor.
man, Mexican Indian would possess over tho
average American in tho management OF the horse in
icais of a warhkc or peaceful character even making
allowance for the fact that Captain Mowry and his as
socatos OF the California Polo Club ordinary
borseen Their icais yesterday greatly cxcelled tho
skill OF the hippodrome Without the tent aud mar
ring OF the circus and the slow trained nas be
found therein they displayed dexterty superior
the best tricks OF the best circus riders
In respect, however, they were not fortunate To
whose lot II Tell properly to announce the days
sport, the task WAS BAT poorly discharged Few out
side of Long Branch knew that there to be any
such display IN time to make preparation to attend II.
Beyond criei announcement IN tho HsaALD and
notice in the afternoon papers OF Wednesday, New
Workers we, Mere ,, en totally unaware OF the
at the track much smaller than
the sport merited. In exposed places tho sun
excessively hot but strong breeze, OF most refresh
ing SORT, b.ew IN from the broad Atlantic The mem
bers OF The California C,uo have ueen living some little
time on the course and their horses have been aud
still are stabbed in McGrath's Old stable The
are beau ideal horscmcn, being 1.-THE and active
in their movements aud at .hc same t,mo OF good
average and their weight runs from 100 lbs prob
ably ls5 lbs. The two leading horsemcn. Captains
Mowry anu Morgau each about 100 lbs.
The exhibition yesterday was announced 10 and did
commence hafpast three 7. VI. Tho H.
itial feature was entitled, "Fcast Day Fsats
OF the Spanish Cabalcro-Los dos HI
dalgos." These by Messrs Reed and
Mowry, and as an opening were sufficient TO discover
the astonishing eevcrncss OF at least two members
OF the club. Captain Mowry was dressed Ia The well
known style OF a Spanish cavalier. Ho wore
trousers OF dark strn, with the seams
partially open the outside discovering
white undergHrment Along these openings ran
rows OF buttons wG ,,s% % sn' SNORT Ssd 0aoS lack
boots, and spreading sombrcro completed the Quilt.
In this dress Captain Mowry rode a mustang OF brisk
stand After ride up and down IN front Of the grand
stand he set his little charger going a.
While gong at this rate he jumped from
the saddle the ground aud back again iato the sad
die without notable effort; then again. alter turn
ing his mustang he Jumped from the saddle 10 the
ground and back again the horses ions 5eh nd the
saddle. From this position he jumped again to tho
ground and jumped back TO the same seat. Taking
fresh start Captain Aowry dashed past the stand AT
furious pace. When nearly opposite tho judges stand
he threw himself on one side and drew h's fingers
along the dust for distance OF ut least two hundred
yards, recovering himself without noticeable exertion
He then changed his horse for natural quicker"
The gait OF tins animal the most peculiar
In Monmouth or any other Eastern racing park. Be-
fore the rider was larly mounted the bucking mustang
fore legs, drew up his body INTO sort OF dromedary
shape and plunged away vigorously. This pIunging
consisted not only OF kicking hls hind legs high into
tho air, but AT the same time he would
alternately raise his lore feet which he kept
peculiarly still, and bring them down again with
iorcc enough one would think, to throw any living
man OF the saddle. But Captain Mowrv still stuck
on, helped however by the aid OF straps which, II
must be adm tied were at times absolute necessity.
After this exhibition four OF the other members OF the
club displayed their skill in picking articles from the
ground while riding at full sallop These, TOO. sue
rel,,n
with the greatest apparent ease while gong at top
speed.
Captain Mowry then assumed his regular riding suit
and mounted on cream colored mustang set on on
mile ride to illustrate rapdity in changing AS
he approached the finish of his rst mile another Nom
her of the club well mounted met him and seized his
horse by the bride. Me, nwhlc q second horse
man, riding one mustang and leading an
other, ready to gallop by his SIDE With
a bound he enters the empty saddle and
dashcs away the second mile. Next time The
same thing s attempted but The speed the mustang
100 much for the rider. no obliged to by his
horses side until fair chance offers and thus no
trivcs 10 mount without checking the speed OF his
animal
Alter these clever exhibitions OF horsemanshtp the
club dressed and prepared for the game of polo Both
similar dresses with the exception OF the
CAPS. The suit was oil biuo and white-bluo shirts
white trousers and long boots. Captain Nowrys team
wore red and white caps aud Captain Morgan's side
blue and white The former hsa with him on his side
Messrs. Jourdan and Fguero and Captain Morgan had
Mcssrs. Garlic and Ballard Mr. John j. Green was Sc
lectcd Tor umpire BY his directions the bali, which
was three and half inches in diameter, was thrown
between The goals by an attendant and one horselan
either side dashed toward 1t with all the vigor
and force possible. The remaining players closed in
Immediately alter and close and exciting struggle
sued, the game terminating in about five minutes in
favor Of Captain Mowry's team This game played
with the California mallct, which cannot properly
be called malict at all, beng little more than three
feet IN length and round like n walking cane At the
end The second game was played with mallets used
by the New York Polo Club The players evi-
IDENTIFY not much at ease with this but they worked
with equal dcxterity Two lost their macis in the
melee after the opened and picked his
without disnountDg, while mallets were ing his
head and horses prapcng and dancing all about hun.
The other obliged 10 dismount to get his but lost
lille tune IN the act This pame was won by Captain
Morgan's side. Tho team tossed to determine which
malet should be in the final game, and, Captain
Mowry winning, nc chose tho California mal,et The
last game rather more brisk than the others 1t
won by Captain Mowry's team.
The average TINE OF the three games little less
than five minutes and YET the horses were In foam Of
pcrspiraiion when play ceased.
Tho goals the track in front of the grand
stand and At a distance OF some 200 yards The Cali
fornia Lo.o players will have another exhibition TO-
morrow the samo place