The Morning herald., 1876-05-06
THE TURF.

| AHI AC4SA'
Old DTtanare Stables umd Blooded Horses
--7A,f,e ,Slso Ossned them.-7he AHtcrsst ~
Rors Facing Prospects for a spri"O
Racing season.
It is matter generally regretted among
those who may be classed as "turftes," in
Wilmington, that there is so little interest
shown in racing There was time in the
history of Delaware that its turf was cele-
brated for the display of excellent racing
stock, and many of it's thorough bred
horses figured in races for large purses on
many famous tracks of the country. But
the stock has been allowed to run down
until VIC now have so few thorough breds
as to make the interest felt in turf matters
very noticeable, especially to those who
have fancy for racing stock. The trouble
seems to be mainly in the fact that those who
purchased horses for the purpose of racing
them have been unfortunate in those pur
chases, and after training, have found they
were hot able to obtain any remarkable
speed from them. Another is that stock
raising of this kind is very expensive, and
a dsinclinatiOn to make ventures where so
much is involved. Years ago old General
Foreman Of the Eastern shore of Maryland,
in the neighborhood Of Warwick, had some
fine running and trotting stock, and his
stables were so contiguous to this State
that Delawareans were as much impressed
! with pride in his horses as though they
Y were native to this State. The horses from
his stables were well known in Whining
ton, and many of them had records that
undermined three minutes badly.
The stables of Mr.. Springer Mcdaniel,
which were located near Newport, are well
recol)ected by the people of this State, as
having produced very good racing stock,
and tpe late Alexander Porter paid consid-
cradle attention to stock raising. To men
tion toe name of Old Delaware Mingo, in
Delaware, awakens the same interest with
its horse fancying people. as the name of
Hanhletonian does among the turfinen of
New York. A gentleman with whom re-
porteT oI the HEHALD held conversation,
Yesterday, and who is an admircr of blood
ed horses, said that Delaware horsemen had
as much respect for the memory Of Old
Mingo as a nation had for some old veteran
who had passed away. He was the no.
blest beast that eyer stood on the turf, a
|
blood.
Another horse that was noted in his day
and the finest that the late Mr.. Alexander
Porter had in his stables,wa Eclipse Light
| foot, an excellent racer, and gained con-
siderable reputation upon the turf. King
Alfred is a thorough bloodcd horse, and is
in the stables of Mr.. George q. Lobdell.
He showed evidences ef good speed, and it
was the intention of his owner to put him
in training, but al accident befel him that
caused this purpose to be abandoned. He
| is desdendcd from Old Planet and is the
most thoroughbred horse in the State.
There are two others upon the Eastern
Shore of Maryland, that are said to be his
peers in blood. Mr.. Lobdell has small
track on his farm, which he uses for pri-
vate purposes, but at pres ent there are no
horses in training there.
Thus far there have been no arrange
ments made, although the season
is rapidly advancing, for any Spring racing,
which seems strange especially, in this Cen
tennial year, when there will be more than
the usual demand for amusements of all
kinds, and those Of sporting kind will be
of decided attraction. An effort will be
made to inaugurate a season by gentlemen
of Wilmington, who have good stock iD ;heir
stables. Mr.. William II. Thompson states
| that there is an excellent opportunity for
spring season Of races, as gentlemaL
named Pyle, from West Chester, has taken
the stables at the Scheutzen Park, where
he has six very good horses of his own, and
| will take others to train. The track is \
little heavy, but can be put in good train
| ing order at very small expense. Mr..
| Thompson has keen, trim mare, which he
| entered in the Fall races as" Black Maria,"
when she made it in less than three min
utes. She is sister of John Murphey's
mare Maggie M. Gray, and is closely related
to the mare Gypsey that has recently given
out, and is now at Suffolk Park in Doble's
stables recruiting. He will enter
this mare in the event of spring season
Mr.. John 9. SwAze, present proprietor of
Grubb's Hotel, also has mare of good
speed that will enter if a season can be ar
ranged. 1t is understood also that Mr..
VIM. G. Martin has mare of excellent
speed in his stable that he would enter, and
| in the stables corner of Eighth and Orange
streets, owned by Mr.. Edward A. Harvey,
are some horses of very good speed that
would be entered. An interest has been
awakened in the matter by the horse fan
ciers, and it is thought thought that some
lively an exciting races will be arranged in
the course of month, which will be a de-
cided revival Of racing interests.
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Cattle 7Nieres.