Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-05-20
ALexA.aAzETrE svlRa1N1A ADVERTISER


4
Lost Lost Les.
Ley Of the Last Minstrel.
Master Shallow, l owe you thousand pounds.
-Sha keSpeare.
Futi,ua-Sister Annie, Sister Annie do you
see anybody coming?
IA,1,ie.-l see them galloping, see them gal
Looping. Blue BearG.
The whistle sounded, the wheels revolved,
the cars slowly. left the depot, and "ye ancient
Belle Haven remains placidly resting on ye
pawtomack that city where one half the peo.
pie are praying, singing, sermouizing and mis-
sionziDg the other half voting, drinking,
treating, begging, hoping, fearing and curslug,
and few morazing; whilst over the town there
rises an air redoent with goodness, sanctity
and grace mingled with cheap patriotism cheap
er Whiskey and cigar smoke: but what IAN lnde.
pendent voter has got to do With steepe chas-
ing | cant understand, unless, as well Known
Alexandrian would y,they are both fence men.
but comparisons, as Mrs Malaprop would say,
arc odorous.
The horse is noble animal. the noblest the
proudeSt the most sagaclous that breathes lie
is your true aristocrat, and shows his purity OF
blood in every motion; lu his style, bis delicate
tracery of vein aud muscle, IN every curve OF
his 1.-THE supple, magnificent frame heavy
lumrish head thick leg show bar sinister
in an otherwise fauitess pedigree, and
thoroughbred must be without speck or blem
ish. When this splendid animal is ridden by
gentleman who loves his steed, the sport be-
comes the nobcst pasime in the world.
To run a hurdle race one must be a trained
rider, have quick eye, nerves OF steel, au iron
wrist. Besides this he must be fearless aud
have good luck. When he has these
combined man can hope to ride in steeple
chase without breaking his neck, or without
the disgrace of iunking at every fence and
yawnng ditch. Great is the interest among
the people. Each rider has bis friends, who
are backing HIM through thick and THO, and
lay their pots heavily ou their chosen color.
Green, the wiuuer Of last years cup, is the
Iavorite among his Old comrades of the Black
Horse, but he vii! have to ride as he never did
before to beat his rivals and to win the silver
pu,ch bowl. To day is an exciting one here,
ana the road to the races presented curious
scene At an early hour Of noon numerous
rural vehicles came jingling and drlbbllng into
War.enton, en- route to the grounds which arc
near the pike, on Mr. Forbes land Here you
could see the old family centennial coach, with
It's furnished trimmings and ladder steps, the
pain, mottIcd with age, rumbliug aloag. Be
hind a couple OF Sedate farmers would z down
the nike on their plough horses. Next, amb-
ling in IA sdeng manner, which showed he
had a sore back was an aged old rip of mule
with his sides as plainly seen as the ribs OF
yrldiron, hestrode by the inevitable 'cullud
mun sab whose worries cleaned 10 the sun.
Then would lash by stylish turnout, drawn
by pair OF high s'eppcrs. Following hard IN
their wake was another centennial barouche
with au antediluvia CT achman,' looking pre-
tcrnaturally grand 10 his masters cast OF suit
OF rusty black, az he vauy piled the thong
Of n vcry substantial half pig driver, half horse
breakers whip, on the ribs and hind quarters
Of pair of lean, rough coated, numbering nags,
to induce them to trot styli>hly and bccomlney
along the road-wagons carts, bugglcs, car.
riages, all kinds OF vehicles lulermInglcd, hed
with laughing, Joyous crowd, all gong to the
races, raising heavy dust as they ratified oD-
ward. Now we have arrived on the ground,
and the preparatory races are about to take
place There are seven entries. Milo heats, best
two in three. $50; first horse $25 to the second.
After spirited struggle the fifty dollars VS.
handed to- Herman Bartcls and The twenty five
10 Wm. Rowe. Best time, l:5G; second best,
2:O!.
But now stir takes place. The movement In
the or, VA, aud the eager interest show that the
real sport of the day sabout TO commence, and
the riders begin to appear near the grand stand.
Whilst they are busy 10 king to their horses
and seeing that ever buckle and strap ls secure,
let us ride along the track to sec the hurdles
they have got to leap.
The track is one mile long, in splendid or
der. The hurdles consist Of u solid plank fence
four feet and some inches high. Against this
fence earth is thrown up aud packed tight with
spade until it resembles massive granite
wall some four feet at the bottom and two feet
thick at the top. Now in leaping these obsruc.
tons unless horse clears them entirely he is 60
ing to have crushing fall, aud when be falls the
odds are two to one that some bones are broken
aud some violent inj jurlcs received, so 1t can
be seen that it is no child play. There arc S OF
these walls to Jump beside the hurdle three teet
high with ditch of artificial water twelve feet
vide 90 the other side. This Is the last leap and
Is near the judges stand and Is u fearful jump
ut twenty feet for Il tired horse to make.
But, the contestants are forming into line;
there are seven ofthem: VIM Rowe on chest
nut mare, Etie Deans, whose colors are grey,
grueu sleeves, black cap.
Ii. Bartcls, ch. &, Murad black, red and
white
Bernard Green, ch. &. Max blue body and
white stripes.
Charley Payne, b. Z, Comet, purple and
orange.
r. d. Daniels, bro. <, Harold, purple and
crimson.
Aodrew Worscy, r. &, Joe, black jacket
white cap.
". q. Sideli, &. M, Queen, white and blue.
The judges mount the stand, among them |
recognlze the genial gentlemen Johu Nj.
Forbes and Gen. W. II. f. Lee with Ftz Lee
aud Capt. Alex. Payne as timers.
The Steeple chase is to be two miles, twice
around the track with eight hurdles aud two
Water leaps.
The flag dropped, aud at the signal, off they
Went, sweeping out for the first second, like a
line of cavalry on the charge. Another moment
aud the liue loses its dress, and Rowe dashes
ahead with his fast brush, and the first hurdle
lsreaohed, Is and Slidell went over as light as
lapwlng, With black, white and red Bartei'
travelling close behind; Bernard Green, with
Mac the winner OF last YEARS. cup, third, bu