The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-04-16
THE RACES.
TWO OUT or THREE FAvORITEs WIN.
Fine Opening of the spring Meeting ef
the Louisiana Jockey Club.

Fine Opening Of the spring Meeting ri
the Louisiana Jockey club.
Yesterday was such day as the most fastldl-
ous OF sportsmen could hnve wished for tho
opening Of tho spring meeting of 1879 Of tho
Louisiana Jockey Club A bright sun shone
throughout tho day. while the temperature was
sufficiently bracing 10 mako winter clothing
comfortable. The roads TO tho Fair Grounds
we're also. thanks TO tho attention Of Mr.. Burke.
tho Administrator Of improvements. In highly
excellent condition. and those who wore for
tunato enough to ride behind fast horses appre-
eiated this attention. rs well the lovely ap-
poaraneo Of our tree bordered drives. which nre
now in their full green attire. Besides. 1t had
rained heavily during Thursday night. and The
! Inconvenience Of shell dust. 80 disagreeahle al.
times. was obyated.
Notwithstanding these and other favorable
circumstances tho attsndanoo nj tho race track
was not SO large rs might have been expected.
| very many. doubtless OF the fair soS especially
having abstainod from tho genuine enjoyment
offered them by tho sacredncss in which Holy
Week is held by them. And yet the attendance
was by far larger. and the ladies were repre-
sented in greater numbers than they wsro on
| similar occasion last year.
| Taking II all In ALL when three o'clock came,
the hour Of starting. everything looked auspi-
Dor OF tho horses. the appearance Of tho grand
stand and the fleld. which was pretty fairly
| packed with carriages. filled with visitors.
Three races wero announced to take place.
| First. the ladies' favorite, a hurdle RAGS; then
the Piekwick stakes, milo heats. for three year
| olds; and lastly a dash Of two miles for all
agos-an excellent programme. which was fairly
carried out. and would have supplied NIL tho
| excitement wished for. but for tho heavness Of
the trnck-that great drawback Of time. md the
| effect Of which nobody can fool like thorough
| going sportsman.
At fow minutes past the signs was givon
for the appearance Of the horses entered for the
| race. There were four entries. namely:
| Astrapeo Vandal. Jr.. Col Nelligan and Port
| Leonard placed as named. all of whom mani
| Tested good training and condition After y
false start ~ fair one succeeded. the four horses
| going off together. but Vandal taking the lead
| over the first hurdle Nelllgan and Port Leonard
| clearing II nj the Same timo. Tao second hurdle
| was cleared in the Same order. On the back
stretch NelIgan rallied. and hard race be-
tween him aud yandal ensued, sometimes mock
and neck md alternating positions: Leonard
close behind. This condition continued
to the third hurdle In the second mile
when Neigan secured first place. Asrapee
had meanwhile given up the race. On tho home
stretch there was change. Nelligan coming In
an easy winner in 4;i5. beating Vandal. the
favorio. by one length. and Port Leonard several
lengths Of course the old New Orleans favor
its was loudly cheered by those who had placed
their confidence in him.
In due time the bell rang for the second rnee.
the pickwick stakes. for three year olds. mile
heats for which there wero fourteen entries.
only three Of whom. however. had been an
nounced as probable starters. Rowetfs Harry
Edwards Cottrll's Mediator, and John Funk's
Harry HILL The dashing colts provoked much
admiration as they walked out Of tho paddock.
particularly Harry Hill. by his splendid size and
fine FORM and tho high spirit which ho mani
tested. and the Rowctt colt by his trim and neat
shape. and yet Cottrils was decidedly the favor
tie. and looked as mild and peaeeable as lamb.
After u failure. q start was made. Edwards
taking the lead ut u bound and keeping 1t
through the heat. On rounding tho homo
turn, Mediator gathered mp his loins
and closed upon tho chestnut colt and
the same mnneuvcr was attempted by Harry
Hill. who had lagged far behind. but to no avail,
Mediator kept up under tho spur Of the whip,
but on approaching the distance stand Edwards
widened the gap between him and Mediator.
also under the influence ofthc whip. and crossed
the line one length ahead Of Mediator AS for
Harry Hill, it became evident that he was more
powerful than fast Time-1:55h
Tho second heat was inaugurated by false
start after which Harry Hill boldly made for the
lend which he kept 10 tho quarter post. one
longth ahead Of the Cottrill colt. Edwards. third
and far behind. rallied on tho back stretch and
Mt the half mile was leading Harry Hill, Media-
tor close behind Thence began the struggle for
first place between the winner Of the first hoat
and tho Cottrill colt. Harry Hill having lost bis
grip and fallen behind. and the home stretch
saw Mediator leading half q length to tho dis
lance stand when Edwards. giving M all hopes.
reined up. letting his antagonist win by about
| Ave lengths. Time~l 564.
| This victory changed the aspect Of things, for
whilst Mt the beginning of the heat Edwards lad
commanded two to one on his winning tho race
I the tables were now changed, the Cottrill colt
calling for $3.50 to s275 Harry Hill was ruled out
| for failing to win heat
The third and last heat proved that the IudR-
ment of Cottrill's friends was correct Edwards
| led mt tho tapping Of the drum Mediator close
up At tho quarter pole Edwards lost his hold
and fell back badly on tho back stretch. and was
fully ten lengths behind at tho half mile post
| Mediator had an easy time Of II afterwards. Ed
wards only saving his distance by vigorous ap-
plications Of the whip Time-2:o5.
The third race promised to be the exciting one
of the day. although the favorite Sam Harper.
commanded large odds. say from two and u half
to three to one There were four Other entries for
this dash of two miles for all ages: r. L2yd,s
verdgris A. WaddIe's Pompeys Pillar; r. o.
Pompoy led, with Falmouth second, Pompey not
Keeping his position long, and giving II up TO
| Falmouth ut the quarter pole. Thence the POSI-.
tions varied fantast cally,.. kilbnrn. who had
occupied second position at the quar-,
ter-pole. fell back TO third before tho half
mile could bo reached. Pompey. fourth and the
favortc. Sam Harper. taking II leisurely In the
fifth place. Meanwhile Verdigris had crept up
and was leading at the end OF the ilrst mile. IL
became apparent here that the horses were not
| running faster than two minute gait. ana
therefore not much could be expec ed as totime
Nothing particular occurred until the home
stretch was reached in the second mile. Sam
mouth in his rear was pushed under the Whip
and, at the turn had punched in with Verdigris
and Kjlburn. and as though it were q mere
| nastime for him, ran under the line i've Lengths
ahead of Verdigris. Kilburn third Pompey
fourth. and Falmouth fifth. Tlme-3:56H.
SUMMARY.
Louisiana Jockey Club Spring Meeting. New
Orleans, April Is. 1876.
First Race-Hurdle race. two miles over eigh
hurdles: Club purse s4o0. First horse $3.50
second horse 800; third horse $50.
by Harry Of the West, dam Emelne.,..
Thos Murray, eh. h. Vandal. Jr.. y. o., by
|, Vanda dam Dew Drop.............,...
r. LLOYD b. &. Port Leonard aged. by
Voucher dam Prunella. ............:.;..
w. Brady. gr. h. Astrapee. 3 y. o.. by Light
ming dam by imp. Sovereign. ...........
Time, 4:15.
Second Rnce-The Pickwick stakes, for thre
year ol1s: s25 entrance. pp. with 800 added
4 anln Ia. hnn