The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-12-30
OLD TIME RACES.
THE CONTESTS BETWEEN KENTUCKY
AND LOUISIANA TWENTY YEARS
AGO.
The Metalrie Race Course In 1sS4-SS-
TIVE Lexington-LecOmte Races-Lex-
1nwtDn Against Time.


1s5l-LExIscroN, LEooMTE, HIGHLANDER
ARROW.
The great State Stake Of four mile heats
"a Il was called, was made on the part o.
Louisiana, Alabama Kentucky and Missis
sippi, at $4,000 each, play or pay, each horse
starting I'm the race to receive $1,000 out oil the
stakes, provided that he was not distanceo
md the winner the remainder. On naming
the horses Kentucky presented Lexington
y MtsaiaEippi Iecomte, and Louisiana Arrow,
Iii by Boston, and Alabama Highlander by
Glencoe. The interest in the race centered on
4 Lexington and Lecomte, both three-year-
Odds, Highlander being o four-year.old, out OF
Gastanet, by imported Monarch. while Arrow
was d live year-old, out of Jeannetteau, by
imported 1eviathan. The race attracted
much attention, and was Witnessed In the
presence OF crowd estimated at 10000 per-
sons. In the judges stand was ex-President
Fillmore In company with Col. ,(now Cow
Wade Hampton, representing. Alabama; Col.
y. j. Hughes representing Louisiana; Mr..
Robert Evans Kentucky, and Judge Pinck-
Oocke president Of the Metairle Jockey Club,
IL the Betting, which was very heavy. High
lander, who was ridden by, Fitzpatrick, at 100
pounds, had the call, with Lexington, who
ss W. r5ae de cS ridden by a. negro boy
named John. at Sc pounds third, and Arrow,
~ lot, with the famous Abe up, last: Con-
siderable money was also bet on Highlander
against the field ct $50 to 500. The track
Welding. Promptly on call the horses took
Choir places. and ct the tap OF the drum Lex
fngton took the lead, followed by Arrow, Le-
Comte and Highlander, In which order they
ran the first mile In :02. Beginning the sec
pnd, Ilecomte ran up to Lexington, but quick
IN dropped back leaving Lexington to lead at
fhe end on the second mile. in O3, and at
the end Of the third in 6:04H. On maxi
Inc the first turn of the fourth mile Arrow
dropped back, and Highlander moved up on
Leconite. Both made dash ut Lexington as
they came into the stretch, but the kentuck-
IAN came away from them, winning the heat
~ three lengths In $685., Lecomte second,
Highlander third, and Arrow distanced. Be
tween the heats Lexington bad the call at
III over the field. As the drum tapped for
the second heat Highlander rushed away
With the lead, followed by Lexington and
Lecomte. The last named outran the others
|RcinR down the back stretch, and came first
70 the stand In 400. He retained his lead
being run In 4 O3h. AT the beginning OF the
third mile Highlander made his run, but, al
though he got up nearly even with Lexington,
ne failed to pass him. Lecomte In the mean.
time had Increased ed his pace 50 that he h Leo
was run III .5oH (6 :05 for the three miles,
AZ the beginning of the fourth mile High
lander quit, but Lexington at once closed up
Un Jecomte and O tremendous race t0l-
bowed, Lexington taking the Lead at the fin.
seh and winning the heat and race by scant
length In .0l, the last mile having been run
IA i :s0, which was the fastest mile In the race.
The result OF the race caused considerable
discussion as to the merits of the two three
year-olds, which during the week was
both Lexington and Lecomte would start
Tor the four mile purse on the Saturday fol-
lowing.
1S54--LExINaToN VS.. LEcoMTE.
This race caused considerable talk as to the
merits Of Lexington and Lecomte, so that the
ewo by the tacit agreement OF their owners
purse of $4,000 on Saturday, the 8th Of April, a
race the result of which caused even more
controversy than that OF the State Stake race.
e had for starters Lecomte, ridden by Abe;
Lexington, ridden by Henry Merchon, and
ridden by John Ford. The day was delight
fui and the attendance equal In size and
fashion to any ever seen on a race course at
New Orleans. The betting was very heavy,
with Lexington the favorite at odds of 100 to
30. The three were sent away on even terms
Tor the first heat, and on the turn Lecomte
hook the track, and setting the pace fast led
For nearly three miles with Lexington con-
Hnually rushing up as Ii to pass him. But
Abe's orders were to take the track and keep
lt which he obeyed to the letter, running the
Iirst mile In :53, the second in ID, the third
II :49Ls, and the fourth in :49hs, The run
ming oil the whole Of the fourth mile produced
The most intense excitement, as Lexington,
lime and again, under both whip and spur,
eesayed to head the Louisiana colt, Lecomte
winning the heat by six lengths In z :26, the
of which time added enor-
mously to the excitement for 1t not only beat
the then fastest four mile time, but beat 1t by
seconds the previous s pest time IN Ina having
against oston. Lexington was much dis
dressed after the heat, and the betting COM
oletely changed, 100 to 40 being freely offered
"a Lecomte AT the start for the second
heat Lexington took the lead but set the pace
lust four minutes, the first mile having been
run In 2.02. Passing the stand at the be-
Ginning OF the third mile, Lecomte closed
lib and after sharp brush took the lead.
Fas run In LAG, Lecomte beginning the
IOurth mile with a lead OF two lengths. |
As they reached the turn Lexington was |
seen to almost stop, and 1t was feared that he |
had broken down, but it transpired that the |
Ehe distance. He quickly found out his mis-
AXE and Immediately settled down to work |
acsAin Iecomte having, meantime got lead |
81 from forty to fifty yards. Lexington re.
3p0nded with the greatest gallantry, but all
Isas useless; Leeomte could not be reached
winning the heat and race by four lengths In
49,, the last mile having been run In :5224.
Rarbe, who just managed to save his distance
ii the first heat, was away out in the second.
3ome time after the race 1t transpired that
Eexinrton was not quite himself after the |
3tate Stake and that to start him for the club |
snrse Mr.. Ten Brock had to buy the half in |
nrest in Lexington owned by Capt. Villa |
1ilev for 5000, that gentleman insisting that |
"a was not at for any such race.
Of course Mr.. Ten Brock could not stand
& Inv Bennington up for the rest of the sea-
- he at once challenged Col Wells, and in
Es Communication dated April 10 two days
s;fns,ss defeat to "his unskillful rider" and
II he would run Lexington against Lee
z;S;fe 4 race Of four-mile heats over the Me
2Yie Course at 8 p. m. on the 18th OF April
"; S1l1.000 q side, halt forfeit. The money
~ deposited with the president OF the Me-
7sza TsIlib, but Col. Wells declined the con-
- and laid Lecomte up until the following
{s,snn But w bitter was the feeling be-
sei fhe adherents Of the two horses that /