Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1880-03-30

In one of the late issues of the Forest
and Stream there was given brief no.
tice of the Warrenton Riding Club, and
as there is doubtless much interest in
the North on this subject, will write
an account of the race of the 10Th inst,
and do my humble part in striving not
only to awaken love of the manly
sports in other sections of the country,
but also to show the nodaIs operdnd of
the pastime to those who desire to form
riding clubs. That such noble AMI
NAL IS the horse, ip all its perfection,
should be used by professionals of the
turf only as means of winning, by bet
ting on his powers, is shame; and that
the horse with his long pedigree should
be valued only as means of making
money, by disreputable class of COM
munify of the race course is none the
less discreditabe to our gentlemen
huntsmen and sportsmen of America.
The formation OF riding clubs by gen
tlemen throughout the country will
tend greatly to incuioate love of horse
flesh among them. 1t will bring tn EN-
more in sympathy with the horse; it
will raise the value of blooded stock in
the country it will be premium on
blood, and a discount upon scrubs that
infest our country it will encourage a
love for the noblest pastime on earth,
and, in fact, the good and benefit to re-
suit from general formation of riding
clubs throughout America could not be
estimated, and would simply be lncalcu-
!abhlle. !'aabhle. .
Fauquier County, section of exceed
ing beauty. Watered by the Rappahan-
mock River, and many other smaller
streams, it has charming diversity of
mountains, hills, valleys, meadow, and
rolling land, as a general thing rich and
fertile; ride through this region is a
pleasure to one fond Of beautiful scene
ry; it is changing, and ever varying of
wild nature and thorough cultivation,
l.ofmpAntains and rocks of savage gran
ldeurs of handsome mansion and pictu-
EtfsQ1e farmhouse, and lowly cabin ; all
Ike the eye and charm the senses
This country is Inhabited by as noble a
tset of gentlemen as ever swung them
selves into saddle-hospitable, kind.
and brave, with .sn enthusiastic love of
hounds and horses that nothing could
extinguish. It has always been famous
for its riders. Turner, Ashby. Ran
dolph, Payne, and many others of war
fame came from old Fauquier. and it
vss FROM the same place that the fa-
NOUS "Black Horse Cavalry" were re-
cruited. Many of your readers of the
Federal army will recollect this county,
known to them in war times as Mosby' g
Contederacy, and many of them in me-
mory will recall the dreary winters
camp on the Rappahannoek, the sum-
mer's bivouac at Warrenton, and the
dashing charge against Stuart at the
fords, or fighting "hand to hand" with
Mosby's rough riders in the gorges OF
the Blue Ridge. Yes, the old vetraa OF
both sides will remember them of the
deeds done, the actions performed, and
exploits achived which, in history, will
yet
| ..Foint q moral and adorn tale.!
The Warrenton Riding Club has some
thirty or forty members Gen. Payne
President; Gen. Bethune, Vice Presi
dent; and G. Payne, Secretary. Rathel
much of one name? Well, yes; but al
most every other man you meet IN FaC
ouier County is bound to be named
Marshall.s The club all own flne nor
ses. Many of the members are well to
do Engliehmen who have located VIII
us, and who have brought their love O
the turf from the old country. The cos
tune consists of white corduroy pants
top boots, jacket, and of the riders owl
colors and design.
The 10Th of May last was the day, SCI
for the great steeple chase for the sllve
punch bowl. and the local political caul
dron which is generally fiercely bub
bling about this time sinmered dowl
into nothing beside the intended race
Men talked and put their "pots" on tn
favorite, and the women espoused In
fortunes of their champion with tn
same ardor as the coarser sex. Abou
norn every known and conceivable We
hicle was on the road to the race course
a few miles outside of Warrenton, AM
near the Sulphur Springs. Fine car
riages drawn by stylish Thoroughbred
ratified by filled with the beauty an a
fashion, whose gay laughter Hosted OF
the MONDAY air; aristocratic OLD cen
tennial coaches jumbled steadily aionl
with the mud of many counties on tnel
wheels horsemen were passing o:
scores, many of them sitting IN thei
saddles with that easy negligent grac
that besnOke the old c8Valrymen Wn