The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-07-04
THE SPRINGS TURF.
ummer and Fall Races NJ the Green
brier White.
Herald White sulphur letter. !

The season OF ~ Is destined 70 DE one OF
the most memorable in the annals Of the
White Sulphur. 1t will supply the long
needed attraction OF beautiful race-course,
and to the natural charms Of this famous
watering-place will De added that OF love-
ly artificial lake covering an area OF some
twenty-five or thirty acres. These two Tea
lures have been talked about and craved by
the visitors for years and years, but owing
to the peculiar legal embarrassments OF
the property their construction never
could be attempted until the present
company obtained complete control and
began its series OF extensive inn
provements. Virginians are noted fortheir
sporting procliyities. They are fond OF
"old sledge" and "draw poker" and
they even gambol with the animal on the
green; but what they most glory in is q
horse race. In ante-bellum times they
boasted of having some OF the finest blOoded
stock in the country, and the Virginia turf
laid claim to some OF the greatest exhibi-
tiOns OF power, endurance, and speed by
Virginia horses OF the day. But though
the war wellnigh swept away the
stock, as well as the means for keeping
| il up. the passion for horse-racing remains
all the same. Nor are Virginia turf
u.
boswell are well known in sporting circles
] TODAY, and their stables sustain the ancient
prowess OF old Virginia racers. To those
| deyotees OF the turf represented here
every season must be added the steady and
increasing influx OF their more vigorous
progeny from Kentucky and the West.
Then throw in very fair admiXture OF
English gentlemen who have settled here
1 mi
| YOU have all the elements conducive to the
formation OF frst-class enthusiastic ra-
cling association. 1t was to the clamor-l
may almost say demands-of this class that
the Springs Company promptly responded
| in building a race-track, and their fondesl
anticipations are at last about to be realized
| TIE COURSE.
| Every visitor to the springs will recol
lect the lovely patch OF meadow, about one
hundred acres in extent, lying over in the
valley lust beyond IIoward's creek, and the
old laundry buildings on the west side Of
the spring grounds. 1t is the most charming
spot that could have been selected for 6
race-course. The meadow is oblong il
shape, so will be the track. On the cast i
is bounded by the limpid waters OF the
creek, on the west by the Greenbrier range
OF mountains. Directly back Of the creek
on the springs side, are the oyerhangint
bluffs Of Lovers Leap" the Windows
OF the bath-house, and the wide We
randas Of the new club building
from all OF which there can be al
unobstructed view of the entire courst
from the start to.the finish. The races vii
invariably take place late in the afternoon
when the course is hidden from the rays o
the declining sun by the deep and length
ened shade of Greenbrier mountain. TIL
track il one mile in length. The curve
are north and south, the stretches east ant
west. About midway on the west side
the track Is beautiful little knoll at tn
base Of the mountain, on which VIII b
erected the grand staNd, and which OF IL
self commands view Of the whole course
Stabling for the accommodation OF 10
racers will be built in the sugar grove TN
der Lovers Leap" and not far from tn
old laundry on the bank OF the creek
where exercising ground is protected b
the shade, both i'll the morning and aftel
: noon.
TIE RACES.
The building o. race-track involves
great deal more time and expense than on
, would at first suppose. 1t has to be graded
then spread over by 4 fine mould. the
sodded to make it springy, and then mould
ed again and rolled. The grading, whic
is OF itself heavy job, is now nearly I'll
: ished, and by the latter part OF Angus
when il Is proposed to hold the first NEE
ing. the track, buildings, and all the nece
T sary appointments will be complete and
the most thorough working order. Ii Is no
r understood that the course and the racin
: will be under the supervision OF Major j.
Ferguson, OF Baltimore, who has chare
also OF the PimlicO course, at that Guy.
: programme of five days racing, on alterna
, days. has been arranged, commencing Q
August 10Th and ending on September 'tl
Several turfmen have expressed their WI
ingness to bring their stables TO u
d "Wbite" this fall for the purpose
inaueurating the races, and others hay
ljberally offered to contribute TO purs
:, and CUPS. During the season 1T is pr
poled to form and incorporate the WIN
sulphur Racing Association, under u
auspices Of such prominent gentlemen
: ". w. Corcoran, OF Washington; Govern'
|, Mathews, OF West Virginia; Major Them
w. boswell, of Virginia; Senator Camdel
of West Virginia; Senator'S Hampton al
, Rntler. OF South Carolina; w. A. Qualne
y OF West Virginia; Senator Vest, OF MI
souri; and Lewis Baker, OF Wheeling, '
Va. The latter gentleman oilers nan
II some purse on his own responsibility. !
d addition to the regular fall meetings at U
:, White there will be numerous nat anu hu U
die contests between gentlemen during u
spring season, which Will De SOURCES