National Republican., 1885-05-12


Horse racing has been one Of the amuse.
ments of mankind throughout all recorded
time. The pages Of history bear witness
to tho fact that the Greeks, long before
the beginning Of the Christian era, were
as much delighted with competitive trials
of speed between the noble brutes, and
perhaps BACKED their choice" as eagerly
as the modern Englishman or American.
But the horse and his speed have both
been developed by tho English to degree
Of excellence Of which tho men Of the past
had no conception. The thoroughbred is
exclusively tho product Of English sa-
gacity, care, and scientific breeding, car.
riod on unromittingly through gene
rations. until to-day no is without an
equal in tho world for beauty, speed,
strength. endurance, and usefulness. In
our own country, in France, in Germany,
in Russia. in short in all tho countries Of
the world where race horse is found, he
is an English thoroughbred or the direct
descendant of the English thoroughbred,
and always the undsputed highest type Of
horse.
Racing in England is emphatically a
national institution, patronized by all
from royalty down to the humblest
worker, aud kindred in blood and Ian.
guagc as we are, it would be queer IL a
similar passion for the sport of sports did
not pervade the American people. In
fact, it may be truthfully said that wher-
ever the English speaking people go the
race horse soon follows and flourshes.
In Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania,
India, at Hong Kong, Singapore, and
Cape Town racing is as eagerly carried
on as in England herself.
The early colonists Of our own land
brought tho thoroughbred along, and a,
leisure times between fighting Indians
and subduing the virgin land carried
on racing with ardor and enjoyment
Our own Washington was q devoted turf
man, owning and running his own race
horses, and betting like gentleman il
support of his choice. Virginia was then
and for long sftervard, tho chief homt
and breeding place of the thoroughbret
in this country as Kentucky is to-day
Diomed the first winner Of England
great race, the Derby, was imported t,
Virginia, and from him in straight lint
descended successive generations of thu
best race horses known to the history o
tho American turf Many other higl
bred and famous horses were brough
over to Virginia from time to time
whose blood is widely disseminated to
day among our running and trottin!
horses.
Racing, as carried on fifty years age
was vastly different from what IL now ia
Races were mainly heats Of two, three
or four miles, and matches for great sum
at lfour.mile heats were often mad'
Richmond and Washington were note
racing centers. There are, no doub
those still living here who could tell {
the famous horses that ran here in tn
days whom every one was familiar wit
the names of the great racers Bostor
Fashion, Eclipse, Henry, Planet, an
and George Kinneys Of to-day. 1t is
record that the people Of Washington
those days all went to the races, so thi
the people of Washington Of to-day, WI
all go to the races also, can know thi
they are worthily keeping alive ousto,
fortified by good example, set by goC
people in the past.
Since the National Jockey Club revive
r racing here their beautiful course at 1,
, City has been the scene Of many excitir
q contests and has been tho means OF affor
d ing local race gocrs the pleasure of behol
a ing the most famous stars Of the turf. ]
, their liberality and enterprise is owir
a the credit of having brought bith
Thora, Glenmore, the ever-famous Sarol
lroquois, the only American winner
!, tho Derby. Eole, who is now in En-
r land preparing to win the Ascot go
I cup; Miss Woodford. George Kinne
q Drake Carter, Louisette, Gen. Monro
n Rataplan, and others, whose deeds
b speed and endurance will always ado
I turf annals. Their efforts to ent'
+ tain the people of Washington ha
not been without appreciation and recoI
pense. Washington is u horse-lovil
% city, and on all hands there is amI
3, evidence that her citizens are feeling
IS extraordinary degree of interest in t
10 meeting that begins to-day. The oflici'
p Of tho Jockey Club have undoubted
10 provided sport for the week that is ful
t. up to the high standard of their p,
d meetings, and it is now certain that VIII