Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1885-08-27

THE NEW KING OF THE TURF.
With all of US the blood mounts higher
and the pulsations quicken when we see
q field of thorough.breds in motion.
There is no other outdoor sport which
begins to compare with it in popular
interest and excitement. Every man
and woman brought in contact with
these trials of speed become enthusiasts
on the subject. There is a spell and an
enchantment about the respectable turf
that can never be experienced in any
other direction. The betting incident to
it may be Objectionable to strict moral
lists, bat in all other respects the amuse-
ment is perfectly innocent and rational.
In all of the great Atlantic cities, the
patrons OF the turf may be numbered
by the hundreds Of thousands. The
elite of society lend their presence on
all occasions. General Grant, in his life
time, was a great lover of the sport, and
Mr.. Arthur, while President. never
missed an opportunity to attend the
Washington and Baltimore races. In a
word, fast horses have an Undesirable
fascination for all classes Of people.
And general interest in the turf and
turf matters is steadily growing year by
year in this country.
There was a great trial at Monmouth
Park one day last week. Three of the
swiftest and gamest animals in America
were pitted against each other for a
single dash of a mile and a quarter
Miss Woodford, Pontiac aud Freeland.
The two former represented the extreme
East while the latter stood for the West.
Miss Woodford is the property of the
Dryer Brothers of Brooklyn, Pontiac
is owned by Pierre Lorrillard of New
Jersey, while Freeland belongs to Mr..
Corrigan of Kentucky. Miss Woodford
was a great f~avorite and brought heavy
odds in the pools. The writer saw her,
in a long race for modern times t21 miles,,
at Louisville, in 1883, and received the
impression that she had not an equal on
the turf anywhere. We also saw Free
land, but not in the same race. He was
at that time a remarkably speedy nag
and has since been steadily improving,
until he at last comes up as the king Of
the turf. Pontiac has been regarded as
the very flower of the Lorrillard stable
of wonders. The coming together OF
three such marvels could not fail to pro-
duce a tremendous sensation. 1t was
the event of the season and all of the
great dailies gave much attention to it.
1t was the West against the East. The
excitement just before the start was inn
mense. The rich men oil the East stacked
greenbacks by the armful on Pontiac and
Miss Woodford. Corrigan. the owner of
Freeland, was unmoved. The friends of
the others outnumbered the hackers Of
the western horse, but what the West
lacked in numbers it made up in con.
fidence. Corrigan said his horse could
win, and he took all offers until he had
wagered a hundred thousand. Other
Western men partook of his confidence
and nerve and they piled up their money
on Freeland until the East was forced to
beat a retreat. 1t was a grand scene.
Everybody was excited, the ladies not
less than the men. Finally. at the tap
of the drum they were of. A New York
paper has this graphic description Of the
race:
There wa a sectional feeling in the
crowd when the horses went to the post.
A wild yell greeted Freeland. Two
thousand women and half as many men
applauded Miss Woodford, and the stead.
fast followers of the Rancocas stable did
not forget Pontiac. The three horses
went off in a straight line. Billy Hayward
on Pontiac, Murphy on Freeland and
Mclaughlin OF Woodford. Every aye
was upon the racers. Hayward sent the
black son OF Pero Gomez two lengths in
front, and the followers of the Rancocas
stable cheered as they saw the cherry and
black in front at the end of a half. mile.
But Miss Woodford and Freeland were
not far behind. Pontiac continued to lead
at the three.quarters. Then the light
red OF the Brooklyn stable was seen
moving up and there was a mighty cheer
for Mclaughlin as he rode Miss Wood.
ford with desperate energy. The mare
got up to Pontaic's neck and the cheering
was continued. Then o melancholy
gloom settled over the faces of the East.
ern turfmen. Mclaughlin was riding
f%uriously on Miss Woodford and had
taken the lead, but there right behind
was Freeland with Isaac Murphy sitting
as still IS if he were marble, and the
great gelding was coming along at a
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