Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-08-12
SACRAMRNTo,s DRIVES.
An Old Saoramentan Finds them Greatly
Improved.

Improved.
An elderly gentleman who was a pioneer
resident Of Sacramento, bat has not been
residing in California since 1850 is at pres
ent in the city, and daily finds something
new in the way of improvement TO remark
upon. He likes good horse-may daily
be seen taking an airing behind a lively
one-and naturally the opportunities the
city affords for pleasure OF that sort delight
him. AtAgricultural Park yes erday morn
ing i was amusing 20 hear his comments,
comparing the old-time raee-Tacks with
thai OF the present, and MS recOlleCtions of
the old CenteTvllle course, kept by Buck
Harrlgal, near where the County Hos
pital now Is: the Suffer Race-track. kept
by John c. Keenan,, near the Lake House,
and between Brighton and FloTin, and the
Louisiana track, At Whisky Hill. Then,
too, he had q fund OF anecdotes relative to
the trottng horses of those days such as
Rather, Wake-up Jake, etc, whose per-
formanCes in go, or worse, were then con-
sidered prOdigies OF speed; and so on with
Wisconsin Chief, Langford, Owen Dale and
others. The only drives from the city in
those days were 10 the Lake House. kept
by Jack Holmes, where you could get
breakfast for S. or 500; or the ten-mile
plank road leading to Patterson's, where
many old residents Of the city have had
many Jolly time Rejecting upon the
cid e3lstLaGnsH's remarks, his hearers fec0--
nized hatthey had scarcely appreciated the
fine opportunities SacTamentans now have
for enjoyment behind housekeeping
horse, or pair, doubtless in consequence Of
having become so used to the excellent
facilities that they have become as a matter
OF course. The main track at Agricultural
Park is second to none in the country. 1t
is hard enough to be very fast, and not so
hard as TO injure the horses working upon
1t. Wide enough at all places for as many
sulkies as ever appear in race, it has adj
ditional width where most needed, and
consequently Is in great favor with the
handlers of gallopers as well as the drivers
of trotters. Ii is of the regulation pattern.
the turns and stretches of the same length.
and the turns raised gently to the outer
side to favor horses travelling at high speed
The galloping track is roomy and kept in
good order for the bang-taiied animals to
do their work Few race-cOurses have a
grand stand so commodious, capable of ac-
commodating 5000 people, with a special
stand holding 1000 more, 10 say moth
ing of the Directors stand, for members
of the Society and invited guests. The
accommodations for animals, also, are q
wOndrous improvement upon the old days,
prior to 1860 when the State Fair was on
wheels as it were, being held here. there
and elsewhere. With 80 or 200 stalls for
race horses there is rarely sufficient to
shelter the animals that are here
during the fair, and the commodious
stables of c. H. Shear and others near the
grounds are always full; and as for cattle
stalls, sufficient more are 10 be built with
in the next two or three weeks TO make
three hundred with those now ready for
use. Added to these the large buildings
for the exhibition of agricultural imple-
ments, the pavilion for Judging horses, and
pens for sheep, pigs, etc, and IL can readily
be seen that the State Agricultural Society
has a complete and very valuable piece of
Here. in the evening, especially, |
when the track is not used by those hand !
ling fast stock, many a private team can be |
seen jogging or trying speed, and the width |
of the track gives room for all. East Park, |
with its luxurious shade, is the favorite !
place for ladies and others who want |
quiet drive. For those who like a place |
where YOU can 20 as you please, jog !
along or try conclusions with some other |
fellows turnout, nothing could be more |
than the Riverside, with its |
81 miles Of road as level as a race track, |
rolled, scraped and watered just enough to |
keep down the dust while alongside the |
road the luxuriant growth Of hops in many |
fields, the orchards, highly cultivated yege- |
table gardens, fine shade trees, etc, present |
an appearance attractive and refreshing.