The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-13
of tho rndianapoli. Journal.

OF such an investment may be formed from
what occurred last Saturday. In the race for
the Juvenile stakes at Jerome Park there was
colt by Spendthrift. out Of Doubt, for whom
So, 100 was paid last year at sale of yearlings.
He was named Stockton. and was colt Of re-
markable promise, the very image of his mighty
sire. Spendthrift. He was brought to the post
in excellent form, but during long series of
false starts became nervous and kicked through
the rails iniuring himself so. much that he
was unable to start in the race. and it is still
uncertain whether he can start for q long time
to come
During the spring the racing associations had
not been idle and had prepared excellent pro-
grammes. and large amounts of money had been
added to the stakes and handicaps. The Jerome
Park. Sheepshead Bay and Monmouth Park peo-
pie had used every effort to outstrip each other
in the value of the stakes and handicaps, the
perfection Of their tracks and the comforts Of
fered to the visiting public. All of sudden.
however came, like thunderbolt from a clear
sky, the announcement that the authorities
would not allow betting. The trouble began at
the little steeple-chase course at Rockaway, in
Queens county, Long Island, and on May %,
when the Jerome Park meeting began, the po-
lice interfered and arrested all persons making
bets AS most New Workers. do not care pin
for horse race unless they can back their fan
ure.
Only on one day has the pretty park of the
American Jockey Club looked anything like its
old self. That was on Decoration Day, when
there was fairly good attendance, particularly
at the club house In one respect jerome Park
is sui generis amongst racecourses ia this neigh
borhood. 1t is the only one that is really fash
ionable There are two principal causes for this
preference of our fashionable people for Jerome.
In the first place. the spring meeting occurs be-
f1r~ ~ I.,r< a.
watering places begins, and the fall meeting is
held after their return. Secondly, it is the only
race-course which can be reached by road with
any comfort. Monmouth Park is altogether out
of the question, because it is about forty miles
from New York Sheepshead bay is not q
desirable resort, on account OF the ferry
which has to be crossed, and because
there is no lawn where drags or carriages
can be placed to advantage. AL this is different
at Jerome Park. The drive out is through Cen
trail PARK, which at present charms the eye with
its brilliant and well-kept stretches of grass.
shapely trees and shrubs After leaving Central
Park the way is along one of the great avenues
leading north, along roads which are absolutely
families. There it is that sporting New York
speed their trotters and the scene upon the re-
return from the races is of indescrihabe
gayety and brilliancy Every possible vehicle
is chartered for the occasion. Alongside the
stately coach, with its four prancug tits" dap
per English grooms and its load of fair young
women is the butcher boy in his meat cart or the
wearied dude in q hanson. carts buggies,
gigs phaetons and other nondescript traps"
roll joyfuliy along. At the clubhouse the
coaches are drawn up in line on the
unhitch the horses and bring from the
recesses of the drag hampers containing tempt
ing chicken and lobster salads, and ice-coolers
with champagne, which soon makes the girls
eyes sparkle in the clear spring air. On Deco-a-
ton Day there were no less than nine coaches
on the slope. Unfortunately, the club house is
built upon bluff, which stands out by it itself
opposite the grand stand 1t is very pict-
uresque object, but it spoils the race-course,
which is in the form of an ''S" The copse-
quence is that the horses run out of view of the
grand stand at either end of the 49," and that
from the club house the horses are out of sight
altogether until they are in the home stretch.
But the grass on the slope of the bluff on which
the clubhouse is built is very green at this time
of the year, and the bright dresses of the ladies
and the pleasant freshness of the whole scene go
far towards making people forget the folly and
selfshness of the men wholaid out the park and
the race-course.
OF course the man with whose name the place
is most associated is Mr. Leonard w. Jerome.
He is now man we'll on in the Sixties and has
had an eventful life. He was at one time a
power in Wall street, where, like every one else.
he had his ups and downs. OF late he has not
been very fortunate, and two extra days racing
were given last fall for his benefit In personal
appearance he is tall and slight of late he stoops
little. but his hair is still brown and there are
but few gray hairs in his long. dropping mus
tache. Mr.. August Belmont, the president of
the American Jockey Club-for that is the name
Of the association which runs at Jerome-is, in
personal appearance, the very reverse Of Mr..
Jerome. While Mr. Jerome is tall. slight
and aristocratic looking, Mr.. Belmont is
short, podgy. and looks like tailor out on
a spree. His unprepossessing looks are not
improved by big square head, set on broad
shoulders and by his lameness, which, how
ever, is highly honorable to him. Years ago he
present when certain improper remarks
were made about a lady with whom he was &C.
quainted. He Immediately denounced the SLAM
derer, and the row eliminated in dnel, in
which he received ball in the nip. Mr.. Bel
mont married Miss Perry daughter of the ia
nous Commodore Perry and it is in this way
that his son, Perry Belmont the Congressman
from New York. gets his first name. The other
most prominent men in the club are Captain
Coster the secretary, whom every one likes, al
though he does make the worst puns perpetrated
on the turf, and Judge A. q. Monson, the treas
urer, who is always making enemies. An ex-
ample of this tendency was seen, last week,
when the Judge quarreled with the inspector of
police who had the power of wiEking at betting.
So far the racing has been uninterestng and
the fields light. This is, of course. partly due to
the stopping of the betting and the CONSEQUENT
unwillingness of owners to run their horses when
unable to back them ut a fair price. On the first
day of the meeting the Dryers crack, Portland,
who had been an all-winter favorite for the
Withers. succumbed before Burch's fast FLY,
Biggonet On the same day the Fordham hand
leap fell TO Mr.. Withers's as yet unnamed Mimi
colt. MIR. Withers is a peculiar man in many
ways, and he never names his horses until they
have won. AS q rule he is very unfortunate
with his horses, who seem to have a knack of
running second. but this year he has so far been
remarkably successful He runs his horses
merely for the love of racing and never makes
bet, which he is well able to do, as he
is very wealthy. being large owner