The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-11-26
AUGUSTUS RACING.
The Present Meeting the Inauguration
of aReviYal of the Sport.

VA hANONAfoA III tAO OPOAbs
AUGUSTA, GA, Nov. 25.-Augusta Ia
witnessing the revival of racing in this sec
tion of the country This is the only track
in the south below Nashville, between
Washington and New Orleans, controlled
by the National Jockey Club Association
rules, which assure fair play as far as it Is
possible to do so, and allows what sporting
mon call "blood money" for their wagers
Besides an occasional brush between two
local trotters the people of this section Of
country have little acquaintance with the
turf, its methods or parlance. Some Of the
efforts Of the local newspaper men assigned
to "horsey" work were as amateurish MS
was that in Macon whom that city first be-
gan to have professional "balin The sym
pathy of the scribe was, however, as keenly
alive to the task as is the interest Of the
planters from all parts of Georgia and
Carolina who have been here since the in
auguration of the meet studying the mys-
teries of "the field 4" "French combination, >"
"handicapping, and other like proceedings
puzzling to the novice. AS the reporters
improve their education in the stables aud
among the jockeys, so the interest Of the
visitor sharpens as he passes from the adj
miration of trotting race sandwiched into
the regular programme by sufferance OF the
management, to the excitement of a quarter
dash with some seven or eight starters
IN ANTE-BELLUM DAYS.
In ant 9-bellum days Augusta was a great
racing center, and five different parts Of
the city have at various times been the
scenes of racing in the days when book
makers, nandicapping and quarter horses
were unknown fea' 'ures in a race. In those
days the wealthy planter drove TO town
bringing his jockey, light weight colored
10. Frny De- III I'D
accompanied by his family, the lady mem
berS Of which were as greatly interested IN
the racing as the men, and often as good
Judges Of horse flesh. The racing then was
arranged for two, three and five miles,
rarely one and never less. These old race
courses have one after another been built
upon and only two remain now-that OF the
old cotton states fair grounds and the La
favette course.
In those days the racing went on all day,
and was arranged by the owners while on
the grounds, and not infrequently no time
was taken at all. With old methods have
disappeared the old style owner Of horses,
and instead Augusta Is now witnessing trials
OF speed between horses here for the first
time, but well l-known for their records,
striving TO capture liberal trophies hung up
by Augusta TO the amount OF $lO.OOO.
NOT HURT BY RAIN.
The rain has not, ID any extent, damaged
the course, which is in good condition three
hours after rain. The course does not get
heavy, and all sporting men are loud In its
praise. This latter class, composed Of
owners and outside betters, are here in
large numbers. Eleven more stables arrived
Saturday, and they include some of tho
most famous flyers In the country. Next
weeks races will SEQ as many as ten and
twelve horses entered for each race.
Thursdays handicap will be an exciting
race, and Is looked forward TO with much
interest There are twenty starters entered
now, and more will come In before the
entry list closes Wednesday afternoon.
Tuesdays quarter mile dash will be a
lively one, and will sec between the rails
some of the finest quarter horses in America.
Sam Harper, Jr., Brait, Barrister, Valet
and Trollope, are among the entries
The book-nakors report unusually heavy
betting, aud that IA their opinion the racing
win be very close and Of great interest even