New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-15
IN OLD RACE7RACK RECALLED.
LEONARD w. JEROME AND THOSE OF HIS
TIME WHO rovrn p,rrpsox

LEONARD w. JEROME AND THOSE OF MS
TIME WHO LOVED PATERSON
The death OF Leonard ". Jerome led ore OF his old
friends, "a BodinOt Colt, into reminiscent mood the
other day while talking with Tribune reporter at tho
Paterson Office Of the society Establishing Useful
Manufactures OF which Mr. Colt is Mr.. Colt
was one OF Mr.. Jeromes associates in the ncorpora
tlon OF the American Jockey Club in 1865. The
of Travers and Jerome ndissolubly linked are also
connected with the history Of the old time even earlier
In the siAtles.' when Paterson the OF the
famous Riverside racctrack. The latter until Jerome
Park came into existence was the only running track
in this section, ana held sole sway a. the fashionable
resort Tor those WHO then were lovers Of the noble
sport. The PasSiic County Agricultural society,
which had the lease Of the track at Rverside-hen
distant suburb Of Paterson, but now a buitnp and
houl9hihS manufacturing section-waS not whit like
the IasSaIc County Agricultural Association that
owned the unragTnt winter Clifton. in the
same county, recently closed up By authorities and
transferred to new hands The track established by
Mr.. Colt Richard b. Chlswell and other Paterson men
about 1868, where Kentucky and other famous racers OF
mat day USED 10 charge before the eyes Of ladies' and
OF Knights, the arstocracy of New orE and OF Pat
erson; when William X. Travcrs "A Paterson man by
birth and By many social ties, used drive up 10 Riv
erslde with Mr. jerome and a brave array of high.born
gentlemen and DANES in fourth hand has long ago
been turned into building lots and occupied by tho
homes Of busy people who live in sound of the cang
Of big factories.
1t was on The estate Of the late Cornelius Van
Wrinkle. which included many scores Of acres stretch
ing down TO the Passac River Near the banks OF tho
stream STOOD hIs >pdclou, old mansion. which wa,
turned into hotel and here the racing enIEi,l,,t,
Oh io>c ddSs lNd To gather and discuss ihe chance,
OF their idyOritcs. The association had a liberal
charter, aud had police power within a mile of tine
track. 1t had detective, on me trains a,d IL any 10
the "Nght-ltngered gcntryo were ABOARD they yers
given the alternative OF dnrance Of going right
BACK Where they came from Mr.. Colt says thar IN
All The career Of the old acctrac Riverside there
was never case Ot pocket pc him. The place lacked
Ino sPiehdof, ana comforts OF the modern acetracks
DH II haS not been improved upon AT all in the respect
OF honest sport. ana OF patronage which wa, drawn
from the best clement Of tine s0ciety of that time
Many Old residents Of Paterson still talk with a sigh
II those good old times when Leonard Jerome
ana ." BIZ Tavers and BIZ" Butl,r and
Others OF the old sort were the centres of
~ the Pa>-ac River. There /, a popular legend in
Paterson which run, 10 the effect that Mr. Jerome and
IhcA, ana that later,on instead Of Foryihdm. was all
bUI decided on a. tlfc ste Of Jerome Park, II
Conelu, Van Winhl' would have sold the land to Mr.
YORK pioneer, In American racing would have mt
capital INTO the enterprise, and made of Riverside
sm9ero rural park and aeetlack, with fine clubhouse
ana other attractive features But that sturdy old
jersey Dutchman tenacious of his broad acres
ara would not even give an option at any price and
'he ASSOCIATION, after Jerome Park Ind eclipsed its
oHS9 ulcnaiehsed preeminence. gave up the lease.
There Is another tradition current that emssaries
OF me Jerome Park people actually did approach Mr.
Van Nlnhle with an offer of $4,000 for the track and
that the - deaf spoiled by a remark made 70 M
Van Wrinkle IN the Jersey Ouch dialect by a friend
one of the New York happening 10 understand
that speech and seeing in it an att mpt to come some
game over the woud-bc purchasers This legend also
son who will have it thai Paterson conld have had
Jerome Park hut for old Cornell Van Wrinkle
me mansion. later hotel was burned 10 the ground
a rev years ago. and nothing remains 10 give hint
OF the former glorio, Of the first and i'm lis time tina
l'Ste't ruhnhGilach in the Middle States.