New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-08-08
GOSSIP OF THE TURF.
AN ANCIENT RAClNG ADVERTISEMENT.
A FINISH N THE DARK Ar xEw-oELE,Ns-US-

pERVALtFD HORSES IN SELLING RAtfS.
4 will not be denied that IN the last ninety-on
years racing many parts OF the United STATES ia"
m.so fair procre>, and the breeding OF horses has
hean immensely encouraged. New-fngand Is '"e
only section of the country that has been backward IN
tbi, direction. There is not, nor has there ever beei
a race course Of any prrtcnson IN any New f"s""H
state vet New England took irteres. n the spor
0; kings" long before Sew York drea'Aed OF hou''"e
such All Institution a. the turf.
Henry =. Goodae. OF No. 400 West Flity-SeNe"'n-
st. has choice collection Of rare ana woHderfnl oo
hooks paper, etc. among the periodicals and daily
Journals Of the carlN days being bOunu VoI"n' VI
1.-THE Columbian Ceutinel and MASSACHUSETTS, icu
eqahst." published in Boston, by benjamin Russell
In several issues q this paper in the month OF August
1901, appeared the following advertisements
SPORTING.
A holiday tor the industrious ahorer The Heats or
Races will run, the ir-t time in "'fnalond' OF
the first dsv OF September ncNt In the park OF MI Joe
HERMAN nile and half north OF lia'eIhn Eflas
There will be- a erected on the centre Oh Inc touN
for the accommodation OF Ladies who may wish 10 !" spec
tators also boxes at each corner OF said stage hus %
swives large enough for Gentleman ana L@u'' II IS
expected will occupied by particular "pp
cation.
The purse IN be run for will be FIFTY dollars. distance
round the course mile any horse dstahclh@ he
whole the hrst second Heat, viii he entitled 70 the
purse otherwise foremost horse the last uea ANY
horse losing hi, distance will De declared running Se"n
the distance pole 20 rods from the winning pole
Entrance money each horse Two dollars when VIII
he run day. by what j. called the SCRUB r"oe'
the sweepstakes that wins the purse VIII De en-
Guided Any Gentleman wishing 10 enter morse Tor s'lo
Heats will have an opportunity time before the last
day OF this by applying to MI James Sm"y' OF
Mr. William sawyer Twins near said @rouhd Any morse
entered for said heats the poles, VIII dc oouoe price,
The hoc, must be upon the spot precisely at two O'Clock
n m ANY horse tIking advantage OF the inside OF
the poles running the race must take rctr0srsde
step around the poles again
This piece of amusement although very novel IN this
mart Of Che country has long laotsed in Europe and
in the Southern Our justly esteemed and much
eimird WASHINGTON made it u constant rule TO enter
for the Heats horses every year. and Often
times made the purse himself, and always attended In
person when he could it convenient hequenty IN
yited Gentlemen and Ladies' of the first families In order to
encourage the breed Of horcs.
Theirs is something both interesting aud instructive
I'm this announcement. Imagine the Father Of his
Country inviting gentlemen and Indies Of the first
families the F. +. VS., in order 10 encourage the
breed of horses That little lesson has never been
lost on later generations OF patriots for even to-day
its application is In every legislative enactment
which has aught TO do with the turf II new iacing
association wants TO have betting It's grounds, the
plea is that II IS necessary in order to encourage the
breeding of horses. The old CRY Of the improvement
OF thoroughbIcdS hides multitude Of sins of the turf.
A grand stand in the centre OF a recourse would
be a novelty in these days of straight tracks. II
wouh greatly psase those Of the going community
who like TO see contest from end TO end The boxes
on swivelS enabled the occupants to turn in dircc
ton, 10 follow the horses In the circuit of the track
without moving from their scuts.
A retrograde movement around the poles again is
an mpossibiity now, because the horses confined
between ratings.
AS late the reconstruction days there
curious things in racing, Colonel simmons
tell you. Ills story Of ofter-dark racing at New
Orleans Is one Of his best The Governor of the
State grand master OF ceremonies and the Colonel
only subordinate. A Of heats was run, seven
heats being required to decide the contest. Night
at the end OF the fifth, and proposition was
made by John A. Morris. who had horse in the
field that the remaining TWO be run on the following
day. 70 this the Governor and his stan objected
and the horses were ordered to the post again
1t was pitch-dark. Fetch a hundred Candles
the Governor ordered. Some lighted the
starting-post and the others were scattered along
the rail near the finish The judges took a lantern
apiece and stood the ground 10 be the horses
as they passed the line
simmons" said the Governor, 60 and stand at
the head Of the stretch and II there IS any foul
riding"
What's the use, GoverRr?' the Colonel replied,
81 couldn't see anything It's too dark
Then maybe you could hear nehlngi SIR
Numbered the Chief Executive and the Colonel CROPPED
his way to the point Of the turn.
The field got OF in some sort Of order and went
with the race, unseen, but not unheaTd. Tie Colonel
nsteaed to tho hoofbeats. Nearer and nearer they
cane. The horses reached the turn and sound OF
voices WIS mingled with the thmnp OF the hOcfs
Jockeys calling TO each other to make way. 10
pull up TO pull out, bnt nothing could be clearly
distinguished TIL the field passed the spot which
stoad the Colonel Then voice rsised sbove the
clstter:
Pm outl Pull out. say rn throw you over
the fence! Let through
sped the phantom brigade, the sound Of the
voices diving out and the hoof beats growing fainter
as the goal was approached. Then came swapping
and cacking Of whips followed by the shouts OF the
spectators. The race over and the Colonel
walked back the stand. where the Governor inter
rosated him