Year: 1868

Thanks to the Atlantic telegraph, reports
of the openings of the racing season in
England and in America are published almost
simultaneously. Thus, on Thursday we pub
lished lively account of the great and ex-
citing race for the Derby which took place
at EPSON Downs on the previous day, and
yesterday gave the result of the equally
exciting and more fashionable Oaks run on
Friday. The weather was fine, and all Lon
don-we might say all England-turned out
as usual for the Derby, rushing to the course
In all sorts of vehicles, in royal drags, trades
mems traps and costermongers' carts, as well
as in railway cars. Each vehicle bore picnic
party, with liberal supply of sandwiches, and
amidst the noise and confusion and the dust,
against which blue and green wells alike were
but poor protection, the popping of bottles of
champagne and bottles of ginger beer might
have been distinctly and frequently heard. The
Derby is an event in England. In London shops
and Offices are closed and, as in the days of Lord
Palmerston, Parliament adjourns. In short,
nothing in modern times so closely resembles
the Olympic games of ancient Greece as this
great English holiday. On Wednesday, of the
eighteen horses that ran, Sir Joseph Hawley's
bay colt Blue Gown, by Beadsman out of Bas
Bleu, won the race. For the Oaks the scene
was Of different character. the Oaks being
especially 'Ladies' Day."


In America, also, notwithstanding the linger-
ing influence Of New England Puritanism, we
are beginning to have our holidays and outdoor
summer sports. While the prize ring has
fortunately received blow by the arrest of
COburn and McCoole and their sentence to forty
days imprisonment that must seriously tend
towards the same decline here to which its
barbarous entertainments have been doomed
In England, the approaching races at Jerome
Park have awakened extraordinary interest in
the pleasures of the turf. On Thursday, the
fourth day of the Buckeye spring meeting in
Ohio, although the track was muddy and
heavy, the West attested its enthusiasm for the
turf by a large attendance. The East is intent
upon the great preparations for the races at
Paterson and Hoboken, and horses from all
parts of the country are assembling for the
equine congress at Jerome Park. In this lat
ter meeting we also have our Ladies' Day on
this side the water for the Jerome races are
great event in our world of fashion, and pre-
sent more bewidering toilets, more of the
brilliancy of display with which feminine taste
makes every scene beautiful, than we often
meet outside the opera house.


Following the Jerome races by week or 80 we
shall have the opening of the yachting season,
with the great initial feature of house warm
ing at the new station on Staten Island. Hav-
ing gone down 80 much nearer to the sea, the
club will feel all the benefit of the stronger air
In the more exhilarating spirit of adventure it
will inspire, and its members will address
themselves to sport with an energy better, IL
possible, than that which has made their asso
citation foremost in the annals of aquatic sport
The regular regatta will be fine race, and
will close in scene of social splendor and
gayety to signalize the formal opening of the
new headquarters. II is rumored that grand
fete champetre will be given in the new
grounds, where the club will spread all its
canvas in an immense pavilion, and where, to
the best Of all music, the fairest of all our city
dancers will chase with flying feet the happy
hours More than all, IL is expected that the
bon cicants will revel in new delights at the
collation. to be given, as the cuisine of the club
Is to be counted as equal to the Manhattan.