THE RACES.
The old "Fashion Course," on Long Island, which was formerly the scene
of the triumphs of the monarchs of the turf, has of late been eclipsed
by the course at "Jerome Park," in West Chester county. This course is
situated near Fordham, and is the private property of Mr. Leonard W.
Jerome. The grounds are large, and handsomely ornamented, and the race-
course has been prepared with great care and skill. The meetings of the
American Jockey Club are held here. They attract vast crowds. The best
points of view, and the most beautiful parts of the grounds, are
reserved exclusively for the use of the members of the club and their
friends, and the remainder of the enclosure has been thrown open to the
public. Mr. Jerome's liberality is appreciated by the outside throng,
and the races are not marred with any act of rowdyism or lawlessness.
The races are the occasion of a great deal of money changing hands.
Bets are freely offered and taken on the various horses, and the
struggle of the noble beasts is watched by thousands of anxious eyes.
The greatest excitement prevails amongst the _elite_ in the private
stands, as well as throughout the common herd below. Every eye is
strained to watch the swift coursers as they whirl down the track, and
when the quarter-stretch is gained, the excitement is beyond all
control. The victor steed flashes with lightning speed by the judges'
stand amidst a storm of cheers and yells of delight. Bayonet, Bonnie
Lass, and Stonewall Jackson, are the favorites, and the winning horses
during the present season.
The course is still new, but the system which it has inaugurated is
becoming more thorough every year. The management is in the hands of
gentlemen of character, who are seeking to make at least one place in
the country where the blackguards and reckless gamblers who disgrace
the American turf shall be powerless to control affairs. The benefits
of this management will be very great. The stock of the State will be
vastly improved, and the metropolis, especially, will be able to boast
some of the finest blooded racers in the world.
During the meetings, the road from the city to the course, which lies
through the Central Park, presents a scene richly worth witnessing. It
is thronged with brilliant equipages, and some of the finest and most
dashing horses to be seen in America. All classes are represented. You
will see Commodore Vanderbilt, with his fine buggy and splendid
trotters, while, behind him, follows hard a butcher's cart and its
merry occupants, the fiery little cob throwing the dirt in the eyes of
many a Fifth Avenue team. The greatest good humor is manifested on all
sides, and all press forward eagerly to witness the sport in store for
them at "Jerome Park."