File:The American turf- an historical account of racing in the United States - with biographical sketches of turf celebrities. 1898 (1898) (17540520034).jpg

Title: The American turf: an historical account of racing in the United States : with biographical sketches of turf celebrities. 1898
Identifier: americanturfhist00week (find matches)
Year: 1898 (1890s)
Authors: Weeks, Lyman Horace, ed
Subjects: Horses; Horse racing
Publisher: New York : The Historical Company
Contributing Library: Webster Family Library of Veterinary Medicine
Digitizing Sponsor: Boston Library Consortium Member Libraries

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Text Appearing Before Image:
The AMERICAN TURF of Suffolk County, and the other near Jamaica, in King's County, the really great historic courses near the met- ropolis were not instituted until well into the present century. In the increasing interest in blood horses that marked the beginning of our national existence, the North bore its full share, especially after the present century had opened. Meantime, the old Newmarket Course and the Beaver Pond Course, at Jamaica, had passed out of existence and were well-nigh forgotten. As early as 1800, however, there were courses at Albany, Poughkeepsie and Harlem, and races ranging from one to four-mile heats were run, some very good sport being put up. Until 1804, so far as the recollection of old turf- carry on the enterprise as it had been conducted up to that time. An insuperable difficulty in their way also arose from the fact that it was almost impossible to enforce regulations for racing on an uninclosed course, as had hitherto been attempted. Accordingly, they reorganized the society and established an inclosed course, located about a mile from that which they had previously controlled, and gave it the same name. Under these auspices racing continued with varying suc- cess for the ensuing decade or more, and was fairly well supported by the public-spirited and sport-loving citizens of the metropolis. Some of those horses who, in them- selves and their families, have been among the most dis-
Text Appearing After Image:
SMOKING ROOM, THE CLUB HOUSE MORRIS PARK men of previous generations went, there was no regu- larly organized jockey club in New York City. In that year an association, whose members were principally drawn from the farming population of Long Island, was organized with the definite plan of continuing in exist- ence for five years. The old Newmarket Course was secured and remodeled, and two meetings a year, in May and October, were arranged for. Purses were offered for four, three and two-mile heats, and the best racers of the period were there seen. When this association had expired by limitation the members found it difficult to raise sufficient funds to tinguished in the country, were first entered on these courses. Among them were Tippoo Sultan, Hamble- tonian, Bright Phoebus, Miller's Damsel, Empress, First Consul, Cock of the Rock, Eclipse and other noted ones. Among the turfmen who were regularly seen at New- market, both in its earlier and its later period, the Messrs. Bond and Hughes, of Philadelphia, were particularly conspicuous. Nor was Newmarket the only course that was open to lovers of the turf in the vicinity of New York. At Har- lem a course was kept up for many years during this period, and one also existed at Powle's Hook, in New 455

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