File:The American turf- an historical account of racing in the United States - with biographical sketches of turf celebrities. 1898 (1898) (18159582842).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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THE AMERICAN TURF played. As an outgrowth of this clLib came the Coach- ing Club, with the Jeromes, Vanderhilts and Belmonts as founders, and the (xiaching Club House at Fort Wasii- ington was the scene of many brilliant festivities of the Jerome Park set. Ultimately, however, the old Ameri- can Jockey Club spirit began to die out, as the spirit of sport for sport's sake gave way to a more mercenary sentiment. Other clubs sprang up in the vicinity of New York, and Jerome Park ceased to be what it once was. Racing was continued on the course, however, until into the nineties, and in the early part of this decade the Dwyers revived the old American Jockey Club character of its patronage other supporters of the turf were encouraged to take up the good work thus well begun. Saratoga already had a course, and soon the Maryland and Monmouth Clubs followed, and afterward came the institution of race courses at Coney Island. But throughout its earlier career, before it began to wane, the American Jockey Club never ceased to stand at the head of turf affairs and to lead its competitors. The rules which its stewards had formulated for the government of their course were generally adopted by other clubs, either in their entirety or modified as might be necessary to meet new conditions. In every measure
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THE START MORRIS PARK charter and instituted racing again upon the course for a year or two. Finally, however, the city of New York took possession of the park grounds, and constructed a reservoir on the site as part of the city's water- works. Although the American Jockey Club and the famous park that it controlled have passed out of existence, it is impossible to overlook the important part that they played during the years of their existence and the weighty influence that they had in shaping the future of the American turf. Through the stimulus of the success that Jerome Park early achieved and through the high of turf reform the club took the lead, and its official action obtained the recognition of turfmen in every part of the world. The Maryland Jockey Club had its inception at a din- ner party at Saratoga in 1868. Racing at that famous watering-place had already attained to such pre-eminence as to attract the attention of lovers of the sport from other parts of the country and to stimulate in them a desire to emulate in their own localities the achievements of the Saratoga Course. It was naturally to be expected that such a feeling should early be developed among wealthy Marylanders, for their State shared with Virginia 467

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