The great race at New Orleans — defeat of Planet.
The New Orleans papers of Sunday give the particulars of the four mile race over the Metaire course, Saturday, on which it is stated $300,000 changed hands.
The entries were
Doswell's
Planet, Foley's
Lightning. and
Kenner's
Panic. The storm
Friday had reduced the track to a terribly mucky condition, and destroyed the possibility of quick time.
The betting was chiefly between the friends of Planet and Lightning, though the fact that Panic had beaten the latter in a three mile race, Tuesday, got him some backers as a four mile horse.
The
Picayune says:
As the hour approached, the clouds began to clear a way, and St.
Charles street presented a most animated appearance.
All sorts of vehicles, from the single-seated buggy to the ponderous omnibus and the railroad cars, were in lively demand, and soon all the avenues to the track were covered with them.
The race of the day was four mile heats for the
Club Purse of $1,500. The entries were
Kenner's Panic,
Doswell's Planet, and
Foley's Lightning.
The pool betting the previous evening placed them in the above order, out of $26,905 pooled Panic having $11,160, Planet $8,580, and Lightning $7,165. But it should be borne in mind that this placing was predicated upon the state of the track, as it was on that day.
On reaching the course, we found that Panic still kept his position, even against the field.
But there was apparent a slight, yet clearly defined advantage on the side of the field.
The state of the track, which was, indeed, awfully heavy, was considered to be favorable to the chances of both Lightning and Planet, as compared with Panic, and to the former particularly.
The difference of weight was taken into consideration in this estimate as against the
Virginia horse.
Some bets were made just before the start, in favor of Lightning against Planet, in the race.
Gilpatrick rode Lightning, and Abe, Panic,
Messrs. Doswell's own rider being on Planet.
There was a fair start for the first heat, Planet ahead, and Panic following, Lightning in the rear.
But this did not last long, the
Lexington coming up and taking the second place, about half way round, and keeping it to the turn.
The struggle for the mile was not great, apparently, but Planet first passed the string, getting the first mile, (time, two minutes,) next to him was Panic.
On the back stretch, on the second mile, Planet took the track and maintained it. Lightning then went ahead, the
Virginian following.
It was
Gilpatrick's mile, in 1:58--(making the two miles, 3:58.) They went into the back stretch nearly together; but Lightning soon made a gap between him and his pursuers, and maintained it to the string, which he passed a length ahead of Planet, making the third mile in 1:58, (the three miles in 5:56.) --
Gilpatrick made the most of this advantage, and kept bravely on his muddy track, and soon increased the gap, while Planet, like ‘"panting time, toiled after him in vain, "’ and Panic plodding far in the rear.
At the home stretch Lightning was some lengths ahead.--Planet, who had been gaining on him, from the three-quarter posts, made a valiant effort to reach him, taking the dry outside of the track and looking all the way down very formidable, but there was a good length of day-light between him and Lightning at the string, which the latter passed, amidst the shouts of the spectators, winning the mile in 2:06, and the heat in 8:02, which, all things considered, may be reckoned goodish time.
Panic was distanced.
It was now "all the world to a China orange" in favor of the
Lexington colt.
We heard of no betting, except on time, and that not much.
The start for the second heat was good.--Lightning led off, and on entering the back stretch Planet was a full length behind.
And in this order, or nearly so, they went round, till having passed the home turn Planet, who seemed to have been waiting a little, gathered, but did not reach his opponent, who passed the string a length ahead, making the first mile in 2:07½.
Still he kept ahead, extending his distance for a while, but about three quarters round Planet came up a little, but was not much closer than before to Lightning on passing the string.
This second mile was run in 2:02½, (the two in 4:10.) Planet, on entering the back stretch, made an attempt to reach his precursor, but "couldn't come it." --Lightning ran a way from him as if it was the easiest thing in the world.
But the
Virginian kept gallantly on, and in rounding the homestretch made another valorous attempt, but without success, the advantage of Lightning at the string being about the same as before.
This third mile was run in 2:01½ (the three in 6:11½.) The last mile was well contested; Lightning kept his advantage steadily.
On the back stretch Planet made another ineffectual brush.
Half way round he neared his leader, and made a pretty run to catch him.--Turning the homestretch, they came down amidst uproarious shouts, Lightning, however, keeping some lengths ahead, and so reaching the winning post, having made the fourth mile in 2:02, the heat in 8:13½, and so, of course, the race.
The Virginia horses — who, by the way, did not win a race the whole week — sustained a defeat on Friday in a single dash of two miles, the entries being
Doswell's
Exchequer, Minor's
Neil Robinson, Vairin's
Laura Farris, and Richard's
Magenta. The
Delta says:
‘
‘"There was some straining for a good start by the prime ministers, and after futile attempt of each party to take the wind out of the sails of his adversary, they got off,
Laura Farris certainly had a bad start, but she made up the difference in the first mile with ease.
And here it will be as well to mention, that popular judgment touching the capacity of Neil Robinson as a racer was most clearly manifested; for, from the very start, he continued to lose way until the race was run and won."’
As the fleet entered the second mile, Laura went to work — cut down the
Virginian, and ranged alongside the gallant
Magenta, and these two had the most beautiful struggle for the front place we ever saw. Down the third quarter and up the fourth quarter they came with the speed of quarter horses — neither in front, neither behind — and burst over the score like the twins of
Latona into life.--Exchequer was third, and
Niel Robinson somewhere down by the last turn.
So close was the contest that none could say who had the race.
Many unhesitatingly proclaimed a dead heat; but in a few moments the decision from the stand came to the ears of the anxious, thus: ‘"
Magenta wins the race,
Laura Farris second, Exchequer third, and
Niel Robinson last,"’
’
