254 THE HORSE. 



while the Kentuckians themselves turned out in such numbers, 

 that the hotels and lodging houses literally overilowed. A week 

 of i^ore delightful weather we have rarely known. The fields 

 were large every day ; the horses ran well ; " all the world and 

 his wife " were on the course ; the pressure was forgotten, and 

 all appeared to enjoy themselves without stint or measure. 



In addition to the brilliant report of " N. of Arkansas " in the 

 Spirit of the Times, the editor, since his return, has given his 

 impressions of the meeting, in the columns of that paper. Many 

 readers of this magazine have expressed a desire that we should 

 also give them a report of the two great races. 



In compliance with the general desire of these, we proceed 

 to give our own impressions of the two races, which have con- 

 tributed in an eminent degree to give "Wagner and Grey Eagle 

 the high and enduring reputation they now enjoy. The races 

 during the week were characterized by good fields, strong run- 

 ning, fine weather, and an attendance unparalleled in numbers 

 and respectability. The Oakland Course was in the finest pos- 

 sible order, the stewards were in uniform and well mounted, 

 and the arrangements of the proprietor, Col. Oliver, and of the 

 club, for the gratification and convenience of their guests, were 

 not only in good taste, but complete in all respects. 



We have not roonj to speak in this place of a variety of in- 

 teresting circumstances connected with the meeting, but shall 

 be pardoned for alluding to the unusual number of distin- 

 guished individuals present, and the blaze of beauty reflected 

 from the Ladies' Pavilion, on the occasion of the first race be- 

 tween the champions of Louisiana and Kentucky. The number 

 of ladies in attendance was estimated at eight hundred, while 

 nearly two thousand horsemen were assembled on the field. 

 The stands, the fences, the trees, the tops of carriages, and every 

 eminence overlooking the course, were crowded ; probably not 

 less than ten thousand persons composed the assemblage, com- 

 prising not only several distinguished Senators, and nearly the 

 entire Kentucky delegation in Congress, with their families, but 

 all the elite of the beauty and fashion of the State. 



Among the earliest on the ground were the Hon. Judge 

 Porter, of Louisiana, the distinguished ex-Senator, and Mr. Clay. 

 His colleague in the Senate, Mr. Crittenden, soon followed, with 



