■ The First Race Meetings 21 



" The best idea we can give of the moral mjlu- 

 e7ice of race-week (as exerted formerly) is to state 

 that the courts of justice used daily to adjourn, 

 and all the schools were regularly let otit, as the 

 hour for starting the horses drew near ; with one 

 consent the stores in Broad and King streets were 

 closed — all business being suspended on the joy- 

 ous occasion, the feelings of the good people par- 

 taking of the rapidity of the races themselves — 

 in fact, it was no uncommon sight to see the most 

 venerable and distinguished dignitaries of the 

 land, clergymen and judges, side by side on the 

 course, taking a deep interest in the animated and 

 animating scene around them ! 



" With such a stimulus to propriety and the 

 preservation of good morals, no wonder that 

 order, and sobriety, and good fellowship prevailed 

 as abundantly as they did in those days. 



" We must not omit to notice, that in the early 

 days of racing in South Carolina, the gentlemen 

 of the Turf, like the ancient nobles Hiero and 

 others, never ran their horses for the pecuniary 

 value of the prize to be won, but solely for the 

 ho7ior that a horse of their own breeding and 

 training should distinguish himself. Mr. Daniel 

 Ravenel and many others of the high-minded 



