The First Race Meetings 31 



" This was one of those races we like to see, and 

 take much dehght in reporting — it was certainly 

 a magnificent race, every inch closely contested — 

 and we venture to say, no one could have seen it 

 without feeling an interest in it. The uncertainty, 

 the vicissitudes, the changes that marked it from 

 the first jump up to the throbbing anxiety of the 

 final struggle, created a concentration of interest 

 that could not fail to awaken a pleasurable excite- 

 ment, even in the coldest bosom. We cannot 

 think of passing over such an event without as 

 particular a notice of it as our leisure will permit, 

 and our fancy prompt. 



" The jockeys mounted and took their places. 

 The word was given. The horses, as if endued 

 with intelligence, and an instinctive desire for fair 

 play, dashed forward at the very same instant. 

 It was a beautiful and exciting sight to see those 

 fleet and impetuous horses, giving themselves up 

 to the excitement of the occasion with a sort of 

 personal relish, carried away by their own ardor. 

 They roused of their own free will and accord 

 into a wild and intoxicating gallop, as if they were 

 really of themselves taking all the pleasure in the 

 race, they were affording to the spectators. Like 

 roses on the same stem shaking in the wind, they 



