The Racing of To-day 399 



into existence upon the most approved plans for 

 that day and was organized with judgment and 

 prudence. Strange to say, it came to life so sud- 

 denly that it surprised every one. The only 

 notice of its advent was its announced programme 

 for its inaugural meeting in June, 1879. 



From the beginning of Sheepshead Bay, one 

 might say, we had the inception of what we can 

 call the American turf of to-day, and we had with 

 us the American race-horse of to-day. The four- 

 milers were gone, the cup horses were growing 

 fewer in number, and the mile and mile and a 

 quarter animal was beginning to be the popular 

 racing tool in this country. 



At that time, August Belmont, the father of 

 the present racing magnate, was strong upon the 

 turf and had in his stable that good mare Susque- 

 hanna, Fiddlestring, Carita, and others of his own 

 breeding. G. L. Lorillard had a magnificent 

 stable made up of Harold, Monitor, Farita, Sensa- 

 tion, Grenada, Kingcraft, Judge Murray, Blazes, 

 Spinaway, and others of note. Charles Reed, the 

 Tennessee turfman, had Trouble, Day Star, and 

 that wonderful filly Thora, who was then but a 

 two-year-old, the daughter of Longfellow that was 

 destined to go on and be one of the great mares 



