Rensselaer Gazette, Volume 3, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 August 1859 — LONG ISLAND ITEMSS. [ARTICLE]

LONG ISLAND ITEMSS.

A Walk and a Talk with the Jockeys. Cypress Hill L. 1., Aug. 18, 1859. Frieiid Davies: Thou wilt be surprised to learn that thy wandering friend has alighted on this island. The Union Course is a queer place fora person of steady habits; the mere mention of its name sends a thrill of horror through the bon.-s of rickety old maids. How I came here I am hardly able to state. The most I know is, 1 woke up in what I took to be Paradise, and although now fully alive to realities, yet I have not been able to pursuade myself differently. The only circumstance that has a tendency in that direction. is the fact that Flora Temple, Ethan Allen, and a host of noted horses have been cutting circles in the air not. a great way off. j According to my idea of the matter, qnadru- : peds are excluded from Elysium, and. I a j compelled to take the Earth again. Why I came is of little moment to any one. The Union Rice Course, renowned in song and in story, is situated upon the Ja maca Plank Road, six miles from the city of New York. It has a dilapidated look, and gives the stranger a cold reception, quite dilTerent fiotn what he has been led to expect. The fences, made of rough boards and cedar poles, are unpaintc i and point awry. I’lie s’unds are on the decline and the accomodations poor. No buildings are connected with it —it stands alone in its decay. The track is exceedingly good; said to be the best, trot) ing ground in the United States. In former days it was used exclusively for running horses, hut afterward came over to the side ol the trotters, and has be°n the field (or some ol the best t iin •in this cut itry. Its patrons range upward from Geo. M. Patchem to the famous Eclipse. In its earlier days it was in the hands of honest men, with large hearts and liberal hands, who not only had the old English pride in a good horse, but also knew how to appreciate the royal brute. In those days it was fashionable and respectable for all classes to attend a race. Then, mechanics and millionaires could feat their families to a day of healthful enjoyment; could pat the neck o! a noble steed and feel the breath of his flaming nostrils, and take an interest in Fiis welfare without the fear of ridicule or excommuni-

j cation. In these latter days, however, an improved moral sentiment, that like a blind horse, steps high and at random, has shaken the turf into the arms of a class of persons ot had morals and worse humanity, who hug it with miserly love for the gold it brings. The Course will, probably, never regain its former position. An increasing value in real estate, a strange inertness on the part of its managers, and a steady degeneracy in respectableness are pushing it to the wall. The growing interests of horsemen in the performances of the turf cannot save it. Its days are numbered. For the good it has done, for the impetus it lias given to the rearing of horses by the development, of a better strain of blood; for the extraordinary powers of speed and endurance of the American horse, excelling that of every nation in the world, which it has served to bring forth_ and for its principles of systematic training, a science by itself, let it have full and just praise. For the good it has failed to accomplish, and for the evil it has done, let the j blame rest on the censors of public opin- : ion and not upon the jockeys. Although they are wanting in the.principle of sell-de-nial, the foundation of a complete man, ajtd are adicted to many vices, yet the jockeys as a class are possessed of noble qualities,such I -s are seldom found: A great deal may be | gleaned by a walk with them, and he must jhe weak indeed who cannot separate the I wheat ,from the chaff. It takes all sorts of I people to make a world, anti thy friend has I I little faith in hand-box morality, j At the head of those who are horsemen hv I j profession stands the veteran Hiram YVoodj ruff. In person, lie is abcui the medium jsize, thick set and full formed; has a full, good-natured face, and an intellectual-look-ing head. There is a peculiar comical expression to his eyes, which, under a joke, flash like diamonds. He wears a broadbrimmed hat,a roundabout and.flowing trowsj ers, and altogether looks like a jolly old t.ir j just off ship. He is courteous to all; is | cheek by jowl wit'll the aristoora y of the city, the peanut hoys and Flora Temple. He is | past the prime of life, full of energy and fun, ! honest, intelligent and m inly; keeps a pub- ' lie house on a grand scale, nnd a large stable. Dan. Pfifer, another horseman, is a heavy, well-m ide man, lias a red face and a I heart, is generous and affable, has less fun llian Hiram but as good a knowledge ot horse-flesh. He thinks more of a horse than ke does of a woman, and is wed only to his profession. Geo. Spicer is a good-looking man, and his countenance would indicate his admiration of the horse—he always drives a good team. He looks as though he was not easily frightened, notwithstanding Lantern carried too high u wick for him in his race against Ethan Allen. With the other courtiers of the ribbon thy friend lias no acquaintance* und can only say j that they delight in long whips and fast j nags. I Ol the system of training pursued here no ! adequate idea can ho conveyed by the pen; j it is one ot the sciences that must he learned i Jby experience. So far as mv knowledge I

goes, it consists mainly of two qualities: grooming and exercise. The former is thoroughly understood and thoroughly practiced. Horses designed for training are placed in the hands of the professional horseman, who has entire control of them. The trainer has |in his employ a well-informed groom, who has under him several hoys, so that between them all, the superfluous flesh is rubbed off’ and nothing but muscle is left. From this continual friction the beasts become sore and cross, and their coats shine like mirrors. The uttmost attention is paid to cleanliness and many ot the stables resemble parlors. There are many men, worth many dollars, j who do not get half the attention which these animals receive. The boys become identified with them, they sleep with them, they talk to them and fight for them. Each horse receives one hour’s walking in the morning and the same quantity at night. Tuis is done under heavy blankets and hoods. ! and in the trotting season when large numbers are out, a novel and quaint sight is presented. In addition to this they are treated to work in lint ness two or three times in a week. By this training the horses are kept in good condition, and their muscles and sinews become hard and servicable. All honor to the system, even if it did eminate from a race course. -Day before yesterday Flora Temple heat Princess, over the Eclipse i'nurse* in 4:51, at two mile heats, to harness, making her second mile in 2:23. s A week prior to that, she outstripped the Cali ornia m ire, at mile heats, beating herowti famous t ime of 2:24.\, 'and closing the secoiid heat in the astonishing quick time ol two minutes, and twenty-two seconds; the fastest, on record. These have been the great trots of the season. Yours. Broadbrim.