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I NEW ORLEANS OF OLD AND PRESENT TIME. Man Who Trained the Great Imp Writes of the Change in Conditions. "The measure of success attained by the present race- in- eting at New Orleans indicates the popularity of the sport and the place it hohls in tin- he-art of the Ameriian people," writes C. E. ITUSliasi* "Hotel owners, shop proprietors, all classes and conditions of men in that -ity. are benefited financially by the eatable mossry that now- comes to them through the medium of the race- track sad mes track men. that would be spent in other localities than New Orleans this winter. Were it not for the afflatus of raring. That racing has prospered in this country, in spite of the numerous attacks, open and insiduous. that have been made upon it. is apparent to all. and one has only to refer to conditions that existed along BS the Mis in th res-cent City. eoaMMUed to the splendid program that is being run off there this wint-r. "Then three race days a week were the advertised number - i sdays. Thursdays end Saturdays were the- regular race days, and if by reasons of rain or muddy track the- management desired to call the races olT. a poslponenunt was announced and was often continued for several elays in succession. The- panes were for the munificent sum of 9299 999 to sec, ml. "Such good old scouts as Green Morris. Jack P.atchelor and C. H. Pettengill were- tin- owners of the most prominent Stables and were- the most frequent winners. This small beginning was the start of winter racing in the inited States, and it afterward assumed such gigantic proportions in that city that New- Orleans was called the whiter racing capital of America. Because e f this thousands of people- Journeyed there* every winter te enjoy the- sport: competition was arouse-d. ne-w race tracks were built, more than were required to supply On-demand : no body of men in authority, until eventually the citizens became disgusted, joined with the reformers — some of them paid by either track, to reform the other track out of business — ami voted the whole* institution out of the state. "These winter race meetings must not be- confused with the race meetings give-u ove-r the old Metallic course, that was afterward turneel into one of the most beautiful cemeteries in the country and was controlled by gentlemen of wealth, of high business, political and social standing, who main-talned a she rt race meeting Slang about the first of April, each year, for years. The old Mctairje course, that echoed to the hoof-beats of Lexington, Lecompte, Prysr, etc.. the greatest homes in America of their day. where- 939,999 stakes were run. records broken and turf history made that will be famous for all time. There always has bet n in New Orleans, as is the case in alnmst every other wen-to-d* community, a real desire among the solid, substantial, progressive business nen. to promote racing unele-r proper conditions and tie- only way to accomplish this result satisfactorily i-- to have a nein-partisan racing commission of practical men. appointed supervisors of the race tracks, with power to give dates and issue lieensi s. by the gov-erneir of eae-h state where racing is desired. One of the most spectacular occurrences that ever happened on any race- track came off in Ne-w Orleans. "We- always vividly remember the unusual, the startling and the bad qualities in a horse h.nger than we retain the good- -possibly we do the same tiling in regard to a man. The evil that men do lives after ti.em: the good is oft Interred with their bones. Alderman Carey, of Chicago, had a good. big. robust, fast horse, raeing at N w Orleans by the name of Duke of Milpitas. and the Duke delighted to make all of the trouble lie could for the starter and the assistants, wbenevi r be weat to the post in a race. One of the Dukel chief amusements, a.t such times, was to slide a big husky assistant all over the track, step on him and walk on him, entertain the crowel with all kinds of antics and delay the start for a considerable tine-. Finally an onh r came from the judges stand that hi- entry would no longer be resetted at tin- track on account of bael behavior at the pe st. Tie- trainer had the horse good and was eonfieient of winning in any ceunpany, if those in authority would allow the bores to start. Therefore la- made a proposi- tian to the judges that he weiuld tie- tin- Duke to the fence with a strong rope tied securely around bis neck and run through the ring in the birdie bit. then when the starnr got all of the balance of the horses in and shout el eonio on. t!. ■ tr.iner would egt the rope with a big, sharp knife, and let the horse run. "This was accordingly done, the starter line-el them up. called out come on. Whack, want the knife, and away went, the Duke with abort two feet of rope dangling from his bridle bit. Arc lad the turn they went, the Duke last, but in a go d position and right on the heels of tin- hum h ; up the baekstreteh be improved his position and tW ing Into the homestretch in- was on even terms with the leaders, the rope fluttering all the WhUe lik • a p: naant on a ship of war in a gale, but on he came. The Duke was not to be denied, winning • i iij amidst great rejoicing by the- Chicago l-ootittgent, and even the lonera laughed and applauded."
