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LONGFELLOWS GREAT RACE Outgames Harry Bassett, Erstwhile Greatest Runner. Leamington and Lexington Blood Supremacy Was Real Issue at Stake Thirty Thousand People See Contest. The interest by turfmen and racegoers in the outstanding stake races of today, with their huge monetary returns and their array of top-notch thoroughbreds trained to a hair for the contests, will give an idea of that which was felt a half century ago when memorable races by the then greatest horses on the turf were decided. The racing season of 1872 was made particularly memorable by contests between several of the most prominent horses on the turf. The rivalry between Harry Bassett, Longfellow and Monarchist particularly stirred up the racing public to the highest pitch of excitement. Harry Bassett, which had then scarcely passed his prime, was considered by many to be the best runner of his generation and he held a high position as a pcular favorite among those who knew a little more about racing than the names and stories of the winners. Longfellow was still a popular and professional favorite and Monarchist was looming up as a coming champion, destined to perpetuate the memory and carry the colors of his great sire, Lexington, for many years to come. The partisans of the Leamington blood, represented by Longfellow, and the believers in the virtue of the Lexington stock, represented by Harry Bassett and Monarchist, were especially stinvd up by the rivalry between these three great champions, whose merits were everywhere discussd with a fervor that sometimes was Oangerously near to acrimony. LONGFELLOW MEETS ILUlllY BASSETT The meeting between Longfellow and Harry Bassett in the race for the Monmouth t up on the second day of the Long Bran h meeting, July 2, 1S72, was the first of these noted events of that season. It was tae f.rst time that Longfellow had met Harry Bassett and great concern was felt in tne affair all over the country. The event was thoroughly advertised and attracted to Long Branch hundreds of visitors who rarely, if ever before, had seen a race track. When Longfellow was brought from Louisville to Long Branch he had the dignity of a special car which bore on a great pla i el the announcement, "Longfellow going to Long Branch to meet his friend, lia Bassett." All along the route of his journey he received the attention that is gene-raiiy accorded to a dignitary on his travels and few people who read the newspapers w re allowed to remain in ignorance of the forthcoming event. No fewer than thirty thousand people were present upon the clay set apart for the Monmouth Cup race and, in this vast concou e, speculation was pretty evenly divided regarding the relative merits of the two champions. If anything, however, Longfellow was the favorite. This arose somewhat from the effect of the recent brilliant victories of his near kinsman and companion, Lyttleton, and the odds that were originally strongly in favor of Harry Bassett declined somewhat as the day and hour of the race approached. HARRY BASSETT THOUGHT INVINCIBLE Still, it was the opinion of the great majority of those who had supported him that it was impossible for him to lose. He came to Long Branch fresh from two victories, in one of which he distanced Metella, his sole opponent, running the last mile of a second two-mile heat in 1 :4G. In a sense this particular cup race partook somewhat of the more ancient interstate feature that characterized so many of the early American races, Harry Bassett being the property of Colonel David McDaniel of Virginia, while Longfellow, owned by John Harper, carried the colors of Kentucky. Longfellow had never been beaten in a truly run race when he was in conditi n. His great race with Helmbold at Saratoga was lost because he was entirely unfit wlu-n he went to the post. Harry Bassett, also, had the highest reputation as one of tha truest, steadiest and most trustworthy runners ever stripped on the course. When the horses came out the appearance of both excited admiration and renewed fie fondest expectations of the partisans who were backing them. LONGFELLOW IN PINK OF CONDITION. Longfellow, large in stature and length, was in the pink of condition and fit to run for a mans life. It was remarked that few horses are ever brought to the post iu better shape than he appeared on that day. On the other hand, Harry Bassett, to r 11 outward appearances, bore no unfavora :o comparison with his rival. He looked well, but, as the contest proved, was not after ell in quite the condition that he should have been in order to insure success. When the signal was given for the start, Harry Bassett had a little the best of it and made the running. Longfellow came close behind him with a beautiful sweeping strc.e that enabled him to cover the ground with ease and to hold his own. Soon the slight difference between them was closed and, although at the beginning of the first turn Harry Bassett led by a length, they were neck and neck at the end of the first mile, which was run in 1 minute 44 seconds. From this point on it was Longfellow3 race. He gradually increased his lead, first by a neck and then inch by inch until at the end of a mile and a half, which was run in 2 minutes 37 seconds, he was a goud length and a half ahead. Then Harry Bas-setts faint heart showed itself. With Ks rival leading him he sulked and quit, whi o Longfellow won in a canter in 4 minutes ?1 seconds, with fully sixty yards to the go- 1. The result was a severe blow to those who had pinned their faith upon the son of Lexington and Canary Bird, but it showed conclusively that, however much speed and endurance Harry Bassett might .have and however much courage he might display when he was leading the field or making the pace, he lost spirit when he was headed and could not be depended upon to snatch victory from impending defeat.
