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MATCH RACE OF OLD DAYS How Planet Beat Congaree at the Fashion Course, Long Island. Great 0,000 Contest as Jlecounted in the Pages of Frank Leslies Illustrated Newspaper of October C, 1SC9. 1 T. F. Foody, of Katonah, N. X., found a copy of Frank Leslies Illustrated Newspaper for October G, 1S60, in an old trunk recently. This paper contained a full account of a great 0,000 match race between Planet and Congaree, the leading horses of those days, at the Fashion course on Long Island. Through the courtesy of Mr. Foody Daily Placing Form is enabled to reproduce in full the interesting and rather amusing ncccunt of the race : GREAT 0,000 SWEEPSTAKES AT THE FASHION COUltSE, J,. I. rLANET THE YICTOIt. Fifteen Thousand Ladies and Gentlemen rrcscnt. For many months past the public, or that portion who delight in field and turf matters, have watched with considerable interest the progress of a match made by the owners of three of the fleetest horses in America. This purse or sweep was made in this manner. The owner of Planet, T. "V. Doswell, Esq.., of Richmond, Va. : the owners of Daniel Boone, Messrs. Cottrell and Broadnax, of Mobile, and the owner of Congaree, Mr. Puryear, of South Carolina, in connection with Mr. Colton, the proprietor of the Fashion course, each agreed to put in ,000 apiece, to be run for at four mile heats, the fastest horse to take the whole purse. A few weeks past these celebrated flyers were brought on here from the south, and placed in their respective stables, adjacent to the track, where they have gone through all the routine of training, with more care and attention than are paid to many mortals. A few days previous to the race, however, notwithstanding all the precautions of his experienced groom, while taking his airings one morning, Daniel Boone overstrode his usual pace and cut his forefoot badly, indeed so seriously as to incapacitate him from joining the race, and his owners sent him home to a more congenial climate for fear of lockjaw. THREATENING WEATnER. On Tuesday last the two remaining horses were advertised to go for the stake at the Fashion course, Long Island. In the morning the clouds looked lowering, and the atmosphere portended rain. This deterred thousands who had intended going from being present, the idea obtaining that the horses would not go unless the weather was highly propitious. But this calculation was wrong, as the match was made "play or pay," in other words, to go under any and all circumstances. As the day wore on, however, the skies brightened, and vehicles of every description were brought into requisition. From the splendid turnouts of our millionaires, to the "licensed vendors" wagon, were everywhere visible on the various roads leading to the race course. Ladies were out in abundance, and the merry laugh of the bevies of crinoline, as it rolled by in handsome barouches, convinced the plodding philosopher that the dear creatures enjoy outdoor sports as well as male bipeds. The Flushing railroad also carried out immense crowds of such as chose this more democratic mode of locomotion. Previous to the race there was assembled on the track some fifteen thousand people, generally of a higher order than usually patronize the turf this may be accounted for from the fact that large numbers of soutlu.rn gentlemen, at present sojourning in !Ner York, being in attendance, and partly by the comparatively high figure at which the tariff was fixed. PROMINENT "STRANGERS" PRESENT. Among the strangers present were Hon. John M. Botts, of ATirginia, owner of trie celebrated horse Revenue, the sire of Planet; O. P. Hare, of Petersburg, the owner of Oysterman; J. Cassidy, Esq., the owner of Cincinnati and New Orleans courses; W. Gibbons, Esq., the president of the Metaiiie course, New Orleans ; Messrs. Doswell, Cottrell and Puryear, the respective owners of Planet, Daniel Boone and Congaree, and a great number of the principal turf patrons of the south. It was generally believed by the majority present, now that Daniel Boone was out of the way, that Planet would have a clear field, as it was regarded by connoisseurs in horseflesh as a foregone conclusion that Congaree could not go against his competitor in a four-mile race, particularly as he has exhibited only a week previously symptom? of rheumatism. This state of affairs, therefore, made speculation on the performances, so far as money was concerned, of a very limited character. What investments there were made was at about 100 to 20 nd 0. Congaree showed on the track first, and as we described these horses in our last, it will be unnecessary to repeat it here. Parties well up in equine excellence soon gathered around the South Carolina pet, and, scrutinizing him thoroughly, pronounced him a capital horse, and as they witnessed his light elastic step, fell in with his old admirers, and were not so certain about Old Dominion sweeping the stake. Presently the bell was sounded, and both horses made their appearance. Planet was in as fine condition as ever horse was in ; his long, sweeping strides, the muscular, healthy appearance of his body and limbs made him the observed of all observers. Without depreciating the merits of Daniel Boone, we confess to the belief that no thoroughbred in the world could have beaten Planet the four miles on Tuesday last. His jockey was a colored boy, dressed in yellow jacket and cap, with white pants and russet boots. Congarees jockey wore a blue jacket, white pants and tri-colorcd cap. They both topped their prancing steeds in true professional style and as they were being held in abeyance by their grooms the enthusiasm among the spectators began to increase. At last the drum was tapped and away they sped. Planet sprang in front and took a lengths lead. His pace was not what could be termed regular at the outset, but before he reached the quarter stretch he settled into a farful rate of speed. Congaree was not to be shaken off so easily, however, and wildly dashing on after his fleet competitor nearly closed the gap before reaching the half-mile pole amid the shouts of his back-era The enthusiasm did not last long, for the chestnut, being in good heart, had no difficulty in putting on more steam. Thus they went. Planet about two lengths ahead, pulling the bay after him in beautiful style. As they neared the stand on the first mile Congaree, with wonderful gamcness, went after Planet at a tremendous rate and would have passed him had not the little darky taken advantage of a "point." Still this would have made no difference in the ultimate result MILE RUN IN 1:34. This mile was accomplished in 1 :54. Both l:orses were now working well and as they swept around to the Mansion House the race was indeed fine. Planets action was like a steam engine, so regular, smooth and elegant. Congaree, however, seemed to show signs of distress and labored hard to keep within three or four lengths of him. Just as the Virginian horse passed the stand, which he did in 3 :46Vi, the pluvial god, who seemed to take especial delight in throwing cold water on all the efforts of the proprietor of this track, and who had been threatening for some time, now sent his cold drops down upon the devoted heads of this pleasure-seeking multitude. Ladies who were standing on the tops of coaches and other available spots, who had come forth dressed out in all varicolors of the butterfly, now scampered in all directions tc save their attractive plumage. Delicate little bonnets which had cost many hard hours of labor to give them their bewitching appearance, were disfigured and rendered worthless in a moment. Valuable silks in a trice were made to look like a collapsed balloon. The gentlemen ran for the grand stands, but yet the horses kept on. The rain had now turned partly in a hailstorm and coming down so fast and in such a deluging way that even the stands did not afford protection. HORSES RACE IN TASTE." Notwithstnding all humanity quailed before the pitiless storm, yet the horses never flinched, but continued their task, with, the earth now mixed into a thick paste. Planet was going in regular chronometer fashion and as he passed the score in 5:39 1-2 he was quite twelve lengths in advance of Congaree. As soon as this point had been passed the jockey of Planet, who had, doubtlessly, instruction, kept his horse well in hand, leaving his plucky antagonist at every stride. The running of this mile was as beautiful as ever was seen, although the horse was not pushed in the least. He made such tremendous headway that he came in the winner in 7:39, nearly or quite a quarter of ii mile in advance and thereby distancing Congaree. We cannot say that this race was thoroughly satisfactory, for Planet was not put to his full speed at any time in the race and had he been, we feel quite assured that Lexington and Lecomptes time would have been obliterated as a beacon for turfmen in this country by the performance of this remarkable animal. As it is, the time is not wonderful, but what would it have been had the circumstances proved favorable? After the storm abated the crowd took to their conveyances and soon the gay, but rather dampened, pleasure seekers were on their way back to this great emporium.
