Title: The American turf: an historical account of racing in the United States, with biographical sketches of turf celebrities. 1898
Identifier: americanturfhist01week (find matches)
Year: 1898 (1890s)
Authors: Weeks, Lyman Horace, ed
Subjects: Horse racing
Publisher: New York, The Historical Company
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: Sloan Foundation

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THE AMERICAN TURF Jersey. However, it was not until i8u)that the citizens of New York began to manifest a full appreciation of the sport. Legislation against racing, which had hitherto been of a burdensome character, was at last modified, and active steps were taken to place turf afTairs on a permanent basis. In that year a jockey club was formed and a track laid out at Bath, L. I., thus prefiguring the location of the famous Coney Island ar.d Gravesend tracks of this generation. The club proved to be a suc- cessful institution, and very good races were run for two seasons. It was found, however, that the location of the course was not altogether satisfactory on account of its inaccess- Course events were largely increased, and I'acing was placed on a more elevated and permanent footing than before. In 1828, a racing association was oiganized in Dutcliess County, New York, and a course laid out near Pough- keepsie. Liberal purses were offered, and for several years there was well conducted and good racing, this course being the scene of some of the best performances of Mr, John C. Stevens' Black Maria and other horses of her class. Ten years later the Beacon Course at Hoboken, N. J., was established, and grounds laid out and build- ings erected at great cost. Large purses were given, and for a few years this course was very popular, inas-
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SLEEPING APARTMENT, THE CLUB HOUSE MORRIS PARK ibility, for we must remember that the means of travel in those days were not what they are now. A location nearer the city was accordingly deemed essential, and in 1821, the club purchased a plot of ground some eight miles from Brooklyn, inclosed it, and laid out a track. This was the beginning of the celebrated Union Course, that for nearly fifty years remained one of the most famous centres of turf interest in America. In fact, it became the chosen battle ground for the greatest con- tests between horses that the earlier history of the turf in this country can show. Under the enterprising man- agement of the Jockey Club, the purses for the Union much as it presented some of the leading attractions of that period. Trenton, N. J,, also had a course in these early days under the name of the Eagle Course, and its purses insured some good racing. Ultimately, however, all these courses were abandoned, until in the period just preceding the Civil War none of them were in exist- ence, except the old Union Course, and that had been largely given over to the trotting horse. For many years previous to the time when discredit attended the decline of racing in the North, the celebrated Fashion Course on Long Island was one of the most popular racing resorts in the country. The course was 457

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