Page:History of Oregon Newspapers.pdf/511

502 kept tacking about to leeward of the imaginary line between Fort Adams and the Dumpling, awaiting the "starting" signal.

The remainder of the story is told in the following order: ratings for the handicap, rules of the race, start of the race, description of the race, time at the stakeboat, time of arrival home. The article was 27 inches long, over all.

A story of a rowing race which appeared in the Herald a few days later (August 29) follows the same general pattern.

A day of Saratoga racing gave the New York Times of August 21, 1872, an opportunity to display the 1872 technique of handling turf events. Notice the emphasis on the weather, the crowd, and the ladies' "elegant toilets" before anything is said about the races. Well, here's the story, head and all:

"Saratoga, Aug. 20.—The third day of the meeting has passed off in a very satisfactory and enjoyable manner, the change in the weather contributing in a great measure to the success of the day. True, the sun shone hot, but the atmosphere was purer, and the sun's rays had not the enervating effect of the last few days of sultriness. The heat, however, did not deter a very large crowd from wending its way to the race-course and filling to repletion the grandstand with an aristocratic assemblage, while the field stand was well patronized. As usual during the meeting here, the ladies dis played elegant toilets in profusion, and became as enthusiastic as their cavaliers while the races were in progress. It was a sad day for the knowing ones, and especially were they bitten in the second race, which Experience Oaks won and sold the lowest in the pools. In the Paris Mutual pools a $5 ticket on Experience Oaks brought $243.75 and most of the outsiders caught their little "chicken pie," as the pool-sellers call it. The racing was admirable, and was begun by Count D'Orsay, representing the Belmont stable, winning the sweep stakes for two-year-olds, beating the favorite Strachino two lengths; this was the first step into the mire for the "wise uns," and their second step completely submerged them. Gray Planet could not lose this race, said they, although he had always proved himself a "duffer.""