HORSE RACING

Daily Gleaner, August 3, 1875

                   MIDSUMMER RACES.
To the Editor of the Gleaner
Sir,—I am right glad to see tbat a praiseworthy and well directed effort is being made on the part of the gentlemen concerned to afford the community of Kingston the relaxation which the Midsummer Races cannot fail to produce. Partly from the novelty of the movement, and the fact that some persons are of the opinion that two race meetings a-year are "too much of a good thing;" there was at one time a probability that the sports would have fallen through, but thanks to the indefatigable exertions of Mr Osmond Delgado, the zealous and painstaking Treasurer, upon whose well-directed and successful efforts, too much praise cannot be bestowed, the Races are all but un fait accompli, and next week about this time if there is not awakened sufficient excitement in the town to give to the sports the eclat attendant upon such occasions; I shall have been mistaken about the appreciation of our amusement loving community. Kingston is proverbially a dull town. Had it not been for the enterprise and able management of Mr. Holland, and his efficient dramatic company, during the past few months we would have had nothing contributing to the public amusement. It is something disgraceful to think that the "first city in the British West Indies," with a population of nearly 40,000 inhabitants should remain for months without anything in the shape of entertainment of any kind, except an occasional concert for a charitable purpose, or a magic-lantern exhibition or one of those spirited Readings by our talented friend Murray, who has done "yeoman's service" in keeping us from absolute stagnation. As a consequence of this lack of public amusement people are driven into all kinds of hole-and-corner excesses to entertain themselves, and tea-meetings, which are at best only social reunions of a rather "mixed" character become popular. Even our theatre, dignified as it is with the prefix "royal" is a shabby, uncomfortable structure with hardly decent accommodation, and with as much lack of internal accessories to please the eye as, externally, it is ungainly and hideous. Let us have the Midsummer Races, then, and let them be so arranged not to interfere with the regular December Meeting. It was a happy thought of the gentlemen gathered in the stewards' stand last December, this suggestion of a Midsummer Meeting, and the eagerness and cordiality with which it was received and responded to are evidence of its necessity. True, we have had some show of disagreement from quarters where we least expected it. When the Custos expresses as his opinion doubts about the morality of the city being unable to bear the strain of a second race meeting, his honor, in my opinion, labours  under a misconception. It is certainly dragging down the noble and manly old English pastime to rather a degrading level to identify it with the morals of some race-goers. You might as well say of the Drama that as some actors and actresses have earned for themselves ill reputations, and some playgoers are men of evil ways, that, therefore, the Drama is in itself reprehensible. It is not in the nature of horse-racing or stage-playing to make men or women immoral, either socially or ethically. It is an inherent quality, and as long as the Millenium is delayed there will exist multiform phases of individual immorality. But to come to the point, Sir. I had it in my mind to suggest that two o'clock is much two early an hour to commence the racing. I think that with the high twilights with which we are favored at this season three or even four o'clock would not be too late. The sports could be continued up till seven—giving three hours for the working of the programme each day—and it being comparatively cool at sundown, the attendance at that time would be far more numerous than at the broiling hour of 2 p.m. I hope you will give some prominence to this suggestion, Mr. Editor, and that the Races will be successful.
Yours,
CENTAUR
August 3, 1875.