6                                HISTORY OF THE



not have been less than 10,000 persons on the course, composed
of all grades of society, the banker, the merchant, the gentl-
man of leisure and pleasure seeker, the butcher, the baker, the
candlestick maker, et id omnie genus. That portion of the Grand
Stand devoted to the ladies was -one grand bouquet of beauty,
refinement and intelligence. The ladies in the various costumes
looked like so many parti-colored butterflies, balancing them-
selves on their wings, in the slanting rays of the bright sun.
At one time you met a beauty with such sweetness in 'her up-
turned eyes, such as fancy lends to the Madonna; at another
point, one on whose lips the words laugh, and whose stately steps
         Are light, as though a winged angel trod
         Over earth flowers, and fear'd to brush away
         Their delicate hues.
   All the shades of beauty is fully represented, from the blonde
to the brunette, from the matron, whose hair is threaded with
the silver, to the young girl j ust blushing into womanhood,
whose cheeks are as ruby red as a peach that has been kissed
by the sun.
   The Derby came next, and fifteen finer or handsomer young-
sters never faced a starter. McGrath's entries had the call in
the betting and many thought he would win with Chesapeake, but
Aristides, the son of Leamington, carried -off the honors, and
worthily earned a chaplet, one of the best three-year-olds ever
stripped for a race in this country. It was extremely gratifying
to the friends of the liberal Laird of MeGrathiana, and will
be doubly gratifying to Aristides Welch, the owner of Learn-
ington, after whom the colt is christened. This is the best race
at the weights ever run by three-year-olds in this country, and
cannot fail to make Aristides a still stronger favorite for his
Eastern engagements.



MiSTORY OF THE



6