RACEHORSES AT DINNER

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXI, Issue 279, 9 November 1931, Page 11

RACEHORSES AT DINNER

UNIQUE NEW YORK BANQUET. STALLS AROUND A BALLROOM. On the eve of the Futurity, a horse race run at Belmont Park, New York, in September, a unique dinner was given to tho millionaire racing enthusiast, Mr. Joseph E. Widener. The ballroom of the Hotel Biltmore was arranged to represent a section of the famous racecourse, and 10 horses were paraded. The horses’were taken in goods lifts to tho nineteenth floor, oh which tho ballroom is situated. Most of the fashionable racing world attended the dinner, first, in honour of Mr. Widener, and, secondly, to see the equine stars. Placed in stalls built around the ballroom, the horses were given their dinner before the guests were served. The menu cards were designed in imitation of official race programmes. In a series of tableaux the late Fred Archer, who rode five Derby winners, was shown, mounted on Ormonde. Lord Derby, one of Mr. Widener’s closest friends, sent this message: “I should not like this occasion, when you do honour to Mr. Widener, to pass without sending him my affectionate greetings. There is no racing man who has done more for racing in America than your guest of honour, whom we can also claim on this side of the Atlantic, both in England and France, as a staunch supporter of racing. At present many are taking a pessimistic view as to the future of racing. I do not myself subscribe to that view. There is no sport so universal as racing.” Incidentally, three races run at Bel mont Park on one day—the. Futurity, the Grand National and tho Gold Cup —comprised purses to tho total value of £35,000, tho richest day’s racing in the world.

During the dinner, which was attended by 300 persons representing names famous in the American racing and social world, the horses led by Osmond, a famous chestnut owned by Mr. Wide nor, were put through their paces down a runway between the tables and out into the hall. Another surprise for the guests was a hunting scene, wherein four huntsmen, followed by 18 hounds, galloped through the room. A little later, during the last stages of the dinner, four horses dragging an army caisson, with army riders, dashed down the runway. Mr. Widener has for some years been America’s most successful racehorse owner and breeder, with stables at Lexington, Kentucky and at Chantilly, France.