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THE AMERICAN SPORTSMAN'S LIBRARY
EDITED BY CASPAR WHITNEY
THE AMERICAN THOROUGHBRED
BY CHARLES E. TREVATHAN
jTl^g^
THL .AMERICAN
THOROU(5lIBRED
CHARL:
THE MACMiLLArd COMPANY
LONDON: MAC'MILLAN% ^'^^ ^— 1905
Aii rigkti nserved
THE AMERICAN
THOROUGHBRED
BY
CHARLES E. TREVATHAN
THE MACMILLAN COMPANY
LONDON: MACMILLAN & CO., Ltd. 1905
AU rights reserved
Copyright, 1905, By the MACMILLAN COMPANY.
Set up and electrotyped. Published March, 1905.
NortoootJ ^regg
J. S. Gushing & Co. — Berwick & Smith Co.
Norwood, Mass., U.S.A.
DEDICATION
Eo tie Pemors o! t!}e Hate WILLIAM COLLINS WHITNEY
GENTLEMAN AND SPORTSMAN
TO WHOSE ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE I OWE MUCH
OF WHATEVER IS WORTH WHILE
IN THIS VOLUME
THE AUTHOR
CONTENTS
Illustrations
CHAPTER
I. Whence the American Thoroughbred
II. The First Race Meetings .
III. Early Owners were Gentlemen
IV. Old Dominion was Turf Mother V. Maryland's Horses and Horsemen
VI. First Thoroughbreds of the North
VII. Eclipse and Henry
VIII. What a Thoroughbred Mare may Do
IX. Thoroughbreds of the West
X. Wagner vs. Gray Eagle .
XL Kentucky's Greatness of Blood
XII. Boston the King .
XIII. When Boston met Fashion
XIV. When Boston's Best Sons Met XV. The Last Race of Lexington
XVI. Racing in War Times .
XVII. The House of Lexington .
XVIII. Harry Bassett and Longfellow
XIX. Turf Affairs of California
XX. The Four-miler Passing
PAGE
ix
15
37 85 no 124 146 172
185
192
220 231 247 274 294
322
332
349
364
Vlll
Contents
CHAPTER
XXI. The Coming of the Modern Type
XXII. The Racing of To-day
XXIII. In Hanover's Time
XXIV. When Salvator beat Tenny XXV. Dominance of Domino .
XXVI. Horses of To-day
Index . e
PAGE
397 410 429 438 453
469
ILLUSTRATIONS
Peytona and Fashion's Great Match for $20,000, over THE Union Course, Long Island, Tuesday, May 13, 1845 ........ Frontispiece
FACING PAGE
August Belmont 3^
Glencoe 76
James R. Keene . . . . ^ 126
Boston 232
Lexington 276
William R. Travers 3H
Jerome Park 328
Fashion 348
Leonard W. Jerome 402
Watching the "Brooklyn Handicap," Gravesend
Course, May 26, 1904 418
Salvator 430
William C. Whitney 460
THE AMERICAN THOROUGHBRED
CHAPTER I
WHENCE THE AMERICAN THOROUGHBRED
For the existence of this thing which we call the thoroughbred horse of America, we, in com- mon with all countries of civilization, must give thanks to England. There is not at this day galloping upon the turf of any land under the sun a single animal worthy of the name of race-horse which does not go back through generations to an original English foundation.
The American turf is only the English turf transplanted, with some alterations, to a new soil. Our whole instinct for racing comes from our English and Irish ancestry, and we were the first country outside of England itself to begin the breeding of horses for purposes of the turf and for their general improvement.
Almost with the genesis of the white man upon the American continent the use of the horse as a
:^ The American Thoroughbred
means of sport came into vogue. In spite of her years of precedence, England has scarce had upon her own home turf — which is the mother turf — more delightful days of racing, accompanied by more delightful incident, than that which accom- panied the early sport of the running of horses in these United States of America.
Somewhere, at some time in the long-ago, the writer remembers a tall gentleman, with the man- ners of a grenadier, delivering a sort of lecture on the sword. He illustrated his talk with an exhibition of the swords of all times and of all nations. He concluded his oration with a strik- ing passage, of which there remains to this day in the writer/s mind this line : " It [the sword] has ever been the friend and the faithful of the gen- tleman." And it would seem, following this story of the thoroughbred race-horse, or that species of the equine which has furnished sport for half the civilizations of the world, and peculiarly and par- ticularly for those civilizations which had the Anglo-Saxon race for their beginning, that the thoroughbred has ever been the companion and the faithful. Certainly we owe his early and prominent existence in America to the coming of the first gentleman.
Whence the American Thoroughbred 3
Back yonder, so far as there is record, or even tradition, to tell of a race-horse in America, there is mention, which has been credited as true men- tion, of the importation to this country of a stallion called Bulle Rock. In the American Stud Book, which is that authority to which we must all refer, you may find the name Bulle Rock as given to a horse foaled in England in 1718, and imported into Virginia in 1730. So early was his birth in Albion, that neither the Stud Book nor Racing Calendar in that country had been established, and the records of exportations from there were as unreliable and as fragmentary as those of importations to this country.
But, from the old advertisements in the very early Virginia papers, we know that this horse called Bulle Rock, by the Darley Arabian, first dam by Byerly Turk, was owned by Samuel Patton and Samuel Gist, of Virginia, and that he was spoken of in the small prints of his time as being a horse of the best English (or Arabian) racing family, and that it was hoped the gentle- men of Virginia would seek opportunity, through him, of improving their general stock.
There is no way of establishing the fact that previous to the coming of Bulle Rock any race-
4 The American Thoroughbred
horse had arrived in America. It is possible, of course, that some of the early exportations made by the Virginia Company for the benefit of the colony at Jamestown contained race-horses among them. If so, no records were ever made of them. Old histories may be found which speak of horses being sent out as gifts to the colonists, but so far as the race-horse is concerned, beyond this Bulle Rock we cannot go.
And so, looking over the great stock-farms of the America of to-day, we must say that the first of these, albeit half unknown, dying in obscurity, and held up to but light fame in his lifetime, was this undescribed Bulle Rock. For the sake of plain history one would like to know what man- ner of horse he was, — whether he was bay, brown, gray, or chestnut ; whether he was small horse or large ; whether his disposition was gentle or fiery ; whether he was good of wind and limb ; and all those things which we like to know of the horses that have come to be called thoroughbred and that do such brilliant and admirable things under the afternoon suns of our land for practically every day in the year.
But we know Bulle Rock only as a name. If the pedigree given for him be correct, then he was
Whence the American Thoroughbred 5
aristocratic indeed. Of his personality there is not even a shadow. He is to us now only the first race-horse to come. And on far occasion we find in an old pedigree, at its very American remote- ness, " This horse was by Bulle Rock."
The first race-horse of America landed on Vir- ginia soil. For many, many years thereafter every race-horse that came to this country landed at the ports of Virginia or the Carolinas. Many men, studying the history of the race-horse of America, have wondered that he should have been, in his importation, so purely local, — why he did not dis- embark in old Boston, or even on the coast of Maine, or at the Battery. There is plain reason for that in the types of the men who were coming from other lands to make this new country under a new flag. The masters of Virginia and of the Carolinas were the cavaliers of old England. They were men of the horse and the sword at home. Long military training had taught them that a man well horsed had his battle half won. So it was the most natural thing in the world that, coming to the conquest of a new land, the man who had been swift-mounted in his own land upon a horse capable of carrying him at great speed and of maintaining such speed under difiiculties for
6 The American Thoroughbred
a great length of time, should want an animal of such character to be his companion in the new country. The cavalier of England brought the race-horse to America and for fifty years after his coming maintained the existence of the race-horse by fresh importations and by crossing upon such selected animals of native breed as seemed suited to produce the race-horse of speed or the saddle- horse of quality and endurance.
New York's early Dutch were not horsemen. They did their riding at home upon cumbersome animals more calculated to carry great burdens slowly than lighter ones with vim and dash. The Dutch brought horses to New York, but they brought the ponderous animal of burden rather than the prancing steed that might carry a cava- lier and his caparisons with grace.
The Puritan of New England was not a man for horse-loving nor for display. Certainly he was not the man in whose heart the race-horse could have honest home. He was given to humil- ity and to simple drudgeries, denying himself the indulgences of that very class which had populated early Virginia. So it is that the old pictures of the Puritan of New England set him always at his going and coming on foot. Ever a sturdy
Whence the American Thoroughbred 7
man and ever a reliant one, he did for himself the duties which the horse was supposed to share with the cavalier. Your Virginian and your North Carolinian and your Marylander threaded his way through the early forest astride his horse. He had him for constant companion and held him as being scarcely second to his flint-lock as a protective or aggressive agency.
Beyond all this utilitarian suggestion which caused the cavalier to bring the race-horse with him to America, there was the sporting instinct which he had inherited from his ancestor at home. For although the thoroughbred horse had not existed for such a great number of years before the founding of the colony at Jamestown, there still had been horse-racing regularly conducted at Newmarket Heath in England since the time of James I. There had been sporting monarchs of old England long before the Virginia charter was issued.
So it came that the race-horse followed the cav- alier, and he became the attendant of the labors as well as the pleasures of the gentleman in this new country as he had been that in the old. Also, being a selected animal and therefore being held at more than ordinary price, the race-horse was
8 The American Thoroughbred
available only to that kind of man who enjoyed the favors of fortune in his own country and could bring with him to the new one that equipment which was considered necessary in the entourage of a gentleman.
From the time of the landing of Bulle Rock to this day, when we find associated with the great jockey clubs of the country some of the most dis- tinguished names to which this country has given birth, save for now and then some unfortunate period when his association was unworthy, we find ever the gentleman and the thoroughbred as com- panions. America is commercial, and there be many men with slight claims to respectability who may own a race-horse for what he may earn. Above these always, when our turf has been in healthy life, the gentlemen have stood and domi- nated.
In a previous paragraph reference was made to the crossing of the English thoroughbred upon native stock. That expression " native " is misleading. There is no native horse of Amer- ica. There is no evidence, historic or prehis- toric, that the horse ever had habitat upon this continent previous to the coming of the white man. Columbus brought horses with him on the
Whence the American Thoroughbred 9
occasion of his second voyage to America, in 1493, and the Indians were as much concerned over the animals which the men from Cokimbus's ships mounted to ride over the land as they were at the appearance of the men themselves. When he returned to Spain, the horses which Columbus had brought in his ships remained. They were, presumably, left somewhere in the Central Ameri- can states.
The first horse to be landed upon what we now call American shores was brought to the coast of Florida by Cabeza de Vaca. In 1527 this com- mander landed at St. Augustine, Florida, and after some exploration there turned loose his band of Spanish animals. There was the genesis of the ordinary horse in America.
In 1609 a stallion and six mares were imported into Virginia from England. In 1625 a few horses were brought from Holland to New Netherlands, now New York. In 1629 the first equine to tread the soil of New England was landed at Boston, from England. In 1678 the plains of Louisiana, Texas, Missouri, and Illinois were peopled with great bands of horses descended from those landed by De Vaca and from wanderers of the Virginia stock. Bancroft's History of the
lo Tbe American Tbowtigbbred
United States says that, in 1656, "the horse was multiplied in Virginia, and to improve that noble animal was an early object of pride favored by legislation. Speed was especially valued, " So when native stock is referred to in this way, it may be considered as native only so far back as that time when the Spaniards were landing on the lower coast.
Getting back from the general horse of Amer- ica to the especial type which is the subject of this article, the honor of having bred, reared, and developed a type of race-horse in America belongs to Virginia and Carolina. Almost up to the time of the Civil War Virginia was known as the race-horse region of America, and the expression " Virginia horse," from Maine to Florida and as far west as the Mississippi River, was taken to mean a superior animal.
Virginia furnished the first thoroughbreds from England, and by judicious crossing of the get of these established a type which might be called truly American, and Virginia inaugurated a style and kind of racing which from its continuance in popularity and its magnificence in contest might be called the American type of racing.
As Virginia was the mother of the general
Whmce the American Thoroughbred.
II
race-horse of America, she was also the mother of the " four-milers." Some of the most brilHant social events of the South have clustered about the four-mile races. While there were contests at four miles and even at four miles and repeat in England, such events were not considered the true test of merit in a horse; and that kind of racing became really American, since for seventy- five years the four-mile-heat horse was the king of his day.
The ascendency of Virginia on the turf for many years was decided. It could not have been otherwise, since, beginning with BuUe Rock, fol- lowing closely with Dabster, joining then with Jolly Roger, Janus, and Fearnought, importing mares of equal quality with these stallions, and continuing to import as each gentleman upon his plantation needed a stallion to replace one gone, it is no wonder that Virginia should have held her place as the first thoroughbred mother of this land. As it has been said, for more than fifty years all the best thoroughbred stallions and all the best thoroughbred mares in America were owned on the plantations that lay along the James and the Rappahannock rivers or in the Carolinas.
The men who gave their energies to the devel-
12 The American Thoroughbred
opment of the Virginia horse were the best men who had gone to form the early colony. It is a peculiar but interesting fact that every man named as a member of the original King's Council of the colony of Jamestown is somewhere or other men- tioned in the American Stud Book as having owned a thoroughbred stallion or brood mare. You may look at all the personalities which went to the making of a new country in Virginia, and you will not be able to find one whose name may not be duplicated in the racing records of the land.
This is not to say that there were not importa- tions of thoroughbreds to other parts of what is now the United States. Lath and Wildair, both horses that made great impress upon the stock of their time, were imported into New York in 1 760 to 1768 by Mr. De Lancey. Fair Rachel and the " Cub Mare," both yet famous in American pedigrees, found their way to America by way of the Battery. Yet these in time went to Virginia to join their relatives who had come by that route before them.
The climate and soil of Virginia seem to have given themselves so handsomely to the produc- tion of a high type of race-horse that within a
Whence the American Thoroughbred 13
very few years after they began breeding, the Virginians had established such a class among their speed animals that they were quite willing to take a Virginia-bred horse back to old Eng- land and try conclusions with the best animals of the mother country.
Not alone, however, were the Virginia gentle- men in their desire to own animals of high quality, and many plantation-owners from the north, the south, the east, and the west travelled to Virginia and, at good prices, bought, off the plantations about the James and the Rappahan- nock, the best of the Virginia blood. An early result of all this successful breeding in Virginia was to distribute among her sister states the produce of some of her best mares from the old English stock. Though Virginians took care to retain many at home, yet some of the highest- bred horses found their way to distant counties, and the mother of the American thoroughbred soon found herself supplying weapons that were destined ultimately to give her signal defeat. The casting of this bread of blood upon the waters gave her disastrous return in after seasons.
In the very infancy of our turf, when George III. was king. South Carolina purchased and
14 The American Thoroughbred
transferred to her borders many Virginia brood mares got by the noted imported horses Fear- nought, Shadow, Lofty, Sentinel, and Janus. From the home country the Carolinians brought stallions to mate with these mares, and in a very brief time after Virginia had established herself as the home of the thoroughbred, South Carolina had at least placed herself as a fit abiding-place for the same splendid tribe.
The first interstate racing of which there is any record in this country was between the turfmen of Virginia and the turfmen of South Carolina. Almost contemporaneous with South Carolina, Maryland had begun to breed and race, and it was not long before the aristocracy of Annapolis was disputing with the aristocracy of the James the ownership of the fastest and stoutest horses in the country.
CHAPTER II
THE FIRST RACE MEETINGS
Regular race meetings of brief duration were given in Virginia prior to the defeat of General Braddock in 1753. The first actual racing organ- ization of which there is such testimony that it can be accepted, was formed at Charleston, South Carolina, February 19, 1760. A Mr. Thomas Nightingale, a Yorkshireman by birth, constructed a course and built a club-house. He called it the Newmarket Course, and upon it were inaugurated certain race meetings which became famous affairs and were the forerunners of almost a hundred years of regular racing in the old Southern state.
In Virginia there was also a Newmarket, and there was a Tree Hill Course, and a Broad Rock Course, and a Fairview. All these were recog- nized places for the assembling of the racing people, and were at times the centres of the social life of Virginia.
There is existent record of the acting by Gen-
15
1 6 The American Thoroughbred
eral Washington as a judge at one of these New- market meetings before the Revolutionary War. At the same time there was in operation a course at Annapolis. The Church had even given rec- ognition to racing as one of the harmless social delights of the higher class of Annapolis people. Outside Baltimore, also, existed another race- course which had no name, but was known gen- erally as the Maryland Course.
There do not exist more than fragmentary records of the doings upon any of these tracks ; and one may not, with any degree of certainty, write of any incident upon them until after the period of the Revolution. By the time the first difficulty with England occurred, the scientific breeding of the race-horse had progressed so far that in all of the wealthy communities, from Carolina to Long Island, there were breeding studs where the very best type of animal for cav- alry purposes existed. Much of the activity of the British during the winter months was given to the raiding of the farms in an effort to capture this much-desired property. It may be said with truth, however, that the production of the Ameri- can race-horse had become a fact and his success- ful racing a public entertainment before the first
The First Race Meetings 17
red-coated invader came across seas to learn the little lesson of '76.
Immediately subsequent to the Revolution racing-stables were established in Virginia and Maryland as well as in South Carolina. It was then that the turf began to have intimate knowl- edge of Colonel John Tayloe and the Messrs. Hoomes, Selden, and Johnson, in Virginia. In Maryland, Governors Ogle, Ridgely, Wright, Lloyd, and Sprigg interested themselves. In South Carolina, Colonel Washington, General Pinckney, General Wade Hampton, William Alston, General M'Pherson, Colonel Mitchell, and other distin- guished citizens gave themselves to the ownership of thoroughbreds.
In the North, racing was begun on Long Island, but at that time the names associated with it were obscure and the sport was not of much character. A few years made great changes in the Northern turf, but it was many, many seasons before it ap- proached that respectability and had that social stamp which characterized it in the states of the South.
So, although we can trace racing back to the very earliest infancy of our history, the turf was not conducted on a systematic plan until about
1 8 The American Thoroughbred
the year 1815, and the records of running which took place prior to that date are not always authentic. The people of New York, like those of the Southern states, indulged in the sport of racing before they even dreamed of going to war with Great Britain. But there was little or no organization, and the result of each contest was not officially recorded.
" Frank Forrester," the first American author to attempt to give a continued history of the American turf, says : " To draw a parallel, as nearly as I can draw one, I regard the old Vir- ginia turf prior to the fifteenth year, at least, of the nineteenth century as neither more nor less authentic than that of England up to the time of English Eclipse. From the day when the sons and daughters of imported Diomed and imported Messenger began to run upon the turfs of Eng- land and the tracks of America, all is plain and on record, so that who runs may read."
" Frank Forrester," however, had not at the time of his writing all the facilities for following the tale which are now preserved, and there is a great deal of the history from the Revolution on that is reasonably straight and true.
For instance, this Newmarket Course at
The First Race Meetings 19
Charleston had almost a continuous existence from its creation up to the Revolutionary War. After the Revolution, regular meetings were held there up to 1791.
And then, in that year, there came into life one of the most brilliant racing organizations which has ever been known in this country, under the name of the South Carolina Jockey Club. It is good to read what the historians of South Caro- lina have to say of this time when the little New- market Course had for its successor so splendid an establishment of ladies and gentlemen as the Jockey Club. Referring to it. Dr. Irving, who was secretary of the club for upward of forty years, speaks of the Newmarket days with love's labor, in these delightful terms : —
" We will commence with the proceedings at the New Market Course at Charleston, S.C, season of 1786; and here it may be remarked that if ever there was * a golden age of racing ' in South Carolina, or rather, if ever there was a period destined to be the commencement of a new era in the annals of racing in this state, that period is the one to which we are now referring.
"Whether we consider the elevated character of the gentlemen of the Turf, the attraction that
20 The American Thoroughbred
the races possessed at that time, and for many subsequent years, ' for all sorts and conditions of men' — youth anticipating its delights for weeks beforehand — the sternness of age relaxing by their approach — lovers becoming more ardent, and young damsels setting their caps with greater taste and dexterity — the quality of the company in attendance — the splendid equipages — the liveried outriders that were to be seen daily on the course — the gentlemen attending the races in fashionably London-made clothes — buckskin breeches and top boots — the universal interest pervading all classes, from the judge upon the bench to the little schoolboy with his satchel on his back — the kind greetings of the town and country — the happy meetings of old friends whose residences were at a distance, affording occasions of happy intercourse and festivity — the marked absence of all care, except the care of the horses — the total disregard of the value of time, except by the competitors in the races, who did their best to save and economize it — everything combined to render race-week in Charleston emphatically the carnival of the State, when it was unpopular, if not impossible, to be out of spirits, and not to mingle with the gay throng.
The First Race Meetings 21
" The best idea we can give of the moral influ- ence of race-week (as exerted formerly) is to state that the courts of justice used daily to adjourn, and all the schools were regularly let out, as the hour for starting the horses drew near; with one consent the stores in Broad and King streets were closed — all business being suspended on the joy- ous occasion, the feelings of the good people par- taking of the rapidity of the races themselves — in fact, it was no uncommon sight to see the most venerable and distinguished dignitaries of the land, clergymen and judges, side by side on the course, taking a deep interest in the animated and animating scene around them !
" With such a stimulus to propriety and the preservation of good morals, no wonder that order, and sobriety, and good fellowship prevailed as abundantly as they did in those days.
" We must not omit to notice, that in the early days of racing in South Carolina, the gentlemen of the Turf, like the ancient nobles Hiero and others, never ran their horses for the pecuniary value of the prize to be won, but solely for the honor that a horse of their own breeding and training should distinguish himself. Mr. Daniel Ravenel and many others of the high-minded
22 The American Thoroughbred
turfmen of those days, expressed great disappro- bation at any departure from the good old cus- toms of their fathers, and did all in their power to prevent a change, when it was proposed. The prize used to be, not a purse of gold or silver, but a piece of plate. Several of these tokens of success are in the possession of the descend- ants of those who formerly owned race-horses in the State.
" Such were the races in South Carolina ! Let us hope, then, that we of the present genera- tion will never feel less attachment than our fathers did, to the sports of the Turf; and that, what- ever other changes may occur in our State, no change will ever take place in the celebrity of our horses ; that the animating spirit of the chase will, in all time to come, continue to call our youth to the woods, and the rational amusement of the course, our sportsmen to the Turf ! "
After the Revolution racing was revived in South Carolina in 1786. During that and the following season, however, only a few gentlemen trained their own horses and those of their friends that were thought to give any great promise. Hence the number of horses trained was few, and not many races were run in public. A gray horse,
The First Race Meetings 23
called Ranger, the property of Colonel Wash- ington, seems to have been the cock of the walk in the state, winning all the principal events, until beaten by the celebrated Comet in 1788, carrying 140 pounds, four-mile heats, over the Newmarket Course (the exact location of which has already been described) near Charleston. It must have been a fine race and a very sporting affair, according to tradition.
Comet was a black horse by Mark Anthony, bred by Mr. Nash, in North Carolina. He was a wonderfully great little horse, very small, only fourteen hands and a half high — some accounts say only fourteen hands. He was a black, with blaze face, and had eyes in which the iris was of a very light gray color, and all his legs were white to the knees — he ran with his hind legs very much apart, but he could run all day. He was a winner from Petersburg to Charleston. He was first brought to South Carolina by Mr. Twining. Comet was sometimes entered by Colonel Alston and sometimes by General Hampton.
Ranger was a descendant of an imported horse by the same name (got by Martindale's Regulus, a son of the Godolphin Arabian), imported into
24 The American Thoroughbred
Maryland about the year 1767, by Dr. Thomas Hamilton, of Prince George's County.
Mark Anthony, the sire of Comet, was the rival and successor of Janus in the southern part of Virginia, and along the northern border of North Carolina. He was an American-bred horse foaled on the banks of the James River, the property of Mr. Lee. He was got by Part- ner, out of a fine imported mare. Like his son Comet, he was almost black — his two hind feet white, and was a little over fifteen hands high. It is recorded of him that he was excellent as a race-horse in Virginia, and stood many years in that state and in North Carolina. He became, in his later days, the property of Mr. Peter Morgan, of Halifax, in whose possession he died, about 1794.
In this early time of racing at the Newmarket Course, the champion of the day seems to have been a mare called Betsey Baker, belonging to Colonel Alston. She was a chestnut mare bred by Mr. Wiley Jones of North Carolina. She was by old Flimnap, and, like most of his get, was remarkably handsome. She was small and delicate.
Chief rival to her was another mare, also a
The First Race Meetings 25
chestnut, called Rosetta, by imported Centinel. The latter belonged to Colonel William Wash- ington. Rosetta was nearly sixteen hands high, with a prodigious shoulder. There was a strik- ing unlikeness in these two mares that were, in 1 79 1, the figures of the turf of South Carolina. They met with frequency, running against each other with alternate success. Both were retired to the breeding ranks after their turf perform- ances, but neither produced anything to carry on her distinguished name.
A gentleman, writing fifty years ago of these two then queens of an exceedingly young turf, said of Betsey Baker : " I was quite young when I witnessed their races, but I recollect the enthu- siasm which prevailed on those occasions. I remember meeting Betsey Baker at the corner of Friend and Tradd streets on her return to Colonel Alston's stables in King Street after having beaten Rosetta in 1791 — a great crowd following her."
This was the last year of the races over the Newmarket Course. In the following year it was that the South Carolina Jockey Club, which had taken over the Newmarket track, moved to the Washington Course, where it held its race meet-
26 The American Thoroughbred
ings until the Civil War put an end to its grandeur.
And this seems fitting time and place to tell those persons who imagine that racing has al- ways been the pastime of the low and the sus- pects of humanity, what a sport it was in that splendid Southern day when the aristocracy of the country gave themselves to it for their chief pleasure, not as their occupation. From this same gentleman. Dr. Irving, we quote a descrip- tion of a meeting under the auspices of the South Carolina Jockey Club, that some idea may be had, not only of the enthusiasm attend- ing upon the exercises, but to give an idea of the quality of the people who presented them- selves for the enjoyment of a racing day : —
" Respectable strangers from abroad, or from other States, are never allowed to pay for admis- sion to any of the Stands on the Course. On their arrival they are immediately considered guests, and provided with tickets and a ribbon which, frank them everywhere, entitling them to the hospitalities of the club during the whole meeting.
" The arrangements on the Course are such as to insure good order and etiquette; refinement
The First Race Meetings 27
and high breeding characterizing those who pre- fer lingering about the Grand Stand, whilst those who wish to diversify the scene, and witness life in other phases, can seek it in other parts of the Course, at the booths, where ample preparations are always made, by the different proprietors of these restaurants, to minister, in every con- ceivable way, to the tastes of the votaries of fun and frolic, and to those also who require, in a long day, to have their inner man regaled from time to time. We must not omit to mention that, at considerable expense, the Club put up a Citizens' Stand, opened to dX\, gratis — the second story arranged with rows of seats, one above the other; the lower floor divided off into different compartments, some com- modiously and conveniently arranged for the accommodation of small or large parties, and fitted up in good taste. Many of these refresh- ment rooms are superintended by well-known habitues of the locale, well experienced in such undertakings, and to cater to the tastes and appetites of the most fastidious.
" In addition to the courtesy manifested to the public by the Club, in providing a Citizens' Stand, the Club purchased and owns a large farm adjoin-
28 The American Tborotighbred
ing the Course, which is arranged with stables, to accommodate in the most convenient and eco- nomical manner all who visit Charleston with horses from distant States.
" The Races over our Course are well patron- ized, season after season, by owners of some of the best stock on the American Turf; likewise many lovers of the sport, *for itself alone,' never fail, from year to year, to put in an appearance from distant points, as the days of promise come round. The proximity of our Race Ground, too, to the city — (in fact, it is now a portion of the city itself, by a late annexation bill) — offers great tempta- tions and facilities to all of our own good people disposed to participate in the sport, to go out whenever the weather is at all inviting. From these circumstances, and the numberless agremens incident to our meetings, the Races are generally well attended, having a charm for many others besides those who are altogether absorbed in the appearance and performances of the horses.
" The Races commence on the first Wednesday in February of every year, and continue through- out the week.
The First Race Meetings 29
" First Day
Wednesday, 4 mile heats, Jockey Club Purse . . $ 1,000 Same day, Hutchinson Stakes, mile heats, $ 200 given by the Club, with forfeits averaging an amount for the winner of 1,400
Second Day
Thursday, 3 mile heats. Jockey Club Purse . . 750
Same day, Carolina Stakes, mile heats, ^500 given by the Club, with forfeits averaging an amount for the winner of 700
Third Day
Friday, 2 mile heats. Jockey Club Purse . . . 500
Same day, Hutchinson Stakes, 2 mile heats, $ 500 added by the Club, with forfeits averaging a sum for the winner of 2,000
Fourth Day
Saturday, Handicap, 3 mile heats. Jockey Club Purse 600
Same day, single heat of 3 miles, Jockey Club Purse . 300
;? 7,250
" Besides the above sums, there is frequently a purse given by the citizens of Charleston, $1,000 and upwards, which, if added to the regular Jockey Club Purses, as set down above, will, without any private ventures, inside stakes, etc., swell the sum total of the good things that are within the reach of the different stables attending the Charleston
30 The y4merican Thoroughbred
Races, to upwards of EIGHT THOUSAND DOLLARS!
" To give additional eclat to the Charleston Races, and to further the prosperity of the Club, Mr. Tattersall, of Hyde Park Corner, London, presented, in 1837, to the South Carolina Jockey Club, a whip, to be run for annually, upon the principle which governs the Whip in England. It was accepted by the Club in the same spirit in which it was tendered, and, in compliment to the donor, it was denominated ' The Tattersall Whip' Mr. Tattersall was at the same time unanimously elected an honorary member of the Club. Colonel Hampton won this whip with his imported colt Monarch, by Priam, out of Delphine. It has since remained in the possession of that gentleman, un- challenged."
And here was a typical contest of these mag- nificent days on the Southern turf: —
" Same day — Second race. — A single heat of 3 miles. — Jockey Club Purse, $ 200, weight for age.
O. P. Hare's b. f. 3 yrs., by Willis, out of Mary Lea . . i W. H. Skinner's br. g. 3 yrs., by Monarch ; dam imp'd, by
Glaucus ......... 2
James Tally's ch. c. Tally-Ho, 3 yrs., by Boston, dam by
Tom Tough 3
Time — 5 minutes 49 seconds.
The First Race Meetings 31
" This was one of those races we like to see, and take much deHght in reporting — it was certainly a magnificent race, every inch closely contested — and we venture to say, no one could have seen it without feeling an interest in it. The uncertainty, the vicissitudes, the changes that marked it from the first jump up to the throbbing anxiety of the final struggle, created a concentration of interest that could not fail to awaken a pleasurable excite- ment, even in the coldest bosom. We cannot think of passing over such an event without as particular a notice of it as our leisure will permit, and our fancy prompt.
" The jockeys mounted and took their places. The word was given. The horses, as if endued with intelligence, and an instinctive desire for fair play, dashed forward at the very same instant. It was a beautiful and exciting sight to see those fleet and impetuous horses, giving themselves up to the excitement of the occasion with a sort of personal relish, carried away by their own ardor. They roused of their own free will and accord into a wild and intoxicating gallop, as if they were really of themselves taking all the pleasure in the race, they were affording to the spectators. Like roses on the same stem shaking in the wind, they
32 The American Thoroughbred
hung together with unabating energy, and at a rat- tling pace. One moved with a strong and steady stride, whilst the other two, light and agile as fawns, bounded along without an apparent effort. It was impossible to predict what the result would be. As they passed under the string and com- menced the last mile, their riders leaned a little forward, and gathered up their reins with a closer and stronger grasp — not to check the speed of their coursers, but evidently to obtain additional power to brace and steady the good animals they strode, knowing the great struggle was soon to come, and that they would have to hurry them on still faster and faster if possible, by the aid of whip and spur ! All three jockeys seemed now, by simultaneous impulse, to bury their spurs at the same moment in their horses' flanks. Thus goaded, the excited animals darted forward with a more furious speed — a magnificent struggle commenced — they flew along the back stretch, like swallows on the wing, past the gates ; then, in as little time as it takes us to indite it, rushed round into the straight home run, like arrows, shot " ' From some hunter's strong, unerring bow,'
flying so straight, and true to the mark, and with such velocity, as to be almost in their rapid flight,
The First Race Meetings 33
for a time as undlstinguishable in form and color, as the viewless spirits of the air through which they were passing, and with which, it took no great stretch of a poet's fancy to imagine, they were joyfully gambolling. A deep and strange silence brooded over the crowd. Every eye was intently fixed upon the competitors, as with flanks smok- ing, eyes dilated, nostrils heaving, with sinews of steel they reached the winning chair. Anxiety seemed to have deprived the spectators of their breath, until the goal was past, and the victory won. Then a long shout, or rather a loud murmur of admiration, escaped from the lips of all those, whose hearts, a moment before, were too full for words ; and who, even then, when the race ■was over, from witnessing the changes and doubt- ful vicissitudes of this truly beautiful contest, were a little bewildered, beside themselves with delight — a sort of cloud, hovering, as it were, before their mental vision, rendering them uncertain for a time whether the animated scene around them, the exciting race, the moving figures, had been real all, or only one of those pictured illusions in some wonderful phantasmagoria, which are seen, sometimes conjured up by necromantic art, neither a reality nor yet a dream!
34 The American Thoroughbred
" This race was a magnificent wind up, indeed, to the sports of the week, and proves the good judgment of the Club in terminating our Races with a description of race that must always insure, when the horses are at all equal, excellent sport. Being but a single heat, there can be no waiting for chances, but every one must make play ad initio, if he wishes to console himself at the finish with the agreeable reflection, that Finis coronal opus!'
One might go on writing for an interminable number of pages anent this one racing association alone. Conceived entirely as a social institution, conducted purely for love of sport and as an out- door affair calculated to bring together the best- bred ladies and gentlemen of the South, as well as the best-bred horses of that district, it is not a matter of wonder that the South Carolinians, so stricken by the war of 1861-65, ^^d neither heart in them, nor purses sufficiently well filled, to renew the old graces of the time that had gone, and never again have those gladsome days been seen down there in the old Southern city.
But they did make turf history, and such early and such elegant history ! They were also of the kind who preserved the records of their doings.
The First Race Meetings 35
and from the very first race which was run over the Newmarket Course, on the nineteenth day of February, 1760, absolute knowledge can be had, not only of all the races run in or near Charleston, but of those run at other courses in the old state of South Carolina previous to 1 760. Over the York Course, which was situated on Charleston Neck, there had been a number of matches run, and in the South Carolina Gazette of February i, 1734, there is an extensive account of the running of a race by unnamed horses over this Neck Course for the prize of a saddle and bridle valued at ^20. The race was run on the first Tuesday in Febru- ary, 1734, mile heats, four entries. The horses carried 10 stone (140 pounds), white riders. This last was one of the stipulations of the race. So, as far as any history goes, this affair at mile heats, with 140 pounds and white riders up, was the first event ever run in Carolina, and it is doubt- ful if many races of real thoroughbred character had occurred in this country before that. A kind of sport which came to be known as quarter-rac- ing had been indulged in between the Virginians and the Carolinians along the borders of those two states for many previous years. But they were match affairs between horses whose speed
36 The American Thoroughbred
and endurance were limited to a high flash of galloping at an extremely short distance, and were of the type and kind of equine contest which has never had recognition as real racing.
The utmost research has developed that the first thoroughbred, or more strictly speaking, rac- ing, horse that came to America was this Bulle Rock in 1730. And yet, so busy did the Carolin- ians make themselves with the sports of the turf that they were running these races on Charleston Neck in the golden afternoons of 1734. And you may be quite sure that the stock starting in that first authenticated race, of which the Charles- ton Gazette made proper report, were not dung- hills, because, in all of the long story of the horses which have made the turf, the dunghill has not run at mile heats with credit to himself. Any of the old Virginian or Carolinian quarter horses would have had an easy journey to have beaten a cold-blooded dunghill even at mile heats.
CHAPTER III
EARLY OWNERS WERE GENTLEMEN
As a second congratulation on the character of the genesis of the turf in America are the names and personahties of those distinguished gentlemen who gave themselves to the support and participation in the affairs of the turf. To him who loves the traditions of the sport, whether in this land or in foreign climes, it would be pleasant to know that from the time of the or- ganization of the Charleston Jockey Club and the taking possession of the Washington Course, the men who controlled the sport and who took a leading part in its conduct were the highest men of their times. They were to the human kind the thoroughbreds which their horses were to the equine race. They were the men who made colonial history and the men who have left behind them families of the most distin- guished character. Josiah Quincy, visiting Charleston in 1773, made these observations in his famous published Journal: —
38 The American Thoroughbred
" March 3d. Spent this day in viewing horses, riding over the town, and receiving complimen- tary visits.
" March i6th. Spent the morning, ever since five o'clock, perusing public records of the province, etc., and am now going to the famous races.
" The races were well performed, but Flimnap beat Little David, who had won the last sixteen races out and out. The last heat the former distanced the latter. The first heat was per- formed in 8.17, being four miles. Two thou- sand pounds were won and lost at this race, and Flimnap sold at public vendue the same day ^or ;^300 sterling. At the races I saw a fine collection of excellent, though very high-priced horses, and was let a little into the singular art and mystery of the turf."
In other connections Mr. Quincy spoke of the men whom he met in South Carolina, they being the men of the times, and his hosts on the occasion of his visit to the race-course. It is almost Hke a page out of the strong, manly history of the Carolina colonies to read a list of the names of the original proprie- tors and owners of the Washington Race-
AUGUST BELMONT
Early Owners were Gentlemen 39
course. They were General C. C. Pinckney, General Washington, O'Brien Smith, John Wil- son, James Ladson, William Alston, H. M. Rutledge, Gabriel Manigault, General Reed, Colonel Mitchell, General Wade Hampton, Dr. Moultrie, James Burn, Captain White, Lucius Campbell, William Moultrie, General M'Pherson, Colonel M'Pherson, Colonel Morris, Edward Fen- wicke, and William McCleod.
These were the men who fathered the first organized racing in America and to whom the credit may be given for maintaining during its lifetime such a high character of sport that it has never been surpassed in this country, and, for the social phases of racing, probably never will be. At the time of the glory of this par- ticular institution the social life of the Atlantic seaboard, from Baltimore to the distant coast towns of Florida, was affected. The Charles- ton Races were as much an institution as the Inaugural Ball at Washington, and the pride of attendance upon them was quite as great.
With Virginia and Maryland furnishing their aristocrats upon their own turfs, the reader can know that if, in this day and time, he is giving his affections to the sport of the thoroughbred,
40 The American Thoroughbred
he is at least following in his passions the foot- steps of some of the ablest and brightest men who ever laughed in its pleasures or were brave in the storms of American life.
The history of the owners who raced in South Carolina is also the story of the advance of the thoroughbred horse to his secure position of pop- ularity in this country. It was but a short time after the Revolution, when, so far as the Southern country was concerned, racing was upon a firm footing and the breeding of horses exclusively for the turf had become the pastime of the gentlemen of the land.
One of the greatest of the South Carolina breeders was Colonel William Alston, of Wac- camaw. Among his most distinguished and popular mares from which he bred was " the Brill- iant Mare," bred by his friend and neighbor, Mr. Fenwicke, and got by the imported English horse Matchem, out of a mare by Brilliant. An- other noted breeding animal was the Tartar Mare by old Flimnap out of a mare by old Faro. He owned altogether some twenty thor- oughbred mares, including among them that remarkable racing mare, Betsey Baker. The racing animals which he got from these, by
Early Owners were Gentlemen 41
mating them with thoroughbred stallions im- ported from England, and from thoroughbreds brought down from the Virginia stock, produced a great number of the best race-horses of the Southern turf.
Perhaps the best animal which Colonel Alston ever owned, and certainly the one to which he was most partial, was a gray mare called Alborac. One day in 1797 she gave a beating to Tele- graph, the favorite horse of Colonel William Washington. Colonel Alston was so elated over the victory that he turned to the latter gentleman and said, in a tone of friendly badi- nage, " Washington, what should you think of a mare that, like her namesake, the horse of the Prophet, can run in one night from earth to heaven ? " Colonel Washington smilingly re- plied, ''Just tell me the distance, sir, and then I'll give you an opinion as to what I think of the performance."
Gallatin, a chestnut horse foaled in 1799, by Bedford, out of Mambrina by Mambrino, was an- other of Colonel Alston's favorites, and he cer- tainly justified his distinguished owner's regard, for his successes on the South Carolina turf had no precedent. He defeated everything when
42 The American Thoroughbred
in his prime and was considered the highest class animal racing south of the Rappahannock. Colonel Alston paid $4000 for him, at that time a very high price, and he always spoke of him as the cheapest horse he ever owned.
In 1803, over the Washington Course, for the Jockey Club Purse, three-mile heats, then only three years old, and carrying 92 pounds, he beat Mr. Singleton's mare Dorocles, Captain Fields's Belle Rattle, Mr. Clifton's Republican, Colonel Washington's Achilles, Mr. Bellinger's Miss Tims, and Mr. Seabrook's Furiosus Celscis. Gallatin won the first heat in 5 minutes 57 seconds, and the second heat in 5 minutes 53 seconds, distancing the field. Bets at starting were three to one in favor of Gallatin.
On Saturday of the same week he won the Handicap Race, three-mile heats, beating an- other uncommonly strong field ; viz. General M'Pherson's celebrated race mare Roxana, by Marplot, General Washington's Ariadne by Bedford, Captain Fields's Belle Rattle and his beautiful colt Buonaparte, and Mr. M'Pherson's Leviathan. Although the course was very muddy, owing to a heavy fall of rain on the morning of the race, Gallatin won the first
Early Owners were Gentlemen 43
heat in 5 minutes 52 seconds, and the second in 6 minutes.
This race was a very great triumph for a three- year-old to achieve. Every horse entered was well known to fame. Buonaparte was a very promising colt. It was claimed for him by some of his admirers that he was the handsomest horse of his time, with the exception of imported Rowton.
1 804. — Washington Course, February 1 5, Wednesday, four-mile heats, Gallatin walked over, for the Jockey Club Purse.
Same year, on Saturday in the same week, he won the Handicap Race, three-mile heats, beating Dungannon and young Dare Devil.
1805. — Gallatin started for the Jockey Club Purse, four-mile heats, but was beaten by Mr. J. P. Richardson's ch. c. Sertorius, four years, by Alderman. He must have been entirely out of condition in this race, for the time was very bad, — 8 minutes 16 seconds, and 8 minutes 18 seconds.
John Randolph of Roanoke was present in the stand at Fairfield (Richmond) when Colonel Alston bought Gallatin of Mr. Tayloe. He was then entered as Expectation. Each of these three gentlemen held a stop-watch. The first, second, and fourth miles were barely cantering.
44 The American Thoroughbred
but the third was the fastest at that time ever run in the United States, the best on record for many years ; and this determined Colonel Alston to make the purchase, when he changed the name to Gallatin.
In October, 1802, at Richmond, when three years old, he ran a two-mile heat in 3 minutes 43 seconds.
Gallatin's back was long, and not in the best possible shape, but he had fine shoulders and powerful, muscular thighs. Unfortunately for his general success as a stallion, he stood in Georgia, where there were, at that time, not many good mares. He got some colts that proved good nags, but nothing equal to himself. His most distin- guished progeny were Topgallant (the sire of Monsieur Tonson's dam), Mark Time, Lafayette, and others.
Colonel Alston, in the season of 1805, deter- mined to retire from the turf, after having trained and run some of the best horses that ever started in Carolina ; namely, Maria (the dam of Lady Lightfoot), Gallatin, Nancy Air, and others; he bred also Lottery and Young Peggy, the former purchased by Colonel Singleton, the latter by General Hampton. He offered for sale all his
Early Owners were Gentlemen 45
race-horses and young stock, most of them got by Bedford, Marplot, Stirling, and Spread Eagle. Three of his mares that were sold were imported ; namely, the dam of Ariadne and Gallatin; an- other, named Peggy, bred by Lord Clermont, and Anvilina, got by the Prince of Wales' famous horse Anvil, out of O' Kelly's celebrated mare Augusta by Eclipse. His whole stud was put under the hammer soon after the Charleston races in 1807, when, by judicious purchases, Messrs. Singleton and Richardson and Hamp- ton were enabled to keep up very strong stables for many years after.
Second only to Colonel Alston in his devotion to the affairs of the turf was Colonel William Washington. For perhaps thirty years. Colonel Washington's colors were familiar to the race- goers of the Carolinas and of Virginia, and it was his highest ambition to own the best animals and to win the plates and cups offered at that day for preservation as family heirlooms.
Probably the best animal that ever raced under Colonel Washington's jacket was Shark. He also owned famous performers of their day in Ranger, Rosetta, Flora, Actason, Ariadne, Chil- ders, and Trumpetta.
46 The American Thoroughbred
Shark was a very distinguished animal — a dark bay. His first appearance in public was in 1794, as a three-year-old, carrying 92 pounds, when he was beaten over the Washington course, near the city of Charleston, South Carolina, for the Jockey Club Purse, three-mile heats, by Dictator, a horse bred by General M'Pherson in 1 790. Five started — Dictator, Shark, Mr. M'Pherson's Escape, Mr. Burns's Paragon, and Mr. Hugh Rose's Coquette. Shark won the first heat. Dictator the second and third heats.
Time : first heat, 6 minutes 34 seconds ; second heat, 5 minutes 58 seconds ; third heat, 6 minutes 8 seconds.
1795, February 11. — Four-mile heats, Wash- ington Course. Shark, as a four-year-old, 106 pounds, beat Captain Warren's Echaw. This was on the Wednesday of the race week. On the following Saturday he also won easily, against a good field, the Handicap Race, three-mile heats.
1797. — Shark, six years old, carrying 129 pounds, over the same course, on the Monday preceding the regular race, won a sweepstakes of ^1200 sterling, in two-mile heats, beating Colonel Alston's celebrated g. f. Alborac and General Hampton's Hazard. This was a most
Early Owners were Gentlemen 47
excellent race, and run in good time : first heat, 3 minutes 54 seconds; second heat, 3 minutes 57 seconds. On Saturday of the same week he beat Alborac, three-mile heats.
1798, Monday, February 12. — Shark was beaten by Commerce for a subscription purse of ^1000, four-mile heats. This was a very exciting race. Shark won the second heat, Commerce the first and third heats. Colonel Hampton's Patriot also started.
1799, Wednesday, February 13. — Over the Washington Course, Jockey Club Purse, four- mile heats. Shark, aged, 133 pounds, beat Har- poon and Greyhound.
Same year. — Shark won the Handicap Race at Charleston, three-mile heats; beating, after a severe race of four heats, Alborac, Merry Andrew, Greyhound, and Harpoon. Merry Andrew won the first heat, Alborac the second heat. Shark the third and fourth heats.
Shark started several times in 1800 and 1801, but without success. He was then advertised as a stallion, and became as popular in the stud as he had been on the turf.
Shark was conquered in 1800 by Black Maria, who had been sent on by Colonel Tayloe from
48 The American Thoroughhred
Virginia to General Hampton, for the express purpose of a trial with him. The famous race- mare Virago was first applied for to accomplish the same purpose. It is often stated and regretted that Shark's pedigree is little known. There can be no doubt he was by imported Shark, his dam by Flimnap. His performances establish the purity of his blood. To show the favor in which he was held for the good he had done in his gen- eration, he was buried with distinguished honors at Jamesville Race Course at Clarendon, near the seat of James B. Richardson, of South Carolina. A marble slab, with a suitable inscription, marks the spot where his remains were deposited.
Colonel Washington owned a full sister to Shark, and trained her, but she did not acquire any of the fame of her brother. She was matched in 1797 against Colonel Alston's Atalanta, but paid forfeit.
Ariadne, owned by General Washington, was first called Fairy. They were one and the same, and not two distinct mares. The General changed the name to Ariadne after he bought her of Colonel Hoomes, of the Bowling Green. The same sea- son that he bought Ariadne, he purchased also Trumpetta, which won at Petersburg, beating
Early Owners were Gentlemen 49
Doctor, a very good horse, and very like Collier in figure and size.
General John M'Pherson and Mr. E. Fenwicke were both stanch patrons and contributors to the sports of the turf during a long racing career. They both owned many fine horses, which, from their intimate knowledge of horseflesh and condi- tion, they were enabled to place with advantage. The former brought upon the course, in 1 794, the renowned Commerce, who, at three years old, in a race of two miles (February 15), won the South Carolina Jockey Club Purse, beating a large field.
In 1796 Commerce passed into Mr. Fenwicke's and Mr. Ferguson's hands. They ran him in his five-year-old form, four-mile heats, on Wednesday, for the Jockey Club Purse, over the Washington Course, which he won, beating a very fast horse, Matchem, the property of Mr. Bellinger. In the same week, on Saturday, he won easily the Handi- cap Race, three-mile heats.
Like Shark, he was a great feature on the South Carolina turf and for that reason his principal races are here enumerated. His first race, as has been just said, was over the W^ashington Course, as a three-year-old, season of 1794, carrying 92
50 The American Thoroughbred
pounds, for the Jockey Club Purse, two-mile heats, when he beat Captain Saunders's Cornelia, Colonel Washington's Actaeon, Captain Davis's Picture, Captain Alston's Meteor, Mr. Hugh Rose's Flirt, Captain Moultrie's Tristram Shandy, Mr. Richard- son's Farmer, and Mr. Field's Peter Pindar.
Time : first heat, 4 minutes ; second heat, 4 minutes i second.
1 795. — For the Jockey Club Purse, of two-mile heats, he beat Mr. Bellinger's Justice, after a very severe contest. Justice won the first heat.
1796. — Over the same course Commerce, then five years old, carrying 120 pounds, beat Mr. Bel- linger's bl. h. Matchem, four-mile heats. Matchem won the first heat, and bolted in the second.
On Saturday, in the same week, he won the Handicap Purse, beating Captain O'Brien Smith's Tally-Ho, Mr. Moultrie's Banker, and Colonel McPherson's Touch-and-Jump.
1 797, Wednesday, February 8. — Same course. Four-mile heats. Jockey Club Purse. He beat Lath easily.
1798, Monday, February 12. — Commerce won a Jockey Club Subscription Purse of ^1000, four- mile heats, over the Washington Course. The entries were: Mr. Fenwicke's b. h. Commerce,
Early Owners were Gentlemen 51
aged, 133 pounds; Colonel Washington's b. h. Shark, aged, 133 pounds; General Hampton's Patriot, four years, 106 pounds.
Commerce won the first and third heats, Shark the second, and made a very near thing of the third. Patriot was well up in each heat. The course was very heavy or the time would have been better. The time of the first heat is recorded as 8 mile 16 seconds; second heat, 8 mile 17 seconds; third heat, 8 mile 32 seconds.
Commerce and Shark were often tried against each other, and were so nearly equal, it was the opinion of competent judges that condition alone determined their superiority. This was confirmed by the fact that whenever Mr. Fenwicke, who knew the temper and constitution of both horses well, trained Commerce, he beat Shark; and whenever he had the care and handling of Shark, Shark in his turn would beat Commerce.
Shark having beaten several of General Hamp- ton's best horses, — his Lath and Hazard, — he resolved to find a horse that should be more for- tunate against him. In 1799, therefore, he trained a remarkably fine gelding, and brought him on the course. As he was entered to destroy Shark, he gave him the significant name of Harpoon. This
52 The American Thoroughbred
formidable instrument, however, that was chosen to do so much execution and afford such sport, proved blunt and unworthy, not even grazing the side of the monster of the deep. Harpoon, though not being able to make any headway against Shark, nevertheless proved a good horse and won many fine races.
With the same object that Harpoon was matched against Shark, a horse was also selected to defeat and put down Commerce. He was named Pri- vateer. This clipper (for he was a horse of great foot) did not prove fast enough, however, to over haul his anticipated prize, and, like Harpoon, had to retire " inglorious from the field."
General M'Pherson bought from Colonel Al- ston his Brilliant Mare, and his brood mare Hope, with her filly by Marplot, besides importing, from England, Star by Highflyer out of a mare by Snap, — a very promising stallion from the appearance of his colts, when he left England ; also Fire Brand, a ch. c. by Buzzard out of Fanny, own sister to King Fergus ; a br. f. got by Sir Peter out of Vival- di's dam by Mercury, — this filly was trained and ran under the name of Cinderella; a roan colt, own brother to the brown filly mentioned above ; a large b. f. by Sir Peter, dam by Woodpecker; a
Early Owners were Gentlemen 53
gr. f. by Sir Peter out of Bab by Bordeaux; and a dark br. f. by Trumpator out of Demirep by Highflyer. Of the above importations, Star did not answer the expectations raised of him as a foal-getter in South Carolina. Fire Brand died on his passage out to this country. The roan colt was called Sir Peter Teazle ; he was trained, but never ran. The gray filly was called Psyche, and was in the stud of Colonel Singleton.
General Hampton was for a long time one of the most spirited of the South Carolina racing men. He trained and ran Mogul, — a very great three-mile horse, — Lath, Hazard, Patriot, Har- poon, Maria, Rattle, Lady Bull, Highlander, Ara- bella, Dungannon, Merchant, Omar, and Caroline, with many others, too numerous to mention here. In 1800 he won all the purses at Charles- ton, Maria winning on the first and fourth days, Harpoon on the second day, and Rattle on the third day.
Ugly, a very fortunate horse, though bred by General Sumter, was usually run by General Hampton. He was a good four-mile horse. He was ugly by nature as well as by name. On one occasion, after he had made a capital race, a gentleman (Judge Huger, who in a green old
54 The American Thoroughbred
age long enjoyed the love and veneration of his native state), looking at him in the crowd, re- marked, " Who would have expected such a per- formance from such an unpromising looking animal?" General Hampton, overhearing the observation, with characteristic quickness of rep- artee, replied : " Perhaps, sir, you did not know who trained him."
General Hampton purchased from Colonel Alston a br. c. Wonder, by old Flimnap out of Kitty Fisher; a b. c. by Stirling out of Kitty Bull ; a ch. f. by Bedford out of an imported ch. f. by Mambrino out of a sister to Naylor's Sally. This was a full sister to the great Gallatin I
The principal breeding animals used in the old stud of General Hampton were : —
Gunn Mare, bred by General Hampton, got by Paragon out of a mare imported into New Jersey. Paragon was got by old Flimnap out of Camilla, sister to Brilliant.
Stirling Mare, foaled 1802, out of the Gunn Mare.
Cora, bred by Colonel Kennon of Virginia, foaled 1790, got by Obscurity, her dam Nancy Whirlgig by Figure — Mark Antony, Jolly Roger, Mary Gray.
Early Owners were Gentlemen 55
Desdemona, bred by Mr. Dance, and purchased by Colonel Selden, was got by Dare Devil, her dam Lady Bolingbroke by Pantaloon, her g. dam Cade by King Herod (by Fearnought out of Kitty Fisher), her g. g. dam Primrose by Dove (son of Cade by old Cade), her g. g. g. dam Stella was got by Othello by Arab, her g. g. g. g. dam Selina was got by the Godolphin Arabian.
Cormorant Mare, foaled 1800, bred by Colonel Hoomes, her dam by Medley, her g. dam by Pegasus (son of Fearnought out of Jenny Dis- mal), her g. g. dam Sally -Wright by Yorick, out a thoroughbred mare of Colonel Tayloe's.
Calash, foaled 1802, got by Saltram, out of Cora.
Little Witch, foaled 1803, got by Saltram, her dam by Clockfast, g. dam by Yorick, g. g. dam by Mr. Tayloe's Childers — g. g. g. dam by Traveller out of the imported mare Jenny Cam- eron.
Centinel Mare was got by Centinel (son of old Centinel, Fearnought, Jolly Roger, Partner, Sil- ver Eye), her dam by Americus, Janus, Valiant, Aristotle, etc.
Diomed Mare, foaled 1801, her dam (the dam of Maria and of Vingtun) by Clockfast.
56 The American Thoroughbred
Drone Mare, foaled 1800, bred by Colonel Talmadge, got by the imported horse Drone (son of Herod); her dam Harlot, imported by Colonel Talmadge, was got by a full-bred son of Herod out of a Snap mare ; she was out of Lord Butie's Harlot.
Drone Mare, full sister to the above, foaled 1801.
Spread Eagle Mare, foaled 1803, her dam by Brilliant, g. dam by Shadow, g. g. dam by Fear- nought out of a thoroughbred mare — sold.
Fantail, bred by John Goode, Esq., of Meck- lenburg, Virginia. She was got by a son of Shark from a mare doubly crossed by Janus, and got by his horse Twig, by Warning out of a full-bred Janus mare; Warning was got by Fearnought, also out of a Janus mare.
It would be invidious to say who in the next generation among the many conspicuous char- acters on the South Carolina turf stood in the foremost rank. It is well to begin, however, with Colonel Singleton, not only as " an older soldier," but as a well-known breeder, and the fortunate possessor of many good horses for a long series of years.
Early Owners were Gentlemen 57
In 1827 he won every day at Charleston.
Wednesday, February 28. — His ch. c. Red- gauntlet, three years, by Sir Archy, walked over for the Jockey Club Purse — four-mile heats.
Thursday, March i. — His gr. f. Ariel by Eclipse beat Mr. Graves's ch. m. Lady Ezras, and Mr. Harrison's Roderick, for Jockey Club Purse — three-mile heats.
Friday, March 2. — His b. f. Nondescript, four years, by Kosciusko, beat Mr. Graves's ch. c. Nebo, by Timoleon — Jockey Club Purse — two-mile heats.
Saturday, March 3. — Handicap Race, three- mile heats. His ch. f. Ariel beat Mr. Graves's ch. m. Lady Ezras by Sir Archy.
From some cause or another, adhering too long, perhaps, to one particular strain, he was rendered almost hors de combat for many cam- paigns.
This was true with the exception of a single filly, Medora (imported in 1833, in the ship Camilla, from Liverpool), by Chateau Margaux, out of Marianne, the dam of the celebrated Eng- lish horse Medoro, and which, turning out a trump, promised for a while in a great measure to turn the tide of fortune again in his favor.
58 The American Thoroughbred
She started twice in 1836 as a three-year-old — once in Charleston, February 19, and once in Augusta, Georgia, for the Jockey Club Purses, two-mile heats, both of which races she won easily. The former (carrying Z"] pounds) she won in three heats; the first heat was run in 4 minutes, the second heat in 3 minutes 50 seconds, the third heat in 3 minutes 51 seconds, beating Vertumnus, four years old, by Eclipse, dam by Defiance (who won the first heat), and Mr. Winter's ch. f. Sally Jenkins, and a filly of Mr.Guignard's named Hebe.
Medora, becoming amiss in the following year, was withdrawn from the turf and put to Priam.
In 1807 Colonel Singleton purchased, at the sale of Colonel Alston's thoroughbred stock, a ch. f., foaled in 1805, by Bedford out of an imported mare bred by Lord Grosvenor, got by Mambrino out of a sister to Naylor's Sally ; also, ch. f. Lot- tery by Bedford out of Anvilina, bred by Mr. O' Kelly, foaled in 1796, got by Anvil out of Augusta, and imported by Mr. John Tayloe, in 1799, into Norfolk, Virginia.
Colonel Singleton bred the celebrated stallion Kosciusko by Sir Archy out of the famous brood mare Lottery. He was also the owner of the renowned but unfortunate " Clara Fisher," by
Early Owners were Gentlemen 59
Kosciusko, dam by Hephestion, at the time she ran her memorable match against Colonel John- son's Bonnets o' Blue, over the Washington Course, near Charleston, South Carolina, in 1832 — four-mile heats, for #10,000, both four- year-olds, and carrying 99 pounds. Clara Fisher had won the first heat in 7 minutes 45 seconds, and was leading in the second heat under a strong pull, when she gave way, from an injury received a few weeks previously in training. Although she literally ran the last two miles of the second heat on three legs, she was well up with her competitor, and concluded the heat in 8 minutes 5 seconds. If this casu- alty had not occurred, she must have won with considerable ease.
In point of judgment and tact in managing a race. Colonel Singleton was undoubtedly equal to any man in the world; but it was often la- mented that he was characteristically so cautious in entering and making engagements for his horses.
As a breeder Colonel Singleton was, at one period of his career, unequalled. From some of his horses, the turf in South Carolina derived signal advantage. From the following list, of
6o The American Thoroughbred
the most distinguished of his stock, it will at once be seen that from his old stock were de- scended some of the best horses of their day : —
Lottery by imported Bedford out of imported Anvilina, a very noted racer and capital brood mare. She produced young Lottery by Sir Archy, Kosciusko, Saxe Weimar, Mary Single- ton, Phenomenon — all by Sir Archy, and Sylph by Hephestion, who was the dam of Redgauntlet, a fine race-horse by Sir Archy.
Pandora, another of his distinguished brood mares, was the dam of Little John by Potomac, Ganymede by Hephestion, etc.
Imported Psyche was another of his brood mares; she was the dam of Mark Time by Gallatin, Lambelle by Kosciusko, etc.
Colonel Singleton imported, in 1834, in the ship Dalhousie Castle, from Liverpool, bound direct to Charleston, a bay horse Non Plus, by Cotton out of Miss Garforth by Walton. He kept him for a while, and tried him as a stallion ; but, not equalling his expectations in the stud, he offered him for sale at the Columbia Races in January, 1836. Colonel Butler, who was killed at the head of the South Carolina regiment, gallantly leading it on to victory in
Early Owners were Gentlemen 6i
the Mexican War, facetiously observed of this horse that, as far as he had proved of any use to Colonel Singleton, his proper name should be Sur-Plus !
In 1836 Colonel Singleton bought, at the sale of yearlings of the king of England's stud, a^ brown filly by Sultan out of Rachel, sister to Moses by Whalebone, rather small size for her age, but neatly formed, very fine shoulder; she cost 120 guineas. He also bought a b. f. by Tranby out of Elfrida by Whalebone — black legs, rather light, as all the Whalebone stock were, but very handsome; he gave for her no guineas.
Colonel Singleton went to England in 1839; while there, still further to improve his stock, he purchased a brown yearling filly by Augustus, dam by Orville, her dam Sprightly by Whis- ker; also a yearling filly by Glaucus out of Cristabel by Woful, her dam Harriet (the dam of Plenipotentiary) by Pericles. The two were shipped from England in the month of October of the same year.
At one time the produce of Colonel Single- ton's stud were accustomed to bring the highest prices, and were sought after with avidity by all
62 The American Thoroughbred
who were either already engaged upon the turf or were anxious to make their debut with some credit on it.
As a breeder coeval with Colonel Singleton, Colonel James B. Richardson stood conspicuous. With but two exceptions, General Hampton, in 1800, and Colonel Singleton, in 1827, he was the only man who ever took all the Jockey Club Purses at one meeting in Charleston. This he did in 1833, having in his stable a very strong string, but without any competition that year. Bertrand Jr., Little Venus, Mucklejohn, and Julia composed his stable. He purchased, at the sale of Colonel Alston's thoroughbred stock in 1807, bay colt Rosicrucian by Dragon out of Anvilina; also, a ch. f. Charlotte by Gallatin out of the same dam. In 1834 he backed his Bertrand Jr., five years old, and Little Venus, five years, against any two named horses in America, four-mile heats, $5000 a side each match. This chal- lenge was accepted by Colonel Johnson of Vir- ginia, who nominated Andrew by Sir Charles, and Bonnets o' Blue by Sir Charles — Andrew against Bertrand Jr., and Bonnets o' Blue against Little Venus. The latter match came off at Columbia in January, 1833, and was won
Early Owners were Gentlemen 63
by Little Venus. The former was appointed to take place at Charleston over the Washington Course; but Andrew, falling lame, paid forfeit.
The colonel's racing stud was extensive as long as he had the health to attend personally to it. His best and favorite brood mare was Transport by Virginius out of Nancy Air by imported Bedford. She made several very fine races in 181 7 and 1818, over the Washington Course, which we will dilate upon in another place.
During his career Colonel Richardson may truly be said to have been an ornament to the Carolina turf. He always ran his horses hon- estly and truly, and supported, to the best of his ability, the different meetings throughout the state. He was not generally successful ; but such was the evenness of his temper and the amenity of his disposition, he seemed quite as well pleased to have afforded sport as to have carried off a purse.
Colonel Spann, as next in order, and closely connected by marriage with Colonel Richardson, was at one time a steady supporter of the Caro- lina turf; but during the last few years of his life he trained very few horses. He died in 1841.
64 The American Thoroughbred
In fact, since he had the handling of some of his father-in-law's stock (Colonel Richardson), the tide of fortune seemed to have set against his stables. He bred the celebrated Bertrand by Sir Archy out of Eliza by Bedford, all things considered, both as to his performances whilst on the turf and his get, as distinguished as any native stallion of the early century. He con- trived to get as many winners out of all sorts of mares as any other horse contemporary with him, — Bascombe, Bill Austen, Bertrand Jr., Rat- tlesnake, and many others too numerous to mention.
In speaking of this very remarkable horse, one peculiarity of his training cannot be omitted — a quality of inestimable value, and which testi- fied in an especial manner to his great game and endurance. This was his power of recovering himself in a long race after being apparently dead beat. He could make more quarter brushes in a four-mile-heat race than any horse of his time severely pressed in a race. It was only necessary for his jockey, whenever he felt him weakening, to take a strong pull upon him for a few jumps, to find him not wanting as soon as called upon again. Without this invincible pluck
Early Owners were Gentlemen 65
he never could have beaten Mr. Davenport's Aratus by Director, full brother to Virginian, out of a Sir Harry mare, half-sister to Timoleon, in the style he did at Charleston in 1826, a fourth heat of three miles. There were three entries — Bertrand, Aratus, and Creeping Kate, a very fast thing by Sir Archy. Bertrand, as a five-year-old, carried 112 pounds; Aratus, five years old, 112 pounds ; and Creeping Kate, of the same age, 109 pounds (allowed as a mare 3 pounds).
It is proper to record here, as a part of the history of the South Carolina turf, and one of its greatest achievements, that Bertrand contended for every heat ; first with Aratus, Creeping Kate just saving her distance, and Aratus winning the heat. In the second heat Creeping Kate was the contending nag against Bertrand, Kate at the termination of the heat showing a wonderful turn of speed, and winning it only by a length. In the third heat, Bertrand went off at the top of his speed, closely followed by Creeping Kate, Aratus evidently holding back for the next heat. Bertrand won this heat by a neck from Creeping Kate. In the fourth heat. Creeping Kate being withdrawn, Bertrand and Aratus ran a match race. Aratus took the lead and kept it the first
66 The American Thoroughbred
round ; they then ran locked for a mile. At the commencement of the third round, Aratus seemed to have the advantage of a stride or two; but within three hundred yards of the coming-in chair, Bertrand rallied all his energies, made a final effort, and won the heat by a head, amid the deafening acclamations of the crowd.
The first heat was run in 5 minutes 47 seconds ; the second heat in 5 minutes 48 seconds; the third heat in 5 minutes 54 seconds; and the fourth heat in 5 minutes 53 seconds.
Now, to have owned such a horse as Bertrand was glory enough, it will be thought, perhaps, for one man in a lifetime; but to illustrate the dif- ference in the estimated value of blood stock in those days and at the present time, notwithstand- ing the unrivalled performance of Bertrand, he was sold in 1826 for the paltry sum of $3250. Even this amount was at first thought exorbitant. It was only after much deliberation and calcula- tion, and consultation with friends, and haggling as to the price, and a journey to and from Ken- tucky, that Mr. Lindsay, the purchaser, was brought to give even ^3250 for him. Later, it was said of Colonel Spann that, to the day of his death, he never forgave himself for dispossessing
Early Owners were Gentlemen 67
himself, at one fell swoop, for a mere trifle too, of the pride of his native state and one of the best horses that ever gave character to the Ameri- can turf. Colonel Spann's sale of Bertrand was like Glaucus "exchanging gold for iron, under the walls of old Troy."
Bertrand was taken to Kentucky by Mr. Lind- say, where he annually realized for his fortunate owner a large sum. Bertrand for several seasons covered one hundred and eighty mares, receiving mares into his harem during every month in the year but one. Bertrand covered at ^100 the season.
There was another gentleman, among the best specimens of a country gentleman of the South, who, although he did not figure conspicuously on the Charleston Course, must nevertheless be mentioned with profound respect — that patriot, citizen, and sportsman of the old school. General Cantey. He was one of that gallant band
" Who fought for the land their souls adored ; For happy homes and altars free ; Their only talisman the sword ; Their only spell-word Liberty ! "
In private life, too, all who knew General Cantey loved him; his hospitahty and courtesy
68 The American Thoroughbred
were proverbial, indicating, upon all occasions, the sterling qualities that have ever characterized the country gentleman of the South. This is no place to pay a tribute of respect to his memory as a patriot or citizen, however pleasing such themes may be ; to us pertains the humbler task to speak of him only as a racer — a Brother of the Turf, He had a stock of horses well bred, and always trained one or two for the races at Camden and Statesburg, and generally won a purse. If suc- cessful, he never put into his own pocket what he won, but gave it to one or other of the churches in Camden or to the Orphan Society. He had the prayers of the faithful that he might win ; insiders and outsiders both wished him luck — the latter, on account of their veneration for General Zack Cantey; the former, because his winnings were always devoted to charity.
We now come to the impersonation of Caro- lina chivalry, the embodied spirit of Carolina blood and Carolina honor, one that may be looked upon as the main contributor in South Carolina, for many seasons, to the legitimate end of racing — the improvement of our breed of horses. Colonel Hampton. Colonel Hampton far outstripped all his predecessors and contempora-
Early Owners were Gentlemen 69
ries on the turf, in the ardor of his zeal and the extent of his racing establishment. No pilgrim ever knelt at the shrine of My Lady at Loretto, nor ever dipt into the River Jordan, with greater devotion than the colonel visited his stables in the morning to admire the objects of his solici- tude, which, by their condition and performances, generally so well repaid his attention. The epithet " delighting in horses," applied by Pindar to Hiero, king of Syracuse, who, on his favorite horse Phrenicus, was the winner of the Olympic crown, could equally well have been applied to Colonel Hampton, for no man was fonder of fine horses than he. One would like to possess, painted by Troye, the colonel's likeness on his favorite " Monarch " ; what
" A combination, and a form indeed,"
to hand down to posterity,
" To give the world assurance of "
an honorable sportsman and a high-mettled racer of the nineteenth century.
Colonel Hampton commenced his racing career in the right way, with none but good ones, and, in consequence, was from the first eminently successful. One of his most brilliant campaigns
70 The American Thoroughbred
was the season of 1836, when, at Columbia, he won three days, every time he started. He won the Colt Stake with his Godolphin colt Lath ; the Jockey Club Purse, four-mile heats, with Bay Maria, and the Hampton Plate with Charlotte Russe, full sister to Trifle. These races were won without a broken heat, and against good fields of horses. Immediately after, over the Washington Course, near Charleston, he was also eminently successful ; also at Augusta, Georgia. Kitty Heath, three years, by Eclipse, dam by Alfred, was in his stable at the time. Kitty, with the three mentioned above, started ten times during the campaign, and lost but one race.
The colonel deserved success, for he was not only a gentleman of high character, but of great liberality on the turf. He was for many years a very liberal buyer, giving the highest prices for horses that took his fancy and promised well, in other states, as well as having purchased largely at the annual sale of the royal stud at Hampton Court, in England, as long as those sales con- tinued. The following enumeration of his blood stock imported from England, his native blood stock, and horses in training, autumn of 1842,
Early Owners were Gentlemen 71
may be taken as a fair criterion by which the extent of his breeding and racing establishment may be judged : —
Importations of Blood Stock by W. Hampton
1835, b. c. Monarch by Priam out of Delphine.
B. f. Emily by Emilius out of Elizabeth by Rainbow.
B. f. Lilly by The Colonel out of Fleur de Lis by Bourbon, given to Colonel Fludd.
B. f. by Priam out of sister to Spumante, sold Colonel J. S. Preston.
Br. m. Emmy by Magistrate out of Emmeline, covered by Camel, sold Colonel J. S. Preston.
Ch. m. Tears by Woful out of Miss Stephenson, covered by Defence, sold Colonel J. S. Preston.
Ch. c. foal by Defence out of Tears, sold Colonel J. S. Preston.
1836, br. c. by The Colonel out of Posthuma, dead.
B. f. by Emilius out of Ada (sister to Augusta), exchanged with Colonel Butler.
Ch. f. The Queen, own sister to Monarch, sold Dr. Merritt. Ch. f. by The Colonel out of Peri, sold General Adams.
1837, b. c. Sovereign by Emilius out of Fleur de Lis. Ch. f. by Actaeon out of Ada, sold General Adams.
Ch. f. The Actress by The Colonel out of Miss Clifton, sold Colonel Manning.
B. f. by Actaeon out of Scandal, sold Colonel Butler.
Ch. f. by Langar out of The Balkan, sold Colonel Manning.
B. m. Lucy by Cain out of mare by Bustard.
1838, b. m. Delphine (dam of Monarch and The Queen) by Whisker out of My Lady, in foal to Plenipo.
72 The American Thoroughbred
Ch. f. Penelope by Plenipo out of Brazil.
B. f. Milliner by Merchant out of Surprise.
B. f. by Emilius out of , sold General Adams.
Br. c. by Saracen, dam by Filho-da-Puta out of Mervinia by Walton, sold Captain Rowe.
Ch. f. Fury by Priam out of sister to Ainderby, sold Colonel Butler.
Colonel Hampton also owned, in 1837, and bred from, the celebrated imported stallion Rowton.
Monarch cost 256 guineas.
F. by The Colonel, 120 guineas.
F. by Emilius, 205 guineas.
F. by Priam, no guineas.
Native Stock
Peggy, bred by Colonel iMston, by imported Bedford out of imported Peggy.
1 8 1 6, ch. f. Trumpetta by Hephestion, given J. M. Howell, Esq.
181 7, ch. f. by Hephestion, died without produce.
1 819, ch. c. Candidate by Virginius, sold in Louisiana.
Peggy died in 1834, leaving no other produce.
Pocahontas, bred by Colonel Singleton in 1819, got by Sir Archy, her dam Lottery by Sir Archy out of Lottery by im- ported Bedford out of imported Anvilina.
1828, b. f. by Bertrand, given General Scott of Alabama, dam of West Wind.
1832, b. c. Gadsden by Crusader, broke down winning Pro- duce Stake at Columbia.
1833, b. c. Lath by Godolphin. 1836, br. f. Kate Seaton by Argyle. Pocahontas died 1837, in foal to Rowton.
Early Owners were Gentlemen 73
Ch. m. Rushlight, bred in 1830 by James Jackson, Esq., by Sir Archy, dam Pigeon by Pacolet, etc.
1837, b. c. by Chateau Margaux, died two years old.
1839, c. by Priam.
1 84 1, b. f. by Priam.
Rushlight given Colonel Noland after weaning the Priam f. Bay Maria, bred in 1831 by Mr. Hall of New York, got by EcHpse out of Lady Lightfoot, etc., etc.
1838, b. f. Ruby by Rowton.
1840, b. f. Cornelian by Priam.
1 84 1, bl. f. Sapphire by Monarch.
1842, b. c. by Sovereign.
Maria West, dam of Wagner, etc., got by Marion out of Elly Crump by Citizen, etc., her produce. 1836, ch. f. Fanny by Echpse.
1839, b. f. Trinket by Andrew.
1840, b. f. Chicora by Priam.
1 84 1, bl. c. by Monarch.
1842, b. c. by Sovereign.
Imported Delphine by Whisker out of My Lady, etc., dam of Monarch and The Queen, etc.
1839, ch. c. Herald by Plenipo.
1840, twins by Hybiscus, dead.
1 84 1, missed to Priam.
1842, twins by Sovereign, dead.
Imported Emily, bred as above in 1842 ; ch. f. by Boston.
Imported m. Lucy and Kitty Heath, by Eclipse, were at one time in Kentucky breeding on shares. Penelope, in Georgia, and MilHner, in South Carolina, also breeding on shares.
Charlotte Russe, a distinguished race mare, died, leaving no produce.
74 The American Thoroughbred
Monarch, on his return from Kentucky, was put in training, but only as an experiment. He was brought back from Kentucky the beginning of 1842, and took his old stand at the Woodlands, serving mares at the low charge of $60 the sea- son. The colonel in this, as in all his other arrangements, turned his passion for the turf to an excellent account, bringing this very superior horse within the means of every breeder, in and out of South Carolina, who may have owned a well-bred mare. In proportion to the means of two noble men, his was almost equal to the gener- osity of the noble Earl of Egremont, of whom it was said that he every season allowed to his tenantry and poor neighbors the free use of one of his stallions.
Another instance of Colonel Hampton's char- acteristic liberality may be mentioned — the pres- entation of a plate to the Columbia Jockey Club, to secure an annual race over that course, two-mile heats, provided the entrances equal the value of the plate, $500. It was won by Char- lotte Russe, the entry of the liberal donor him- self, and for a number of years continued in his possession. In compliment to the donor, it was called " The Hampton Plate " by the club.
Early Owners were Gentlemen 75
On another occasion, at Charleston, February 28, 1837, Colonel Hampton presented the pro- ceeds of the Citizens' Purse, ^1200, won by his ch. f. Kitty Heath, to the South Carolina Jockey Club, to aid in completing certain improvements then in progress over the Washington Course.
The most interesting event in the colonel's sporting career was his entry of Herald, in the great Produce Stake at Nashville, and the subse- quent race, 1843. No sporting affair in the country had previously produced so general an interest as the immense stake in which this promising colt was engaged. The number of horses entered, their blood, the high character of their owners, the large amount of money to be run for, could not but render the Peyton Stakes an event of no ordinary importance. The value of the stakes was higher than any previously run for in this country; higher, even, than many in England (large as their produce stakes always are), equal- ling in amount the far-famed Derby and Oaks at Epsom, and St. Leger at Doncaster.
There were thirty nominations. On the day of the race but four made their appearance at the post; namely, produce of imported Eliza by Rubens and imported Glencoe, entered by J. Kirk-
76 The American Tbowtigbbred
man of Louisiana; produce of imported Delphine, by Whisker and Plenipo, entered by Colonel Hamp- ton ; produce of Lilac, by imported Leviathan and imported Skylark; and produce of Black Maria, by Eclipse and imported Luzborough.
The race resulted in favor of Mr. Kirkman's filly, which he consequently named Peytona, in honor of Mr. Peyton, who projected the race. Now, although Herald, the entry of Colonel Hampton, did not win the race, yet, having won the second, and made a near thing of it at the finish of the fourth heat, it is reasonable to con- clude that, had the circumstances of this race been reversed, had Peytona been compelled to travel instead of Herald, subject to all the risks of change of climate, food, water, etc., the result might have been different To atone for this disappointment, however, at the same meeting at Nashville Colonel Hampton won the Trial Stakes, two-mile heats, with his celebrated filly Margaret Wood by imported Priam out of Maria West, beating a very large field, and securing a large amount, sufficient to reimburse him for the heavy expenses incurred in sending his stable so far from home, and the large entry, of $5000, which he paid for Herald.
Early Owners were Gentlemen 77
Stuart was Colonel Hampton's trainer for many years. His riders were Willis, Gil Patrick, Craig, Stephen Welch, all white jockeys. Among the most distinguished of his black jockeys were Lewis, from Kentucky, Fed, Jim Gloster, Sandy, and George, from Virginia. The celebrated Joe Laird, Fashion's jockey, with Daniel, were once in his stable.
In all his doings on the turf. Colonel Hampton was actuated by that noble disinterestedness and innate love of sport, " for itself alone," which prompted the equestrians of old to start their horses on the Olympic plains. Honor was the sole reward of the victor then : a single crown — of laurels, and not a thousand crowns — of money.
Governor Butler was also a supporter of racing in South Carolina, enjoying a high reputation. He generally took up and trained three or four horses, but he never brought to the post, with but one exception, anything better than a good second-rate horse. He had philosophy enough, however, to reconcile all disappointments to him- self, under the' conviction that, although his horses seldom proved favorites, he was always sure to be one himself.
Governor Butler, with Mr. McLean, was the
78 The American Thoroughbred
principal owner of Argyle in the days of his glory, but parted with two-thirds of him before his fatal encounter with Bascombe, at Augusta, Georgia. Colonel Johnson of Virginia purchased one-third of him, and Colonel Hampton the other third. So confident were the owners of Argyle that he must win (and there was a great deal to justify this belief from his previous trials), that the race was booked as a certainty. The calculations, however, that are made on such occasions are always dangerous. They do very well as long as Time is a horse's only competitor, but afford no ground of reasonable conjecture as to what another and a better horse may do. The backers of Argyle concluded that as he could run his first heat under eight minutes with a strong pull, it was not probable that Bascombe would beat him.
Colonel Paul Fitzsimons, although living dur- ing the last years of his life on the Georgia side of the line, yet from the strong ties of birth and blood which bound him to South Carolina, was always regarded as a Carolinian. He was "off and on " the turf for a considerable time, both in South Carolina and Georgia, and was a very useful member of the different clubs in the two
Early Owners were Gentlemen 79
states. Colonel Fitzsimons lived long in the memory of those he left behind him as a liberal sportsman and hospitable gentleman.
Captain Rowe of Orangeburg deserves honor- able mention in the calendar of those who con- tributed to maintain the high standing of the Carolina turf. As the owner of Vertumnus and many others that, by his great experience and judgment of condition, he contrived to get in the best possible order, he was always hard to beat and was frequently a winner at all distances. Not long before his death he met with a serious loss by fire. The principal buildings on his plantation were destroyed — among the number his training stable, in which were most of his valuable horses. All that were in the stable were burnt or seriously injured. He lost a very fine chestnut filly by Rowton out of Lady Mor- gan on this disastrous occasion.
Blooded Slock belonging to Captain Donald Rowe, Orangeburg, S.C.
I. Sally Richardson was got by Kosciusko, her dam by Commerce, her grandam by Little Billy, and her g. g. dam by imported Bedford. Kosciusko was got by Sir Archy, his dam Lottery
8o The American Thoroughbred
by imported Bedford, out of the imported m. An- vilina. Commerce's pedigree is not at hand ; he was, however, a thoroughbred horse. Little Billy- was by Ball's Florizel, his dam by Bay Yankee. Bedford's pedigree is too well established and known to need further notice.
It will be perceived that the ancestors of Sally Richardson were very successful racers at all distances. Commerce was a distinguished four- mile horse, beating all his competitors and leav- ing the turf with a high character.
2. Lady Morgan was got by John Richards, and foaled on March 26, 1831 ; her dam Matchless was got by imported Expedition, her grandam by Bella Badger's Sir Solomon, her g. g. dam Aurora by imported Honest John, g. g. g. dam Zelippa, by imported Messenger, g. g. g. g. dam Dido by imported Bay Richmond, g. g. g. g. g. dam Slamerkin by imported Wildair, g. g. g. g. g. g. dam by imported Old Cub.
3. Leannah a b. m., was got by Seagull, he by old Sir Archy, his dam, old Nancy Air, by im- ported Bedford ; her dam, Leannah's, by Whipster, he by Cook's Whip, his dam by Hambletonian, his. Whipster's, grandam by imported Tup, he by JaveHn, etc.; g. g. dam by Hall's Union, he by
Early Owners were Gentlemen 8i
imported Slim, and he by bay Babraham, etc. ; g. g. g. dam by Ariel ; Leannah's g. dam Comet by Colonel Taylor's Yorick, her g. g. dam by Gate- wood's Shark, he by imported Shark ; her g. g. g. dam, the dam of the Shark mare, was brought to Kentucky from Virginia at an early day. She was a fine mare, and was highly prized for her bloodlike appearance and her stock.
4. Belbroughton, b. c, by Pennoyer out of Sally Mulrine, foaled in 1837.
5. Hardy Howel by Pennoyer out of Kitty by Hephestion.
Colonel Ferguson appeared occasionally on the turf. He was a very fine rider and regarded as an excellent judge of horseflesh. The following composed his principal stock : —
Virginia (formerly Coquette), bred by John Richardson, Esq., foaled in 181 3, got by Vir- ginius out of Dorocles (by the imported horse Shark), grandam by the imported horse Clockfast, who was also the dam of General Hampton's Maria, his celebrated gray filly, and of Vingt-un.
Onea, bred by James Ferguson, foaled in 182 1, got by Pocotaligo out of Virginia, grandam Doro- cles, g. g. dam Clockfast Mare, g. g. g. dam Bur- well's Maria, etc.
82 The American Thoroughbred
Jessamine, bred by James Ferguson, foaled in 1854, got by Dockon out of Virginia, grandam Dorocles, g. g. dam Clockfast Mare, g. g. g. dam Burwell's Maria.
Young Peggy, bred by J. M. Howell, Esq., foaled in 1825, got by Kosciusko, her dam Trumpetta by Hephestion, grandam Peggy by Bedford, g. g. dam imported Peggy, who was bred by the Earl of Clermont, and was got by Trumpator out of his Herod Mare, own sister to Postmaster.
Eliza, the produce of Zephyrina in England, in 1833, bred by the Rev. C. Dodsley of Swimer- ton Rectory, got by Filho-da-Puta, dam Zephy- rina by Middlethorpe out of Pagoda by Sir Peter; Rupee by Coriander, etc., and imported into Charleston, South Carolina, in the ship China, Captain Larmour, in 1838.
Eliza, carrying 8 stone 4 pounds, started once in England as a three-year-old, in May, 1836, at Chester, and was beaten by Mr. Prile's ch. c. Stafford, 8 stone 7 pounds, by Memnon out of Sarsaparilla.
Irvinia, bred by Colonel Richard Singleton, foaled in 1818, got by Virginius out of Pandora, by Belair, grandam by Soldier, g. g. dam by
Early Owners were Gentlemen 8
o
Oscar, g. g. g. dam by Merry Tom, g. g. g. g. dam by Crawford, out of a Silvereye mare.
Jessamine, the produce of Virginia in 1824, was owned by Mr. Roach, who bred her to Argyle and Rowton.
Isora, the produce of Virginia in 1826, was once owned by Mr. James L. Clark, who bred her to Godolphin ; afterward she became the property of General Shelton, of Union District, who bred her to Rowton.
Callista, the produce of Virginia in 1828, was sold to General Scott of Alabama, and produced a good racer by Potomac, called Romulus.
Mr. Sinkler was for many years a steady and zealous supporter of the Carolina turf ; his horses were generally trained for the Pineville and Charleston races. At the former he was fre- quently a winner, and at the latter he came in for a tolerable share of distinction. Among the horses of his own breeding, Rienzi and Jeannette Berkley, both by Bertrand Jr. out of Caro- lina by Buzzard, were the best. He had in his stable, during the campaign of 1830, Santa Anna, and a bay filly by Humphrey Clinker out of imported Mania by Figaro. Kate Converse, by Non Plus out of Daisy by Kosciusko, ran hon-
84 The American Tborougbhred
estly, and won several good purses for him. This superior mare passed into other hands, and formed part of Mr. Singleton's stud. Mr. Sinkler was fortunate to possess one of the most faithful colored grooms in South Carolina. In his attach- ment to his master and devotedness to his true interests, he reminded one of " old Cornelius " — not the centurion, but the trainer for Colonel Singleton. For thirty-five years, no one in the habit of attending the Charleston races but was familiar with "old Cornelius." He was in South Carolina what " old Charles " was in Virginia — a feature in the crowd upon a race field.
The good name of William Lowndes fre- quently appeared among the Charleston entries ; also William C. Heyward, J. W. Mazyck, J. E. Edings, J. B. Moore, Frank Hampton, P. G. Stoney, W. H. B. Richardson, Dr. C. Fitzsimons, J. M. Howell, C. T. Howell, John Hunter, and others, who possessed the means and the leisure to indulge in the recreations of the turf.
To Dr. Irving, the historian of the South Caro- lina Jockey Club, the breeding interests of that state owe a great debt, since it was through his efforts that so complete a record of the races run and of the breeding studs maintained in that state is due.
CHAPTER IV
OLD DOMINION WAS TURF MOTHER
It, unhappily, did not fall to the part of Vir- ginia to have so faithful a chronicler, and, while the Old Dominion was really the mother of the American turf, and during all of these early years was giving frequent race meetings on her own soil, much of the information which we have of them, especially prior to the Revolutionary War, is so meagre as to be hardly worth the while of credence.
However, there came a time, very soon after the Revolution, when the Fairfield, Broad Rock, Newmarket, and Tree Hill meetings were faith- fully reported, and the new course at the city of Washington had been opened in such public way that the records could not be lost.
It is, indeed, in beginning to write the story of the turf in Virginia that we begin to tell of the greatest achievements, both in breeding and rac- ing lines, which had been attained in this country by any single state up to the time of the Civil
85
86 The American Thoroughbred
War. Already in this volume it has been related how the first thoroughbreds came to this country by way of the colony at Jamestown. The plan- tation owners continued to import English thor- oughbred stallions and mares, buying the best which could be had.
Virginia, in years immediately preceding the Revolution, was an exceedingly prosperous com- munity. Agricultural products, and particularly tobacco, brought high prices in the home and foreign markets, and the gentlemen who presided in such princely way over the old plantations along the Rappahannock and the James had ample means with which to satisfy their almost luxuriant tastes and to procure for themselves, either by importation or home breeding, as good horses as stood upon iron.
Three of the early importations from England made instant impress upon the stock of Virginia. They were Janus, Jolly Roger, and Fearnought. These had come out of the most approved Eng- lish families. At the time of their leaving the old country, the thoroughbred was still a com- paratively young horse in England. The three original lines of blood which combine to make the English thoroughbred — that is, the lines
Old Dominion was Turf Mother Sy
established by the three stallions, the Darley Arabian, the Godolphin Arabian, and the Byerly Turk — had barely been given time to be grafted upon each other, and to produce that running horse which was the superior of the whole world, before such as Jolly Roger, Fearnought, and Janus were being brought to Virginia by the old cavalier families.
These animals were bred to the mares of best pedigree at home, and to English mares that were imported by their owners. And gradually there grew up in the old state the first of the American thoroughbreds.
Probably thirty recorded thoroughbred stallions had been bought abroad and shipped to Virginia, when Colonel Hoomes, who was the leader of all those old-time gentlemen in his love for the thoroughbred and his labors for the improvement of the blood horse of Virginia, imported, in 1 799, an animal that was destined to become the most impressive stallion that ever landed upon Ameri- can shores, and who was to found a family of American race-horses, among which there have been individuals perhaps as great in perfection of size, conformation, color, disposition, speed, and endurance as ever lived in any land.
SS The American Thoroughbred
That hQrse was Diomed. From the time of his landing, it might be said that the American turf, as American, had its inception. And here it might be made a matter of curious note that the coming of Diomed to this country was almost an accident. Had Colonel Hoomes paid attention to the counsels of his agent in England, or to the friendly advice of horsemen abroad, Diomed would have lived and died in his own land, and we should have missed in ours that great line which has been like a golden stream running down across the green meadows of our breeding paddocks.
Without Diomed, the most brilliant pages of our turf story could never have been written. Taking him all in all, Diomed, as a progenitor of the American race-horse, stands alone, towering magnificently in accomplishment above all others of his own time, and over those that have come after him, either by importation or home product. He is Diomed, one and kingly.
The full history of this horse has been clearly and definitely written by the gentleman of Vir- ginia who had the care of him. It is worth the while of your perusal to know the detail of a life lived by an animal whose blood courses through that of almost every thoroughbred upon the
Old Dominion was Turf Mother 89
American turf to-day. The story of him is this : —
Diomed, a chestnut horse, foaled in 1777, was bred by the Hon. Richard Vernon of New- market, and sold to Sir Thomas Charles Bunbury, of whom he was purchased by Messrs. Lamb & Younger, for the sum of 50 guineas, and im- ported into Virginia in the spring of 1 798, when twenty-one years old.
He finished, at Bowling Green, the season which had been then commenced by Cormorant. At Newmarket Fall races, of that year, he was purchased of Colonel Hoomes by Colonel M. Selden, who was afterwards joined in the pur- chase by Thomas Goode, Esq. He made the two next seasons at Mr. Goode's in Chesterfield.
Diomed was got by Florizel, out of a Spectator mare (the dam of Pastorella, Fame, Fancy, etc.), her dam (sister to Horatius) by Blank ; grandam (Feather's dam, and full sister to the grandam of Cygnet and Blossom) by Childers out of Miss Belvoir by Gray Grantham ; Paget Turk, Betty Percival by Leed's Arabian.
At Newmarket, second spring meeting, 1780, Diomed won a sweepstakes, of 500 guineas each half forfeit (six subscribers), 8 stone, ditch-in ;
90 The American Thoroughbred
beating Antagonist, Diadem, and Savannah, — betting, two to one against Savannah, five to two against Diomed, and seven to two against Diadem.
At Epsom, May 4, he won the Derby stakes, of 50 guineas each, half forfeit (thirty-six sub- scribers), 8 stone the last mile of the course ; beat- ing Boudroo, Spitfire, Wotton, Drone, Polydore, Diadem, Bay Bolton, and a Gimcrack colt out of Wolsey's dam, — six to four against Diomed, four to one against Boudroo, and seven to one against Spitfire.
At Newmarket, July meeting, he walked over for a sweepstakes, of 100 guineas each (seven subscribers), across the flat.
On Tuesday, in the first October meeting, for a sweepstakes of 100 guineas each, ditch-in, received forfeit from Lord Bolingbroke's King William by Herod out of Mad Cap; the duke of Bolton's Bay Bolton ; Lord Derby's Aladdin by Herod; and Lord Grosvenor's roan filly by Matchem.
On the following day he won the Perram plate, of ;^30, with ^50 added, for three-year-olds; 8 stone 7 pounds, ditch-in ; beating Rover by Herod ; Marigold by Herod ; John-a-Nokes,
Old Dominion was Turf Mother 91
King William, Catch, Geneva, and four others, — three to one on Diomed, and four to one on King William.
And on Friday following he received forfeit from Lord Milsintown's Catalpa by Turf ; 8 stone each, R. M. 100 guineas.
In the second October meeting, 1780, he won a subscription of 20 guineas each, for three- year-olds (eighteen subscribers) : colts 8 stone, fillies 7 stone 12 pounds (the winner of the Per- ram plate 4 pounds extra), B. M. ; beating Teto- tum, Dutchess, Florus, and Aladdin, — four to one on Diomed.
At Newmarket, Craven Meeting, 1781, Diomed received forfeit from Mr. Stapleton's Savannah, 8 stone each, B. C. 500 guineas, half forfeit.
On Saturday, in the first spring meeting, he won the Fortescue stakes, of 30 guineas each (eleven subscribers) ; 8 stone 7 pounds, ditch-in ; beating Spitfire, King William, Oculator, Urtica, and Commis, — two to one on Diomed.
On Monday, in the second spring meeting, he won the Claret stakes, of 200 guineas each, half forfeit, and a hogshead of claret each, p. p. (fourteen subscribers) ; 8 stone 7 pounds B. C, beating Antagonist (who received two hogsheads
92 The American Tboroiighbred
of claret), Arske, Bishop Blaze, Rodney, Diadem, and Oculator, — five to two against Rodney, three to one against Antagonist, four to one against Diomed, and eight to one against Arske.
At Nottingham, he was beaten, for the first time, by Fortitude; and at Newmarket, in Oc- tober, by Boudroo.
In 1782 he did not start, but paid a forfeit to Crop.
At Guildford, June 10, 1783, Diomed won the king's plate, 1 2 stone, four-mile heats ; beating Mr. Bank's Lottery by Goldfinder, — seven to four on Diomed. After the first heat, three to one on Lottery ; after the second heat, six to four on Diomed.
Diomed was beaten six times in 1783, viz. at Newmarket, for the Craven stakes, won by Al- aric ; in the first spring meeting, for the £^0 plate, by Laburnum and Drone; also, for the king's plate, by Drone; at Ascot Heath by Sol- dier and Oliver Cromwell ; at Winchester, for the king's plate, by Anvil ; and at Lewes, for the king's plate, by Mercury and Diadem. He fell lame in running at Winchester, and was put out of training. The above were all of his engage-
Old Dominion was Turf Mother 93
ments ; from which it will appear that he was beaten eight times and paid one forfeit, and won ten races and received one forfeit. He won, when three years old, seven races, without losing one ; among these were the Derby stakes, at Epsom, and a sweepstakes of 500 guineas each at Newmarket. This unvarying success gave him great eclat and reputation as a race-horse. After this he ran many races, with indifferent success.
Diomed commenced covering in England, in 1785, at 5 guineas, and in 1789 he was raised to 10 guineas. Some of his colts proving obstinate and restive, he went out of fashion as a stallion, having covered his last season, in 1798, at the reduced price of 2 guineas. He got many win- ners in England, and several of the best runners of their days sprung from his loins.
After the season of 1798 Sir T. Charles Bun- bury sold Diomed for 50 guineas; but, after land- ing in America, he was resold for 1000 or 1200 guineas. He stood several seasons in Virginia, where there is scarcely a good horse without a cross of himself or one of his descendants.
Some of the most distinguished of his get in England were : —
94
The American Thoroughbred
|
FOALED |
FOALED |
||
|
Tortoise .... |
1786 |
Robin Gray . . |
1790^ |
|
David |
1790 |
Cedar .... |
1793 ^ |
|
Hermione .... |
1780 |
Greyhound . . |
1794 ' |
|
Champion. . . . |
1790^ |
Poplar .... |
1795. |
|
Hero |
1792 |
B. c. out of Dax |
. I79I |
|
Sister to Champion |
Monkey . . . |
||
|
and Hero . . . |
1793. |
Montezuma . . |
1786 |
|
Fanny |
1790 |
Quetlavaca . . |
1788 |
|
B. c. out of Carina . |
1790 |
Guatimozin . . |
1790 |
|
Hackabuk . . , |
I79I |
Ch. f., sister to do. . |
1791/ |
|
F. out of Active . . |
1790 |
Ch. c. out of Grena- |
|
|
Ch. c. out of Sir |
dier's dam . . |
1790 |
|
|
Peter's sister . . |
1794 |
C.outofFleacatchei |
■ 1787^ |
|
Whiskey .... |
1789 |
Sister to do. . . |
1790 |
|
Little Pickle . . . |
1790 |
Sir Charles, brothei |
• |
|
Dam of Whiskey |
1785 |
to do. . . . |
I79I |
|
Gray Diomed, one |
' |
Wrangler, do. |
. 1794- |
|
of the most cele- |
Brother to Butterfly |
1790 |
|
|
brated horses that |
Michael . . . |
1790 |
|
|
ever ran in Eng- |
C. out of Crane . |
1793 |
|
|
land ; afterward |
B. f. out of Danae |
. 1788 |
|
|
ran with such suc- |
Ch. f. Desdemona |
. 1788 |
|
|
cess in Russia that |
Rosabella's dam . |
• 1793 |
|
|
several of his stock |
Speculator . . |
• 1794 |
|
|
were sent for from |
Giantess . . . |
. 1788- |
|
|
that empire . . |
1786 |
Young Giantess . |
. 1790 > |
|
Ch. f., sister to Gray |
Pamela .... |
. I79I. |
|
|
Diomed . . . |
1788 |
Tom .... |
• 1790 |
|
Ch. c, brother to |
Anthony . . . |
. 1789 |
|
|
Gray Diomed . . |
1789 |
Sister to do. . . |
. 1790 |
Old Dominion was Turf Mother 95
Glaucus . . .
Lais
Brother to do. . Foreigner . . . Sister to do. (Snug's
dam) . . . Ch. f. out of Isabel Brother to Amazon Amazon . . . Sister to do. . . B. f. out of Cheese
cake .... Ch. f. out of Mrs
Siddons . . .
1791
1792
Brother to Venture Ch. f. out of Mop
squeezer . . Young Noisette . B. c. out of Rosaletta Aramanthe . . VaUant. . . . Victor .... Brother to do. . B. f. out of Temper
ance .... Laurentina . . B. c. out of Tuhp
1794
1790 1789 1790
1788
17851
1786^
1787J
1788 1794 1794
In America, the most renowned of his progeny were : —
FOALED
Sir Archy ; dam by Rockingham ; bred by Colonel Tayloe ;
afterward owned and run by W. R. Johnson, Esq. 1805
Florizel; dam byShar; in 1805 beat Peacemaker, the
celebrated match, four-mile heats — Major Ball . 1802
Potomac, ran and won at Petersburg, two miles, in 3 minutes 43 seconds; the quickest race run in America — Mr. Wilkes 1901
Peacemaker ; bred by Colonel Hoomes ; afterward owned
and run by Colonel Tayloe 1801
Top-Gallant; dam by Shark — Mr. Clayton; afterward
owned and run by Colonel Tayloe . . .1801
HamHntonian; dam by Shark — Mr. Hamlin; after- ward owned and run by Colonel Tayloe . . 1801
96 The American Thoroughbred
FOALED
Vingt-un ; dam by Clockfast (sold, in 1803, for ^2750) ;
General Wade Hampton and Governor Ed. Lloyd . 1801 Stump the Dealer; dam by Clockfast — W. R. Johnson
and Ralph Warmeley, Esq 1801
Duroc ; dam by Gray Diomed — Wade Mosby, Esq. —
W. M. and Mr. Badger 1806
Hampton ; dam by Gray Diomed — General Hampton —
Mr. J. V. Bond 1806
Commodore Truxton — General x\ndrew Jackson . 1806
The dam of Henry 1806
And the dam of Eliza White 1806
Lavinia, Lady Chesterfield, Rusty Robin, Mon- ticello. Wring-jaw, Miss Jefferson, Wragland's Diomed, Perkins's Diomed, the dam of Roxana, Fitz Diomed, Wonder, St. Tammany ; the dam of Bobtail, Herod, Tryon, Madison, Constitution, Wrangler, Superior Hornet, Sting, Minerva, Vir- ginius; dams of Sir Alfred, Henry, Sir Walter, Diomed, Eagle, Shylock ; Bolivar's grandam, Cor- poral Trim's dam, Clifton's dam.
Diomed was about fifteen hands three inches high ; a little dish-faced ; rather straight in the hocks, and bent a little too much in his hind fetlocks. He was a fine, clear chestnut, without white, except a small touch on one of his hind heels, scarcely perceptible.
Old Dominion was Turf Mother 97
Diomed died in 1808, aged thirty-one years.
The result of Diomed's first season in the stud in Virginia was such that he immediately domi- nated all those stallions that had been imported before him. By the time of his arrival in this country the blood of Jolly Roger, old Fear- nought, Janus, and others had been pretty thor- oughly disseminated, and, in addition, such a number of thoroughbred mares had been im- ported from England that, although Diomed was mated to many matrons of poor lineage, such a sufficient number of females of high degree were brought to his court that he was soon sending to the turf of Virginia, Maryland, and the Caro- linas practically all of the great winners, and con- tinued to do so through ten years.
Although he was twenty-two years old when brought to this country, he had nine years of usefulness in the Old Dominion before he died, the property of Colonel Hoomes.
There was almost as much mourning in the old colony land over his demise as there was at the death of George Washington. One cannot, in this more commercial day, quite come to an understanding of how much these people of the colonial times loved their horses and what per-
98 The American Thoroughbred
sonal devotion was given to them by high-bred ladies and gentlemen. If one did not respect the gentler emotions of humanity too much to do so, one would laugh at reading some of the old prints concerning these turf heroes that had such intimate association with the cavalier fam- ilies. The regard entertained for them was scarcely less tender and less demonstrative than that held for the people of the family. The Virginians regarded the death of Diomed, though truly, counted by years and accomplishments, he had run his race, as a great national catastrophe. Their sorrow was assuaged only by the thought that he had left behind him numerous sons who should carry on the glories of the family.
And indeed, in one of these sons, this Sir Archy, who was by the records the best race- horse by Diomed, he left one who was hardly less, if any less, great than himself. And Sir Archy went into the affections of the Virginians to take the place of their lost Diomed. During the years which he lived he caused the fame of the Diomed line of blood to be carried to the extreme northern and southern and western points where racing of the thoroughbred horse was known. Indeed, it might be said that the
Old Dominion was Turf Mother 99
Diomed blood was local in the sense that he spent his entire life in Virginia, and few of his immediate descendants went out of Virginia into alien hands. But Sir Archy, living a long and vigorous life, left such an amount of his blood behind him, which had become so highly valued, that when it came time for him to die, his sons and daughters had been scattered from Long Island on the north to Louisiana, Alabama, and Georgia on the south. There was a strain of Sir Archy, through a son or a daughter, on the farm of every breeder, of however small preten- sions, who lived in America. Not to have some of the Sir Archy blood was not to be really a thoroughbred breeder.
Diomed sired so many performers of degree that the mention of them in brief, as is given here, is as far as one might go. But it is impos- sible to leave Sir Archy without giving him, in any history of the turf, as full, or fuller, notice as his sire, Diomed. Diomed was essentially Eng- lish. Sir Archy was English in so far as his blood lines went ; but he was foaled, ran his races, stood, and died on American soil, and he was perhaps the first horse of grandeur that might have been called American. He was the first
loo The American Thoroughbred
race-horse of his day and the first progenitor of speed and bottom after he retired to the stud.
So, if it appear tedious, the reader may par- don this extended story of Sir Archy because he is such an important cog in the great wheel that he seems to be almost its motive power in America.
Sir Archy was bred by Colonel Archibald Randolph and Colonel John Tayloe, as their joint property. He was foaled on James River in 1805, was by imported Diomed out of imported Castianira by Rockingham. Imported Casti- anira, by Rockingham, dam Tabitha by Tren- tham, was bred by Mr. Popham, and was foaled in 1796, and imported in the Ty7ie, to Norfolk, Virginia, June, 1799, by Colonel John Tayloe. She was a large brown mare, without white except on her right hind pastern. Her career on the turf was short. There is record of only one race in which she ran, which was a sweep- stakes, May 20, 1800, over the Fairfield Course, at Richmond, Virginia, in which she beat a noted colt of Mr. Haskins, and others. Her sire, Rockingham, was one of the most noted horses of England. He was bred by Mr. Went- worth, foaled in 1781, by Highflyer out of Purity
Old Dominion was Turf Mother loi
by Matchem. Purity was out of Mr. Pratt's famous Squirt Mare by Squirt, sire of Marske and Syphon, and grandsire of Eclipse, showing a happy union of the three great lines of Herod, Matchem, and Eclipse. Rockingham started thirty-five times, won twenty-seven, walked over three times, received forfeit once, lost four, and paid forfeit twice. Most of the races won by Rockingham were over a distance of ground varying from three to four miles. He stood high as a stallion and sired many noted winners, such as Patriot, Bennington, Susannah, Arabella, Red Cap, Euphrasia, and a host of others.
Sir Archy was a rich bay in color, having no white about him except on his right hind pastern. He was a horse of fine size, being full sixteen hands high, an inch taller than his English sire, with great power and substance. His shoulders were very deep, mounting up to the top of the withers and obliquely inclined. His girth was full and deep, back short and strong, thighs and arms long and muscular, with good bone. His front appearance was strikingly fine, his head and neck beautifully formed, the neck rising gracefully but powerfully out of his withers.
Sir Archy 's first appearance upon the turf was
I02 The American Thoroughbred
in the fall of 1808, for the Great Stakes, two-mile heats, at Fairfield, Richmond, Va. Some seven started. Won by True Blue, beating Sir Archy, Wrangler, Palafox, Virginius, Molock, and one other. No time given. He was again beaten at Washington City, by Bright Phoebus by Mes- senger, full sister to Miller's Damsel, Eclipse's dam. Distance and time not given. In both of these races he was laboring under distemper, and that quick observer. Colonel William R. Johnson, purchased him for $1500.
At four years old, in his first race at Fairfield, for the Annual Post Stakes, he was successful against a good field. Distance and time not given.
In the following week Sir Archy and Wrangler met for the Jockey Club Purse, four-mile heats, at Newmarket. Won by Wrangler. The last heat was so close that the judges hesitated some time before awarding it to Wrangler. Colonel William R. Johnson, the owner of Sir Archy, was so set upon his champion that he then and there proposed to Colonel Selden, the owner of Wran- gler, a match between the horses for another heat. And amidst the great excitement of the time Colonel Selden was forced to decline the chal-
Old Dominion was Turf Mother 103
lenge because Wrangler was so distressed by his last effort.
In the fall of the same year, at Richmond, Virginia, Sir Archy, Wrangler, Ratray, Tom Tough, and Minerva were entered for the Jockey Club Purse, four-mile heats. The betting was high between Sir Archy and Wrangler. As the brilliant assemblage which had gathered to wit- ness the event expected. Sir Archy and Wrangler had the running between them. At the very start they both went off at their speed, Wrangler in the track (next the pole), which he maintained nearly two miles, when Sir Archy drove up to him and passed him by but a short distance. Soon after that it was seen that Sir Archy must certainly win if he did not tire at the pace which they were going. Then the murmurings began to well up from the crowd, and the eager sightseers on the ground pressed in on the course till there was scarce room for the horses to get through.
Wrangler would not give up without a struggle. He continued his efforts to catch Sir Archy to the half-mile pole in the third mile. And then, fast and game a horse as he was, he was forced to give it up for the reason that he could not main- tain the pace for so terrible a distance as four
I04 The American Thoroughbred
miles. The other three horses were entirely out of the race after the first two miles.
When Wrangler yielded to the bay in front of him, Sir Archy continued at the same rate of speed for half a mile farther, and then his jockey boy gradually drew up and finished the heat and the race in a walk, distancing the entire field. The first two miles were run in 3.46. Had the exigencies of this great occasion demanded it, in other words, had Wrangler been competent to force Sir Archy to continue his rate of speed for the full distance of the heat, the Virginia horse would have made a four-mile record quicker than the distance had yet been run in turf history.
The next week Sir Archy won the Jockey Club Purse at Newmarket at a single heat. Dis- tance, time, and competitors not given.
In two weeks Sir Archy met Blank for the Jockey Club Purse, four-mile heats, at Scotland Neck Track, Halifax, North Carolina. They went off slowly the first two miles, when Blank set out to make it a race from thence home. Sir Archy was in the lead some few feet, and maintained his place, winning the heat by more than a length in 7.52. The second heat was run in the same
Old Dominion was Turf Mother 105
manner, and was won by Sir Archy with apparent ease, in 8.00.
The next morning Sir Archy was purchased by Allen J. Davie for ^^5000, and announced as a stallion. Sir Archy made five seasons as the property of Allen J. Davie.
The retirement of Sir Archy would not have occurred so early in his career had it not been that there was no horse of the time which had speed and strength enough to compete with him at a distance of four miles, or four-mile heats. After this race, in which he disposed of the claims of the Carolina horse Blank, Colonel Johnson, a true sportsman, offered to run him against any horse in America, four-mile heats, for ^5000 a side. None were found to take up the gage thrown to them, and it was for that reason that Colonel Johnson parted with him and allowed him to pass, thus in the height of his career, for service in the stud.
In fact. Blank was the only horse then living in America who was thought to have any chance with Sir Archy at all. Blank was regarded as a horse of great bottom, but he had not Sir Archy 's speed. There is no doubt that he suffered much ill effect from his attempt to make Sir Archy run
io6 Tbe American Thoroughbred
the second heat of their famous race, for soon after the trial of speed Blank died. He was owned and trained for this race by General Stephen W. Carny, who imported his sire, Citizen.
As was natural, Sir Archy was so well con- sidered as a stock horse that he would probably have died in the possession of Mr. Davie, who had found in him a great bargain. Mr. Davie, how- ever, fell into financial difficulties, and mortgaged Sir Archy to William Amis. In time Mr. Davie was not able to pay the mortgage, and he sur- rendered this most valuable horse in discharge of it. William Amis presented Sir Archy to his son, John D. Amis.
The splendid horse lived to the advanced age of thirty-two years, dying on the 7th of June, 1833. During the time that he was in the stud he was said to have earned for his owners $70,000. And it may be remembered that the fees in his day were very small as compared with those which exist now, just as the purses in those times were scarcely more valuable than the ordinary over- night gift of to-day. John D. Amis owned him at the time of his death.
Of all the horses bred in our country up to
Old Dominion was Turf Mother 107
this period, Sir Archy stood highest as a sire as well as a racing animal. He got more dis- tinguished racers than any horse in America, perhaps in the world, from all sorts of mares, with all kinds of pedigrees, and some with no pedigrees at all. It might be said wath truth that he filled a hemisphere with his get. Sepa- rating him from, and putting him above, all other sires that had existed in America was the single significant fact that, mated with animals of all degrees, he yet got more winners and animals of capacity than any horse which had preceded him.
The most distinguished of his progeny on the turf and in the stud were: Timoleon, Director, Lady Lightfoot, Vanity, Reality, Blank, Virgin- ian, Stockholder, Rattler, Contention, Kosciusko, Napoleon, Sir Charles, Sir William, Muckle John, Sumter, Pacific, Childers, Betsey Richards, John Richards, Henry, Arab, Janet Bertrand, Sir Will- iam of Transport, Flirtilla, Marian, Gohanna, Sally Hope, Industry, Crusader, Kate Kearney, Gabriella, Charles Kemble, Black Heath, and Flirtilla Jr.
It will be seen that, by the time of Sir Archy, or the beginning of the nineteenth century, racing
io8 The American Thoroughbred
in Virginia was at the very highest pitch of popularity; and the Fairfield Course near Rich- mond, and the Newmarket Course near Peters- burg, the Broad Rock Course, and the Tree Hill Track, were giving great public entertainments through the agency of the thoroughbred that were quite as distinguished for the character of the attendance of the ladies and gentlemen as those given on the Washington Course at Charleston.
To treat in like manner the Virginia patrons of the turf as those of the turf of South Carolina were treated would require such lengthy writing as would not be suited to this volume. Colonel John Tayloe, of Mount Airy, Colonel Hoomes of Bowling Green, Colonel Selden, his near neigh- bor, the Randolphs (John Randolph of Roanoke, and William Randolph of Cumberland), the Washingtons, the Lees, the Lightfoots, the Car- ters, the Fairfaxes, — all these, themselves gentle- men of the very best breeding and of private accomplishments, the real F. F. V.'s, were the breeders and racing men of the time.
A perusal of the races of Sir Archy, all of which are authentic, will give the reader an idea of the character of the horses then existing in Virginia. Nearly all descended directly from imported
Old Dominion was Turf Mother 109
English sires. So that, while the story of the early Virginia turf is more or less fragmentary, from the very time of the Revolution on the pub- lications of that time teemed with the news of the sport that was being carried on at the aristo- cratic courses.
CHAPTER V Maryland's horses and horsemen
Maryland, being made up of a population much akin by sympathies of blood and beliefs with the people of Virginia, was not long in following her sister state into that particular field of gentlemanly sport. Like Virginia, Maryland was an early and a constant importer, though she brought within her confines nothing like the number of horses which came to Virginia.
From an old volume of the Sporting Maga- zine, which was published in the early part of the nineteenth century in Baltimore, is taken a list and descriptions of the best-known animals that were brought to Maryland in the very earliest days : —
Badger, gray, imported by Governor Eden ; the year of his importation is not known. Governor Eden commenced his administration in Maryland in the year 1769. Badger was got by Lord Chedworth's Bosphorus, he by Babraham, a son
no
Maryland's Horses and Horsemen m
of the Godolphin Arabian; his dam by Black and all Black, grandam by Flying Childers. He was sire of Governor Ogle's Badger, a capital racer at four-mile heats.
Dove, a beautiful gray, imported by Dr. Thomas Hamilton of Prince George's County. He was got by Young Cade, his dam by Teazer out of a Gardiner mare ; Teazer by the Bolton Starling. The year of his importation is not known, but is supposed to have been 1761 or 1762. In 1763 he started for the purse at An- napolis, which was won by Mr. Galloway's Selim. His colts in general had speed, and some of them both speed and bottom. Dove was sire of Mr. Macgill's Nonpareil, Primrose, Thistle, Mr. Beane's Regulus, the grandam of Mr. Hall's Union, etc. Nonpareil was a capital racer when young, but being of slender frame, he could do nothing when carrying full weight. He was the best four-mile horse of Dove's get. He was never beaten until he met Lath in Philadelphia.
Figure was a bay, about 1 5^ hands high, foaled in 1757; got by Gray Figure, and he by Bashaw, afterward called Old Standard. Figure was im- ported by Dr. Hamilton in the year 1765; his dam Mariamne by Partner. In 1766 he won the
112
The American Thoroughbred
purse at Annapolis, in four heats, beating Mr. Bullen's horse Tryall, Mr. Yeldell's Chester, etc. Chester won the first heat, Figure the second, Tryall the third, and Figure the fourth, beating Tryall a few inches only. Tryall lost the heat by bad riding. In May, 1768, Figure won at Upper Marlborough, beating Mr. Galloway's Selim, Mr. Thornton's Merryman, and Mr. Thomas's Buckskin. He was one of the hand- somest and best-formed horses ever imported into this country. His colts in general had speed and bottom. He was sire of Colonel Fiddeman's Gray Figure, Mr. Petterson's Rochester, Mr. Williamson's Brown Figure, Harmony, the dam of Union, etc., all good runners.
Othello, black, foaled 1 743, bred by Lord Port- more. He was got by Crab out of Miss Slamer- kin, and was imported by Governor Sharpe. It has been asked, in what year .^ It is not now cer- tainly known. Governor Sharpe commenced his administration in Maryland in the year 1753, and continued until he was superseded by Governor Eden in 1769. Othello was imported probably about the year 1757 or 1758. Selim was foaled in 1759, and it is believed that he was among the first of Othello's progeny. Othello was sire of
Maryland's Horses and Horsemen 113
True Briton. All his colts from full-bred mares were good runners, and were remarkable for their bottom. In May, 1767, he stood in Beale's Neck, near Annapolis; and it is supposed he died in that year, as he was not heard of afterward.
Ranger, b., imported by Dr. Thomas Hamilton, of Prince George's County, perhaps about the time of the importation of Figure. He was got by Martindale's Regulus, a son of the Godolphin Arabian. He was unsuccessful in all his trials on the turf, and was generally distanced.
Slim, ch., about 15J hands high, very hand- some, foaled 1 768 ; he was got by Wildman's Babraham, his dam by Roger's Babraham, gran- dam by Sedbury, out of Lord Portmore's Ebony. He was good at two, three, or four miles. His name was changed to that of Sprightly. He was sire of Hall's Union, Bay Slim, Yellow Slim, Bet Bounce (Mr. Lowndes), and many other fleet runners. He was imported by Governor Eden about the year 1774.
Spark was imported by Governor Ogle; his pedigree is unknown, and the time of importa- tion uncertain. Queen Mab, it is believed, was imported with him. She was by Cade.
Tanner, b., was a full-bred son of Cade, and
114 The American Thoroughbred
was imported by Daniel Wolstenholme, Esq., of St. Mary's County. He was sire of Young Tan- ner— afterward called Bajazet, when owned by General John Cadwallader — and of Camilla.
That Maryland animal to which the American turf owes the greatest debt was Selima, a daughter of the Godolphin Arabian, one of the founders of the thoroughbred family. Selima was imported from England by Colonel Tasker, of Annapolis, and was nearer to the very foun- tain-head of the thoroughbred than any animal which had come to this country or which fol- lowed her. Fortunately, she came into that part of the country where existed several imported thoroughbred stallions, and from mating with them she established herself as a brood mare of remarkable merit, and through her sons and daughters gave to the American turf a distinct family of great performers.
Her first mating in this country was with Othello, an imported horse brought into Mary- land by Governor Sharpe.
The produce of Othello and Selima were Selim, purchased when young by Samuel Gallo- way, Esq., of Tulip Hill; Stella, never trained; and Ebony, remarkable for her speed and bottom.
Maryland's Horses and Horsemen 115
owned by Mr. Brent, of Virginia. She was the dam of Mr. Brogden's Chatham, a good horse at heats of four miles.
Sehma afterward had by the imported horse Traveller, commonly called Morton's Traveller, two colts, Partner and Ariel, capital racers ; and by the imported horse Juniper a colt called Ba- braham. Juniper was by Babraham, a son of the Godolphin Arabian. She also had a filly by the imported horse Fearnought.
Sellm was foaled in 1759, and beat every horse of his day until after he was nine years old. In
1763 he won the purse at Annapolis, beating Dr. Hamilton's imported horse Dove, and others. At that time there was no course near Annap- olis, and the horses ran two miles out, on the main road toward Baltimore, and returned. In
1 764 and 1 765 he won the purse at Philadelphia, beating the best horses in that neighborhood. It was in 1765 or 1766 that he beat True Briton at Philadelphia, in a match for ^500 (or pis- toles), four miles and repeat. In 1 766 he was winner over the course at Chestertown, beating the celebrated Yorick, from Virginia, a noted horse called Juno, and others. In October, 1767, he won the purse of 100 guineas at Philadelphia,
ii6 The American Thorotighbred
distancing three others. His superiority as a racer was so notorious in Maryland that he was frequently excepted and not permitted to run. In 1768, for the first time, he was beaten by the imported horse Figure. In 1772, when thirteen years old, he ran second to Mr. De Lancey's Nettle, beating the justly celebrated horse Silver- heels (from Virginia), Wildair, and others — four- mile heats. He was never trained afterward.
Stella was the dam of Dr. Hamilton's mares Primrose and Thistle by his imported horse Dove, and of Harmony by his imported horse Figure. Primrose was a successful racer. Thistle, in 1 769, won a sweepstakes of 60 guineas at An- napolis. Harmony was the fleetest animal of her day, but not remarkable for bottom.
As has been stated, only the well-to-do people of Maryland were concerned with these early race-horses. Annapolis was the centre of the aristocracy of that state, and it is mentioned in the Catholic Churchman of the date of 1 744 that, among the legitimate pastimes of the population which met with the approval of the Church itself, was the new one of racing horses, which had grown to be highly popular among the gentry of the country. It may be noted also, from the
Maryland's Horses and Horsemen iij
mention of Selima and the racing of her progeny, that old Maryland was early in the field, and that the beaux and belles of Annapolis and of Balti- more were setting themselves out under the green trees of the new land for the enjoyment of the sport of kings long, long before the Revo- lution was more than a dream, and while we were still crying in this country, " Long live the king ! "
As was the case in Virginia, perusal of the names of the early breeders and racing men of Maryland brings constant suggestion of the men who made the colonial history of Mary- land, because they were the same persons. In fact, from Charleston north, as you come along with the story of racing in America, you en- counter always the gentleman at the head of the thoroughbred.
It is perfectly natural, and yet a curious thing, to note that, notwithstanding its nearness to the Southern colonies and the necessary business intimacy that existed between Philadelphia and the Southern cities of Baltimore, Annapolis, and Richmond, the thoroughbred did not establish firm ground for himself in the Quaker land. The stern people who came to make a new home under the Pennsylvania oaks gave small time
ii8 The American Thoroughbred
to sport, and all their days and nights to the labor of the founding of a country of their own.
So it is not in the least surprising, when you go to the early records to find Pennsylvania's contri- bution to the general fabric of breeding and rac- ing in America, that for many, many years after the turf had been grafted on to the body poHtic of America only two thoroughbred horses had been imported by the Philadelphia route. Northum- berland, sometimes called Irish Gray, was im- ported by Mr. Crow sometime prior to 1767, and was contemporary with Selim, the son of Selima, for they ran in a race together in Philadelphia in 1767. Old England was a bay horse imported about the same time as Northumberland, and Old England himself was a starter in this particular race in Philadelphia, and was also a runner in one of the early races on Long Island.
The pedigree of Old England is entirely lost. Northumberland, however, was by Bustard, and was bred in England by Lord Mazarine. With him came his full sister, Lady Northumberland. The dam of this pair was by Crab, second dam by Babraham, son of the Godolphin Arabian.
So it was that, when the Marylanders went abroad into Pennsylvania for the purpose of find-
Maryland's Horses and Horsemen 119
ing a horse to beat, Northumberland and Old England were there to give them trial. And this race was in all probability the first public affair run between presumed thoroughbreds ever occurring in the state of Pennsylvania.
As, following it, there was much brilliant breed- ing and racing history in the old state, it is worth the while of curious perusal. And it also gives some idea of Selim's quality. This account of it was written by Judge G. Duval, who was one of the early Maryland sportsmen and was at the time of this race one of the Supreme Court judges. The curious old account of this first Pennsylvania event is as follows : —
" Great Running by Selim at Philadelphia in lySy
"Marietta, June 26, 1829.
" Sir, — According to promise you have an account of the race run at Philadelphia, in the year 1767, by Selim and other horses. It is copied from the Maryland Gazette of Mr. Green, October 22, 1767 ; by him taken from a Philadel- phia paper.
" On Tuesday last, the following horses started for the Gentleman's subscription purse of one hundred guineas : —
I20 The American Thoroughbred
" Samuel Gallaway, Esq.'s bay horse Selim . .11
Mr. Leary's bay horse Old England . . .2 dist.
Mr. Samuel's bay horse Granby . . . 3 dr.
Mr. Andrew Orr's gray horse Northumberland . dist.
" The first heat was run in 8 minutes 2 sec- onds, Selim winning from Old England by a single length. The second heat, after running three miles close at the heels of Selim, Old England flew the course.
" The standard was 10 stone. Selim was then eight years old, and carried 140 pounds full weight. Old England and Northumberland were both imported.
" It is believed that this running was never exceeded, if equalled, in this country. To form a correct judgment of the speed of a horse, the weight carried must always be recollected. If, as the old and experienced sportsmen say, seven pounds are equal to a distance, which is 240 yards, it follows that 14 pounds will make the difference of 480 yards, a space which would consume 32 seconds of time in running, at the rate of running at Philadelphia. Deduct this from 8 minutes 2 seconds, and it leaves 7^ minutes, in which the race would have been run if the standard had been 9 stone. I have
Maryland's Horses and Horsemen 121
never seen an account of a race where the four miles were run in 7J minutes in the United States.
"Figure beat Selim in 1768, at Upper Marl- borough, but Selim was undoubtedly in bad con- dition, and had been lately cured of the distemper in the throat. He was certainly a capital racer. I saw him beat the celebrated Silver Legs from Virginia, in the year 1772, at Annapolis, four miles and repeat. He was then thirteen years old, and Silver Legs only nine.
" With respect and esteem,
"G. Duval."
It was not for long that Pennsylvania remained so far behind her sister states, for she began breeding in a small way sufficiently early to pro- duce, in 1798, the bay horse First Consul, who was foaled in Philadelphia County. First Consul was sired by Flag of Truce, a Virginia horse, out of a mare by imported Slender. First Consul might be called the first race-horse of quality ever produced in Pennsylvania. From three to seven years old he won twenty-one purses, averaging 100 guineas each, in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Washington City, and was never beaten until the fall he was eight years old.
122 The American Thoroughbred
He then met his Waterloo in one of the famous old races, where, in a match of four-mile heats near Baltimore, the celebrated Oscar gave him defeat. This was a remarkably fast race and character- ized by the bottom of the horses.
First Consul was owned by Joshua B. Bond, Esq., of Philadelphia, who was a prominent gen- tleman in his own city and quite well known as a high-class sportsman. Mr. Bond had offered to run First Consul against any horse in America, which challenge had been accepted by Major William Ball, of Virginia, on behalf of his fine horse, Ball's Florizel, for ^10,000 a side. But in the interim First Consul had run the match with Oscar.
The succeeding week Oscar and First Consul started in a famous race at Washington City, in four-mile heats, in which they met Floretta and Top Gallant. The second heat of this race was run with Floretta first. First Consul second, and Oscar third, in 7.52. So great a noise was made at the time over the remarkable record that the Washington track was measured to ascertain if it were not short of a mile. It was found to be seven feet over.
First Consul was afterward beat by Post Boy
Maryland's Horses and Horsemen 123
in a four-mile heat race at Lancaster, Pennsyl- vania, in a close race for three heats, of which he won the second heat. Then he gave a taste of his quality to the New Yorkers, in a match race run on an old course in Harlem, in which he was beaten by Tippoo Sultan, then the Northern champion at four-mile heats.
He was a beautiful horse, of great strength, 15! in height. He sired Bond's Eclipse, Diana, and Greer's Potomac. He was never, however, a great progenitor; and this extensive mention is made of him because he was the first thorough- bred foaled in the state of Pennsylvania to make any racing impress in America.
CHAPTER VI
FIRST THOROUGHBREDS OF THE NORTH
Breeding in the North may be said to have had its birth with the importation, by Colonel James De Lancey, of a horse called Wildair, another called Lath, a mare known to fame as the Cub Mare, and another animal called Fair Rachel. It cannot be positively stated at what date these horses landed at the Battery, but it was sometime between 1755 and 1760. At any rate, these animals were the forerunners of many million dollars' worth of horseflesh that, in after years, passed Sandy Hook, to enrich the blood of the thoroughbred of America.
Wildair was used in this country for breeding purposes for a time, and was then sold and re- shipped to England, where he died. Fair Rachel did a small part toward creating a Northern blood stock. Lath distinguished himself on the turf and in the stud.
But out of these four, who were the first comers
124
First Thoroughbreds of the North 125
to the Northern shores, the Cub Mare was the one to stamp her individuality upon her get and to make a name for herself as a producer of race- horses, that will not be permitted to die so long as American thoroughbred pedigrees are extant. She was the Selima of the Northern turf. She was, in fact, one of the most valuable mares ever imported to this country. Nearly all of the best horses in America trace to her either on the dam or sire side. Immediately she began to make her presence felt. Rattler, Childers, Sumpter, Flir- tilla, Ivanhoe, Polly Hopkins, Hyazin, and Inau- gural are some of those thoroughbreds foaled in the early years which trace directly to her.
The greatest of her produce, however, was her first foal. That was a filly, sometimes called Maria Slamerkin, sometimes Old Slamerkin, and again Miss Slamerkin. This filly was the result of a union between the Cub Mare and Wildair, a horse which accompanied her to this country.
The Cub Mare passed her days in the vicinity of New York. When and where she died is not known. But she was a respectable personage in the early history of the American thoroughbred, and her daughter, Maria Slamerkin, was the most highly regarded animal of her sex in her day.
126 The American Thoroughbred
The history of Old Slamerkin has been written by many pens, and the story of her, valuable as it is, differs at each writing. Delving through the early turf literature of America, the author has found an account of Maria Slamerkin which, from the circumstances surrounding the account, is probably the correct one of the career of this wonderful producer. The communication is also interesting as letting one into the intimate man- ners and customs of the gentlemen of that day. Writing from his estate at Bel voir, in 1826, Mr. John Manners said : —
" The celebrated Slamerkin was bred by James De Lancey, Esq., of New York, and purchased by Mr. John Allen, of New Jersey. At four years old, in Mr. Allen's possession, she ran the four- mile heats over the Philadelphia course, against the celebrated running horse old Sprightly, the property of Governor Eden, of Maryland, who had never been beaten, and four others, the best runners in the United States. Slamerkin dis- tanced all but old Sprightly, the first heat, and beat him the second heat with ease. She was allowed to run the four-mile heats, more swiftly than any horse in the United States. She was afterwards purchased by Daniel Hunt, Esq., of
JAMES R. KEENE
First Tborougbbreds of the North 127
Lebanon, New Jersey, who sold her to Colonel Goode, of Virginia.
"Slamerkin was the dam of the celebrated running horses Bucephalus, gotten by old Granby, and Honest John, gotten by the imported horse old Messenger. She was the grandam of the celebrated running horses Pollydore, Grasshopper, Esopus, Cockfighter, and several good runners; and the ancestor of Kentucky Whip, Flag of Truce, Fearnought, Seagull, Prizefighter, Hon- esty, Tormentor, Hornet, Maria, Eclipse, Lurcher, Scipio, Antelope, Brilliant, Morgan Rattler, and many other good racers.
" Slamerkin was gotten by the celebrated horse, Old Wildair, who was afterwards exported to Eng- land, and covered at 40 guineas a mare, out of the celebrated Cub mare, and was full sister to the famous old Bashaw.
"Jno. Manners."
Mr. Manners then furnished the following delightful story of the mare from a member of the Goode family : —
" About 1 780, a year or two sooner or later, a Mr. Thomas Goode of Chesterfield, Virginia, than whom never was man more devoted to good
128 The American Thoroughbred
horses, having read and heard of the celebrated horse Lath, went to the North with a view to get him ; either by purchase, or to stand him as a stallion. Whilst in that country he was taken extremely ill, at a Mr. Hunt's, who had previously intermarried with a widow, Mrs. Van- lue, in Jersey. Mr. Goode was sick for many weeks, during which time it was fairly under- stood he was not to have Lath. Great exer- tions were then made to obtain this very mare. Miss Slamerkin ; but in this he was also dis- appointed.
" The time arrived when he was to return to Virginia. I have frequently heard him speak of the tender and constant attention of this kind and hospitable family — of the reluctance with which they gave him up — and above all (it would be strange to tell nowadays), not a cent would they receive for their trouble, but seemed to be glad to have had it in their power to con- fer the obligation. Yes, sir, and if ever an obli- gation so great has been fully repaid in gratitude to the bestower, I think this might be referred to as the case. Oft have I heard him speak in raptures of this family — their kindness — their incessant attention to him never wavering — their
First Thoroughbreds of the North 129
sweetness of temper and politeness to one an- other— always enjoying the first and best gift of heaven, their own domestic happiness. These were circumstances well calculated to produce a long and lasting intimacy and friendship between the parties.
" In a few years after, one of the young Mr. Vanlues, son of Mrs. Hunt, on his way from the South, where he had been upon business, called at Mr. Goode's and spent a week or two. I well recollect the very joy that Mr. and Mrs. Goode felt at seeing him — in having some little opportunity of returning kindness for kindness. In some few years after, in an unexpected mo- ment, the old gentleman himself, Mr. Hunt, drove up in the yard of Mr. Goode with a number of the prettiest, cleanest limbed, best looking horses I ever saw, and among them was the celebrated Miss Slamerkin, the daughter of the * wonderful, the old Cub mare.'
" If I were gifted, Mr. Editor, in description, I would ask the liberty of a small digression to tell you something of the sparkling, endearing vivacity evidently to be seen in their mutual confidences — of the cordial salutations and shak- ings of each other's hands. No little darkening
130 The American Thoroughbred
window, through which that chilUng monster, deceit, could pop his nose. No ! all was honest, heartfelt sincerity — reciprocal gladness. I should do injustice (it is not worth while further to attempt to conceal) to the memory of a dear departed mother were I not to say, she was foremost in the trio. All was kindness, frank- ness, good humor and gladness. I remember too, full well, the tender throbbings of my own Httle heart. I thought I saw the kind preserver of my father's life ; I loved and admired him.
" Time passed on from day to day. The horses were looked at, praised and admired — all was done to improve their looks. The market hour arrived, and off they went for Petersburg. When out, that restraint and dehcacy of situation, as to the sale or purchase of the old mare, was over, and Mr. Hunt came out frankly to my father, first premising his remarks with a fear to do it whilst at his house, lest he might think himself bound to take her ; from which he then absolved him, and told him he had procured the old mare, Miss Slamerkin, expressly for him ; not for speculation, but to oblige him, under his old request; and cost and charges were all he ever intended to ask for her. My father cheerfully
First Thoroughbreds of the North 131
embraced the offer, the amount was made out at some eighty or ninety pounds (a long price in those days and at her age, about eighteen), and the mare was his. They had then advanced some six or eight miles on their way to Peters- burg, and the old gentleman had to return to my father's to get his pay ; silver was much the order of the then times ; the order was necessarily given to return. And here, sir, let me relate what I well remember to have heard them speak of as the fact, that the wonderful, the remarkable Miss Slamerkin (eighteen years old as above), heavy in foal, daughter of the wonderful, * the old Cub mare,' turned her tail upon her back, took the lead in the onset, sped her way back to my father's, was the first to enter a gate that had been left open, strained down to the stables, and around and around, in advance of the gentle- men some half an hour or more. A day or two was again spent in their usual happy way; and the old gentleman left us as reluctantly as we were unwilling to give him up.
" I well remember, for I could not leave his chair and side, all the most prominent remarks about the old mare. She was said to have been the very best racer of her day — the first nag that
132 The American Thoroughbred
ever beat old Sprightly at Philadelphia — was never beaten — was full sister to Bashaw. It was said she or Bashaw (I do not recollect which) was in the belly of her dam when she crossed the Atlantic ; that the ' old Cub mare ' was selected, as well on account of her blood, as that she was in foal to Wildair, at the time they were imported, and the colt was intended as a commendation to the horse. Wildair and the Cub mare were both imported at the same time, by a Col. De Lancey of that state. Wildair was sent for back, by the sporting gentlemen of that country, was repur- chased at a long price, and put at forty guineas a mare in England. All of which, Mr. Editor, I then did believe, and still do believe, as sincerely, as in the records of any court in this Union.
" She was said to have left a good progeny be- hind her. I well remember the name of Paragon — she was certified then to be in foal to a horse to the North, called Liberty; he by Dove, etc. She produced the ensuing spring a remarkable fine filly — was then put to the imported horse Bay Richmond, and produced one of the prettiest horses ever raised in this part of the world ; and was then sent to Mr. French's in the upper end of Dinwiddie county, about fifteen or eighteen miles
First Thoroughbreds of the North 133
above Petersburg, to the imported horse Obscur- ity, and produced from him a wonderfully fine filly, the grandam of Rattler, Childers, Sumpter, Flirtilla; and great grandam of Ivanhoe, Polly Hopkins, Hiazim, Inaugural, etc., etc. Blackeyed Susan, Sir Robin, Rusty Robin, Massena, Equality, Roxana, and many others, and some not tried, were the descendants of the wonderful, ' the old Cub mare.' Thus, sir, has she been rendered wonderful and worthy of notice. And will you look to Lexington, Kentucky, for the Sumpters, and to your own pages for the Childers and Rattlers, and to the present Polly Hopkins, and not say there is something still more 'wonderful'? " Respectfully,
"John C. Goode."
With the foaling by the Cub Mare of Maria Slamerkin, the birth of the Northern turf may be said to have begun. There had been racing on Long Island and in New Jersey before Wildair and the Cub Mare were imported, but the horses engaged were not thoroughbred animals, and the prizes for which they ran were so small that the sport itself was hardly lifted to the dignity of an event. There were several paths laid out on that
134 The American Thoroughbred
territory now occupied by the city of Brooklyn, but it was not until 1819 that race meetings of any character were held in the vicinity of New York. It was not until that year that the people of Gotham seemed to take a lively interest in the transactions of the turf.
In the spring of 1819 an association was formed and a course established at Bath, Long Island. But the location was not desirable, and in 182 1 the same association purchased a plot of ground eight miles from where the Brooklyn City Hall now stands and inaugurated it as the Union Course. Large purses were offered for speed contests, and racing was established on a respect- able and firm basis.
The Union Course stands more prominently on the pages of American turf history than any track now in existence, since it was the theatre of some of the grandest turf battles ever decided on American soil, and was the arena upon which were held those memorable and incomparable contests between the horses of the North and the South in the subsequent years, after the North had be- gun to produce its own race-horses.
Just as the gentlemen of the Carolinas, Vir- ginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania had given
First Thoroughbreds of the North 135
themselves to the sports of the turf, so the very distinguished men of the North were found as the owners, managers, and even trainers of the best thoroughbreds about New York. Stevens, Liv- ingston, De Lancey, Gibbons, and Van Ranst were some of the names to be associated with this early racing on the Union Course.
The importation of Messenger and of Trustee, both of which were sires of extraordinary power, gave the necessary out-crosses for the blood which Wildair and Lath had already left in the country. And, as well, the Northern gentlemen interested in racing did not hesitate to betake themselves to Virginia and other parts of the South, and there to purchase such blood as seemed best adapted to the crossing of the lines which they had pos- sessed at home. Breeding intelligently and using great sums of money in judicious investment, it is not surprising to know that within a very few years after the Revolution the Northern breeders had themselves established a distinguished family of thoroughbreds; and after the Union Course came into existence they had such horses at their command that they could, and did, defeat the very flowers of the Southland. The Virginians suf- fered the humiliation of being beaten at the
136 The American Thoroughbred
North by descendants on one side of the house or the other of animals which they had sold out of their own country to come for the enrichment of the blood of the North.
Thus far this story of the blood horse of America has had for its purpose the showing of whence and how he came, and also to give the reader some conception of the circumstances surrounding the creation of the thoroughbred horse in this country, and the kind of personali- ties whose names are interwoven with those of our turf champions from the earliest times down to the date of this writing.
It must be known now that by the time the Union Course had been constructed on Long Island, the Southern states and what were then called the Western states had themselves made great advancement in the matter of fine horses. Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Ten- nessee, and Kentucky had each levied tribute upon the blood of Maryland, Virginia, and the Carolinas, and on those far distant farms young- sters were being foaled that in after years should race themselves into fame and become the pro- genitors of sons and daughters even more famous.
To mention briefly the dominating influences
First Thoroughbreds of the North 137
in the creation of the American thoroughbred, we might say that Diomed in Virginia, Citizen in CaroHna, SeHma in Maryland, and the Cub Mare and her associates in New York — all animals imported from England — were the strik- ing individuals.
This portion of the history of the American race-horse may have much of that in it which is weary reading to him who seeks entertainment alone, but without such dissertation upon it no history of our turf could be written and no under- standing of the merits of the great horses which have graced the turf could be arrived at.
One may turn now to the pleasant duty of showing the thoroughbred in his activities; in other words, of telling the story of the American turf after it became a fixed institution, and when its races were of such character as to attract the attention of the whole world.
Though the Southerners had long ago begun the making of turf story in their part of the world, and the National Course had been born at Washington, it seems fitting that the first race to which extensive description is given in this volume should be that race which began the series of rivalries between the North and the
138 The American Thoroughbred
South, and which were the first national events to take place in this country.
In 1 8 14 there was foaled at Dosoris, Queen's County, Long Island, a colt got by Duroc out of Miller's Damsel by imported Messenger. His birth took place just one year in advance of that from which Frank Forrester dates the authentic era of the turf in this country.
This colt born on a May day in 18 14, by Duroc out of Miller's Damsel, was called Eclipse. And then, to distinguish him from the splendid English animal of that name, he was further called Ameri- can Eclipse.
The racing career of American Eclipse had been one series of brilliant successes. As was the case with nearly all of the early horses of America, there were many disputes over the pedi- gree of Eclipse, and performances credited to him were denied. So great was the discussion over this horse and so extensive the demand for true knowledge of him, that in 1823 a history of him was published. However, the best account of the foaling of this horse, of his pedigree, and of his races up to the time of his national match with Henry, was written by his owner, Mr. C. W. Van Ranst, a gentleman of the highest attain-
First Thoroughbreds of the North 139
ments and of unquestioned veracity. His descrip- tion of the horse, his pedigree and performances, is embodied in this bit of graceful writing : —
" The last horse that is to be named in my list I might perhaps be excused from noticing, on account of the great renown he has acquired, and from the many details concerning him that have already appeared in the public journals, as well as in your own work; besides a pamphlet especially devoted to his history in 1823. But, in order to make my communication complete, I shall now proceed to give you an accurate account of him.
" He is a chestnut horse, with a star, and the near hind foot white; 15 hands 3 inches high; possessing a large share of bone and muscle, and excelling all the racers of the day in the three great essentials of speed — courage, stoutness or lastingness, and ability to carry weight. He was foaled on the 25th of May, 18 14, at Dosoris, Long Island, on the farm of the late General Nathaniel Coles, whose proverbial hospitality (to offer a passing tribute of gratitude) has been experienced by all that ever visited his mansion. From the work alluded to, ' Authentic History, etc., of American Eclipse,' it will be found that, at five
I40 The American Thorotigbbred
months old, while a suckling, he gave his owner such a sample of stride, strength, and speed, that he was at that time named ' American Eclipse.' He was sired by Duroc ; his dam Miller's Dam- sel by Messenger; his grandam the English mare by PotSos, imported in 1795, then three years old, by William Constable, Esq., and bred by Lord Grosvenor. This English mare was sired by PotSos, and PotSos by the celebrated horse Eclipse; his g. g. dam by Gimcrack; Gimcrack by Cripple, and Cripple by the Arabian of Lord Godolphin.
" Duroc, a Virginia horse, was sired by Diomed ; his dam Amanda, the property of Mr. Mosely, was sired by Gray Diomed, her dam by Virginia Cade.
" In May, iSiS, then four years old, American Eclipse won the purse of $300, in the three- mile heats at Newmarket, on Long Island.
"In June, 1S19, he took the purse of $500, in the four-mile heats at Bath, Long Island.
"In October, 1S19, he again took a purse, of similar amount, on the same course ; the first heat being run in 8 minutes 13 seconds, and the next in 8 minutes 8 seconds.
"After this he stood for mares two seasons.
First Thoroughbreds of the North 141
until October, 182 1, when he took the $500 purse in the four-mile heats, at the Union Course (near Jamaica), distancing the celebrated mare. Lady Li^htfoot, in the second heat. The first was run in 8 minutes 4 seconds, and the last heat in 8 minutes 2 seconds.
" In the following week he took the premium of $50, as the best stud-horse, from the New York County Agricultural Society.
" In May, 1822, he won a purse of $700, for the four-mile heats, on the Union Course; beating Sir Walter, a very fast horse. The first heat was in 7 minutes 54 seconds, and the second in 8 minutes.
"In October, 1822, he took a $1000 purse in the four-mile heats, on that course, again beating Sir Walter, besides several other horses. The first heat was run in 7 minutes 58 seconds, and on the second heat he came in at his leisure.
"On the 20th November, 1822, he took #5000 on the Washington Course, as a forfeit from Mr. Harrison for the delinquency of his horse Sir Charles ; and the same day ran a single four-mile heat for $1500, against that horse, whom he beat with great ease."
This defeat of Sir Charles, at the Washington
142 The American Thoroughbred
Course, was the immediate incident which brought forth the challenge to Eclipse, and which resulted in the first national affair which the American turf had known. An offer was made at the Jockey Club dinner the evening after the defeat of Sir Charles — The North vs. The South.
Walter Livingston, Esq., a member of that aristocratic family which had early settled in the vicinity of New York, was the representative of Eclipse on the occasion of the Sir Charles race. But Mr. John C. Stevens, perhaps the most splendid of the turfmen of that early day and a kinsman of Walter Livingston, overflowing with youth, ardor, and gallantry, immediately rose at the table in answer to the suggestion from the Southerners, and challenged the South to name any horse at the post who could beat Eclipse, four-mile heats, on Long Island, the following spring, for $20,000 a side. The offer was literally Eclipse against the world.
General Wynne, Colonel William R. Johnson, the Napoleon of the Southern turf, General Ridgley, John Randolph of Roanoke, and other celebrities took counsel of each other, accepted the challenge, and in the following May they
First Thoroughbreds of the North 143
started a most formidable stable North, three of which, however, falling out of condition, did not reach Long Island.
The horses selected by the Southerners for this great occasion and also to race for the three purse events to be run for on the three days subsequent to the match, heats respec- tively of four, three, and two miles, were Betsey Richards, five years old; her full brother, John Richards, four years ; Sir Henry, four years ; Flying Childers, five years — all by Sir Archy; and Washington, four years old, by Timoleon, a son of Sir Archy. With one of the three first named, it was the intention of Colonel William R. Johnson to run the match. Of these, at the time he left home, John Richards was his favor- ite ; his next choice was Sir Henry, and thirdly the mare ; although some of the Southern gentle- men— and amongst others. General Wynne — gave their opinion in favor of running the mare, fearing lest Henry might get frightened by so large a crowd of people and swerve from the track.
Unfortunately for the Virginians, their favor- ite, John Richards, in a trial race, while at Mr. Badger's, met with an accident by receiv-
144 The American Thoroughbred
ing a cut in the heel or frog of one of his fore feet, which rendered it necessary to throw him out of train ; Washington also fell amiss, and he and Richards were left behind at Mr. Badger's. With the other three the Southern sportsmen proceeded to the Union Course, where they arrived five or six days previous to that fixed upon for the match.
The ill fortune which befell the Virginians by laming their best horse in the onset seemed to pursue them, for scarcely had they arrived at Long Island, and become fixed in their new quarters, when Colonel Johnson, the principal on their part, himself went wrong. On the night before the race he gave himself to hila- rious indulgence in high wines and red lobsters with a coterie of Northern gentlemen who were offering him the courtesies of a great city, and the next morning the " Napoleon of the turf " was hard by his back in bed at his hotel up-town, while the great national event in which he was to figure so prominently was being run over on Long Island. It was the only time in the course of a wonderful turf career that Colonel Johnson had ever gone amiss and failed to face the starter himself. That brilliant but eccentric man, Ran-
First Thoroughbreds of the North 145
dolph of Roanoke, witnessed the race between the champions, and he was the author of the since often-quoted remark, " It was not Eclipse, but the lobsters, that beat Henry."
Thus the Southerners, deprived of their leader, whose skill and judgment, whether in the way of stable preparation or generalship in the field, could be supplied by none other, had to face their opponents under circumstances thus far dis- advantageous and discouraging. Notwithstand- ing these unexpected and untoward events, they met the coming contest manfully, having full and unimpaired confidence in their two remain- ing horses. Sir Henry and Betsey Richards, and backed their opinion to the moment of starting.
CHAPTER VII
ECLIPSE AND HENRY
A CHARMING writer of that time, who signed himself " An Old Turfman," wrote the account of this memorable contest which has been ac- cepted as the best description of a race that instituted an era upon the American turf. His telling of it is this : —
" At length the rising sun gave promise that the eventful day would prove fine and unclouded. I was in the field at the peep of dawn, and observed that the Southern horse and mare, led by Henry Curtis in their walk, were both plated, treated alike, and both in readiness for the ap- proaching contest. It was yet unknown to the Northern sportsmen which was to be their com- petitor.
" The road from New York to the course, a distance of eight miles, was covered by horse- men and a triple line of carriages, in an un- broken chain, from the dawn of day until one o'clock, the appointed hour of starting. The
146
Eclipse and Henry 147
stands on the ground, for the reception of spec- tators, were crowded to excess at an early hour, and the club house, and balcony extending along its whole front, was filled by ladies; the whole track, or nearly so, for a mile distance in circuit, was lined on the inside by carriages and horse- men — not less than sixty thousand spectators were computed to be in the field,
" About half-past twelve o'clock Sir Henry made his appearance on the course, as the champion of the South, and was soon con- fronted by his antagonist.
" I shall now endeavor to give a brief de- scription of these noted racers.
" Sir Henry is a dark sorrel, or chestnut color, with one hind foot white, and a small star in the forehead ; his mane and tail about two shades lighter than that of his body ; he is represented as being 15 hands and i inch high, but having taken his measure, his exact height is only 14 hands 3J inches. His form is compact, border- ing upon what is termed pony-built, with a good shoulder, fine clean head, and all those points which constitute a fine forehead ; his barrel is strong, and well ribbed up towards the hip; waist rather short ; chine bone strong, rising or
148 The American Thoroughbred
arched a little over the loin, indicative of ability to carry weight; sway short; the loin full and strong ; haunches strong, and well let down ; hind quarters somewhat high, and sloping off from the coupling to the croup ; thighs full and muscular, without being fleshy; hocks, or houghs, strong, wide, and pretty well let down ; legs remarkably fine, with a full proportion of bone ; back sinew, or Achilles tendon, large, and well detached from the canon bone; stands firm, clear, and even, moves remarkably well, with his feet in line; possesses great action and muscular power, and although rather under size, the exquisite symme- try of his form indicates uncommon strength and hardihood.
" He was bred by Mr. Lemuel Long, near Halifax, in the State of North Carolina, and foaled on the 17th day of June, 18 19. He was got by Sir Archy, son of imported chestnut Diomed, his dam by Diomed, grandam by Bel- Air, g. g. dam by Pilgrim, g. g. g. dam by Valiant, g. g. g. g. dam by Janus, g. g. g. g. g. dam by Jolly Roger; which four last named are imported horses, and are to be found in the English Stud Book.
" Eclipse is a dark sorrel horse, with a star,
Eclipse and Henry 149
the near hind foot white, said to be 15 hands 3 inches in height, but in fact measures, by the standard, only 15 hands and 2 inches. He pos- sesses great power and substance, being well spread and full made throughout his whole frame, his general mould being much heavier than is commonly met with in the thoroughbred blood- horse ; he is, however, right in the cardinal points, very deep in the girth, with a good length of waist ; loin wide and strong ; shoulder by no means fine, being somewhat thick and heavy, yet strong and deep ; breast wide, and appar- ently too full, and too much spread for a horse of great speed ; arms long, strong, and muscular ; head by no means fine ; neck somewhat defective, the junction with the head having an awkward appearance, and too fleshy, and bagging too much upon the underside near the throttle; his fore legs, from the knee downwards, are short and strong, with a large share of bone and sinew; upon the whole his forehand is too heavy. To counterbalance this, his hind quarters are as near perfection as it is possible to imagine. From the hooks, or hip bone, to the extremity of the hind quarter, including the whole sweep from the hip to the hough, he had not an equal ; with long and
ISO The American Thoroughbred
full muscular thighs, let down almost to the houghs, which are also particularly long, and well let down upon the canon bone ; legs short, with large bone and strong tendon, well detached, upon which he stands clear and even. Although his form throughout denotes uncommon strength, yet to the extraordinary fine construction of his hind quarters I conceive him indebted for his great racing powers, continuance, and ability, equal to any weight. I have closely observed him in his gallops ; if he have a fault, it is that of falling a little too heavy on his fore feet, and dweUing a little too long on the ground; but then the style and regularity with which he brings up his haunches, and throws his gaskins forward, overbalance other defects.
"All horses date their age from the ist of May. Thus a horse foaled any time in the year 1819 would be considered four years old on the ist day of May, 1823. Consequently, Sir Henry, although not four years old complete until the 17th day of June, had, on the 27th of May, to carry the regulated weight — agreeably to the then rules of the course — for a four-year-old, viz. 108 pounds. Eclipse, being nine years old, car- ried weight for an aged horse, 126 pounds.
Eclipse and Henry 151
" At length the appointed hour arrived, the word was given to saddle, and immediately after- ward to mount. Eclipse was ridden by William Crafts, dressed in a crimson jacket and cap, and Sir Henry by a Virginia boy, of the name of John Walden, dressed in a sky-blue jacket with cap of same color. The custom on the Union Course is to run to the left about, or with the left hand next to the poles ; Eclipse, by lot, had the left or inside station at the start. Sir Henry took his ground about twenty-five feet wide of him, to the right, with the evident intention of making a run in a straight line for the lead. The precon- certed signal was a single tap of the drum. All was now breathless anxiety ; the horses came up evenly ; the eventful signal was heard, they went off handsomely together.
" Henry, apparently quickest, made play from the score, obtained the lead, and then took a hard pull. By the time they had gone the first quarter of a mile, which brought them round the first turn, to the commencement of what is termed the back side of the course, which is a straight run, comprising the second quarter of a mile, he was full three lengths ahead ; this distance he with little variation maintained, running steadily, with
152 The American Thoroughbred
a hard pull, during the first, second, third, and for about three-fourths of the fourth round or mile ; the pace all this time a killing one.
" It may be proper to note that the course is nearly an oval, of one mile, with this small varia- tion, that the back and front are straight lines of about a quarter of a mile each, connected at each extremity by semicircles of also a quarter of a mile each. When the horses were going the last round, being myself well mounted, I took my station at the commencement of the stretch or last quarter, where I expected a violent exertion would be made at this last straight run in, when they left the straight part on the back of the course, and entered upon the last turn. Henry was, as heretofore, not less than three lengths in the clear ahead. They had not proceeded more than twenty rods upon the first part of the sweep, when Eclipse made play, and the spur and whip were both applied freely ; when they were at the extreme point or centre of the sweep, I observed the right hand of Crafts disengaged from his bridle, making free use of his whip ; when they had swept about three-fourths of the way round the turn, and had advanced within twenty-five rods of my station, I clearly saw that Crafts was
Eclipse and Henry 153
making every exertion with both spur and whip to get Eclipse forward, and scored him sorely, both before and behind the girths ; at this moment Eclipse threw his tail into the air, and flirted it up and down, after the manner of a tired horse, or one in distress and great pain ; and John Buckley, the jockey, and present trainer, whom I kept stationed by my side, observed, ' Eclipse is done.'
" When they passed me about the commence- ment of the stretch, seventy to eighty rods from home, the space between them was about sixteen feet, or a full length and a half in the clear. Here the rider of Henry turned his head round, and took a view for an instant of his adversary ; Walden used neither whip nor spur; but main- tained a hard and steady pull, under which his horse appeared accustomed to run. Crafts con- tinued to make free use of the whip ; his right hand in so doing was necessarily disengaged from the bridle, his arm often raised high in air, his body thrown abroad, and his seat loose and unsteady; not having strength to hold and gather his horse with one hand and at the same time keep his proper position ; in order to acquire a greater purchase, he had thrown his body quite
154 The American Thoroughbred
back to the cantle of the saddle, stuck his feet forward by way of bracing himself with the aid of the stirrups, and in this style he was belabor- ing his horse, going in the last quarter. Buckley exclaimed, — and well he might, — ' Good G — d, look at Billy!'
" From this place to the winning post, Eclipse gained but a few feet, Henry coming in ahead about a length in the clear. The shortest time of this heat, as returned by the judges on the stand, was 7 minutes, 37^ seconds. Many watches, and mine — which was held by a gen- tleman on the stand — among others, made it 7 minutes, 40 seconds ; and this time the Southern gentlemen reported.
" I pushed immediately up to the winning post, in order to view the situation of the respective horses, after this very trying and severe heat; for it was in fact running the whole four miles. Sir Henry was less distressed than I expected to find him ; Eclipse also bore it well, but of the two he appeared the most jaded ; the injudicious manner in which he had been ridden had certainly an- noyed and unnecessarily distressed him ; the cause of his throwing out his tail, and flirting it up and down, as already observed, was now apparent.
Eclipse and Henry 155
Crafts, in using his whip wildly, had struck him too far back, and had cut him not only upon his sheath, but had made a deep incision upon his testicles, and it was no doubt the violent pain occasioned thereby that caused the noble animal to complain, and motion with his tail, indicative of the torture he suffered. The blood flowed profusely from one or both of these foul cuts, and trickling down the inside of his hind legs, ap- peared conspicuously upon the white hind foot, and gave a more doleful appearance to the discouraging scene of a lost heat.
" The incapacity of Crafts to manage Eclipse — who required much urging, and at the same time to be pulled hard — was apparent to all ; he being a slender-made lad, in body weight about 100 pounds only. A person interested in the event, seeing Buckley, who had ridden the horse on a former occasion, with me, requested that I would keep him within call, and ready to ride in case of an emergency. It was, however, soon settled, and announced, that Mr. Purdy would ride him the second heat, upon which long faces grew shorter, and Northern hope revived. Six to four was, nevertheless, offered on the Southern horse, but no takers.
156 The American Thoroughbred
" Second heat. The horses, after a lapse of thirty minutes, were called up for a second heat. I attentively viewed Eclipse while saddling, and was surprised to find that to appearance he had not only entirely recovered, but seemed full of mettle, lashing and reaching out with his hind feet, anxious and impatient to renew the contest. Mr. Purdy, having mounted his favorite, was perfectly at home, and self-confident.
" The signal being again given, he went off rapidly from the start ; Sir Henry being now en- titled to the inside, took the track, and kept the lead, followed closely by Eclipse, whom Mr. Purdy at once brought to his work, knowing that game and stoutness was his play, and his only chance of success that of driving his speedy adversary up to the top of his rate, without giv- ing him the least respite. Henry went steadily on, nearly at the top of his speed, keeping a gap open between himself and Eclipse, of about twenty feet without much variation, for about two miles and seven-eighths, or until, toward the con- clusion of the third mile, they had arrived nearly opposite the four-mile distance post.
" Here Mr. Purdy made his run, and when they had advanced forty rods further, which brought
Eclipse and Henry 157
them to the end of the third mile, was close up, say nose and tail. They now entered upon the fourth and last mile, which commences with a turn or sweep the moment you leave the starting post. Here the crowd was immense; I was at this moment on horseback, stationed down the stretch or straight run, a short distance below the winning post, in company with a friend and Buckley, the jockey, who kept close to me during the whole race. We pushed out into the centre, or open space of the ground, in order to obtain a more distinct view of the struggle, which we saw making, for the lead.
" Everything depended upon this effort of Purdy ; well he knew it ; his case was a desperate one, and required a desperate attempt; it was to risk all, for all ; he did not hesitate. When the horses had got about one-third of the way round the sweep they had so far cleared the crowd as to afford us a distinct view of them a little before they reached the centre of the turn.
" Eclipse had lapped Henry about head and girth and appeared evidently in the act of passing. Here Buckley vociferated, ' See Eclipse ! look at Purdy ! By heaven, on the inside ! ' I was all attention. Purdy was on the left hand, or inside
158 The American Thoroughbred
of Henry ; I felt alarmed for the consequence, satisfied that he had thus hazarded all; I feared that Walden would take advantage of his posi- tion, and by reining in, force him against or inside one of the poles. When they had pro- ceeded a little more than half-way round the sweep, the horses were a dead lap ; when about three-fourths round, Eclipse's quarter covered Henry's head and neck ; and just as they had finished the bend and entered upon the straight run, which extends along the back part of the course, Eclipse for the first time was fairly clear and ahead. He now with the help of the per- suaders, which were freely bestowed, kept up his run, and continued gradually, though slowly, to gain during the remaining three-quarters of a mile, and came in about two lengths ahead. As they passed up the stretch or last quarter of a mile, the shouting, clapping of hands, waving of hand- kerchiefs, long and loud applause sent forth by the Eclipse party exceeded all description ; it seemed to roll along the track as the horses advanced, resembling the loud and reiterated shout of contending armies.
" I have been thus particular in stating that Mr. Purdy made his pass on the inside, under-
Eclipse and Henry 159
standing that many gentlemen, and particularly Mr. Stevens, the principal in the match on the part of Eclipse — and for aught I know Mr. Purdy himself — insist that the go by was given on the outside. After the heat was over, I found that my friend Mr. M. Buckley, and myself, were far from the only persons that had observed the mode in which Mr. Purdy ran up and took the inside track from his adversary. The circum- stance was in the mouths of hundreds. In cor- roboration of which, I will quote a passage from the New York Evening Post, of May 28, 1823, giving a description of this second heat : —
" ' Henry took the lead as in the first heat, until about two-thirds around on the third mile, when Purdy seized, with a quickness and dexterity peculiar to himself, the favorable moment that presented, when appearing to aim at the outside, he might gain the inside, made a dash at him accordingly, and passed hi7n on the left!
" Here, then, the observations of many, inde- pendent of my friend Mr. M. Buckley or myself, added to the instantaneous and striking remark of Buckley, which did not fail to rivet my peculiar attention, form a wonderful coincidence. Thus circumstanced, and long conversant with turf
i6o The American Thoroughbred
matters, rules, and practices, and familiar with sights of this kind, it was impossible I could be mistaken. I was not mistaken, the honest belief of some gentlemen to the contrary notwith- standing.
" Time, this second heat, 7 minutes, 49 seconds.
" Third heat. It was now given out, that in place of the boy Walden, who had rode Sir Henry the two preceding heats, that Arthur Taylor, a trainer of great experience, and long a rider equalled by few and surpassed by none, would ride him this last and decisive heat. At the expiration of 30 minutes the horses were once more summoned to the starting post, and Purdy and Taylor mounted ; the word being given, they went off at a quick rate ; Purdy now taking the lead, and pushing Eclipse from the score ; and indeed, the whole four miles, applying the whip and spur incessantly ; evidently resolved to give Sir Henry no respite, but to cause him, if determined to trail, to employ all his speed and strength, without keeping anything in reserve for the run in. Sir Henry continued to trail, appar- ently under a pull, never attempting to come up, until they had both fairly entered the straight run towards the extermination of the last mile,
Eclipse and Henry i6i
and had advanced within about 60 rods from home.
" Here Sir Henry being about five yards behind, made a dash, and ran up to Eclipse, so far as to cover his quarter or haunch with his head, and for a moment had the appearance of going past ; he made a severe struggle for about two hundred yards, when he again fell in the rear, and gave up the contest.
"Thus terminated the most interesting race ever run in the United States. Besides the original stake of ^20,000 each, it was judged that upwards of $200,000 changed hands.
" In this last heat Sir Henry carried 1 10 pounds, being 2 pounds over his proper weight; it not being possible to bring Arthur Taylor to ride less, and although a small horse, and wanting twenty days of being four years old, he made the greatest run ever witnessed in America.
" Time, this heat, 8 minutes, 24 seconds.
" Thus the three heats, or twelve miles, were run in 23 minutes, 5o|- seconds, or an average of 7 minutes, 57 seconds each heat; or i minute, 59 seconds per mile.
" Notwithstanding this defeat, the Southern sportsmen continued to be inspired with so much
1 62 The American Thoroughbred
confidence in their horse, that they offered to renew the contest for a much larger amount, as appears by the following challenge and the answer thereto, which I give as connected with the event : —
''Long Island, May 28, 1823. " To John C. Stevens, Esq.
^'- Sir : I will run the horse Henry against the horse Eclipse at Washington City, next fall, the day before the Jockey Club purse is run for, for any sum from twenty to fifty thousand dollars ; forfeit ten thousand dollars. The forfeit and stake to be deposited in the Branch Bank of the United States at Washington, at any namable time, to be appointed by you.
*' Although this is addressed to you individually, it is in- tended for all the betters on Eclipse, and if agreeable to you and them, you may have the liberty of substituting at the start- ing post, in the place of Eclipse, any horse, mare, or gelding, foaled and owned on the northern and eastern side of the North River, provided, I have the liberty of substituting in the place of Henry, at the starting post, any horse, mare, or gelding, foaled and owned on the south side of the Potomac. As we propose running at Washington City, the rules of that Jockey Club must govern of course.
'' I am respectfully, yours,
"William R. Johnson."
Answer ''Dear Sir: The bet just decided was made under cir- cumstances of excitement, which might in some measure apologize for its rashness, but would scarcely justify it as an
Eclipse and Henry 163
example ; and I trust the part I took in it will not be consid- ered as a proof of my intention to become a patron of sport- ing on so extensive a scale. For myself, then, I must decline the offer. For the gentlemen who with me backed Eclipse, their confidence in his superiority, I may safely say, is not in the least impaired. But even they do not hesitate to believe, that old age and hard service may one day accomplish, what strength and fleetness, directed by consummate skill, has hitherto failed to accomplish.
" For Mr. Van Ranst I answer, that he owes it to the asso- ciation who have so confidently supported him, to the State at large, who have felt and expressed so much interest in his success, and to himself as a man, not totally divested of feel- ing, never, on any consideration, to risk the life or reputation of the noble animal, whose generous, and almost incredible exertions, have gained for the North so signal a victory, and for himself such well-earned and never-failing renown.
" I remain, sir, your most obedient servant, ** John C. Stevens."
This graceful declination on the part of Mr. Stevens ended forever the public rivalry of Eclipse and Henry. That the Southerners did not believe that their horse had been defeated strictly upon his merits is evidenced by the quick return challenge sent by Colonel Johnson. Sir Henry was compelled to return to Virginia with- out having opportunity for revenge upon his dis- tinguished Northern rival.
1 64 The American Thoroughbred
The career of Sir Henry was, however, of such brilliancy as to recompense his Virginia and Maryland sympathizers for the anguish of their defeat on the first excursion made North to meet the flower of the Long Island turf.
After this race the Union Course had a national name where previously its fame had been entirely local, and it was selected as the ground upon which the champions of many years to come were to meet for final decision. Colonel William R. Johnson lived to have many victories upon the old