% ^. ^. ^iU pbrarg SortJj ffiarolirra ^tetc fflolkgc S006 16369 V This BOOK may be kept out TWO ^ ONLY, and is subject to a fine ol CENTS a day thereafter. It is due day indicated below: 4 fyr^ WILD HOKSES. 25 an original native of the soil of Africa, to wliich alone liis congeners, the Zebra, and the Quagga, are indigenous, although the wild ass and the domestic sjDecies are probably of Asiatic origin. Of all the wild races now existing in Europe, Asia, or Ame- rica, if any do still exist in the former division, it is, however, so nearly susceptible of actual proof that no one is really indi- genous, that we may safely hold it an established fact. The Tartarian breed, which are found wild, in countless hordes, from the neighborhood of the Volga to the barren and inhospitable steppes of Upper Asia and the northern provinces of China, can be clearly traced to the cavalry liorses employed in the siege of Azof, in. 1657, which were turned loose for want of forage, and have propagated their species with unex- ampled rapidity ; unless it be equalled by that which has peo- pled all South America and all the sparsely cultivated districts in the south-west of the northern continent, so far east as to the Mississippi, with the descendants, either self-emancipated or voluntarily released, of the Spanish horses, first introduced into the southern continent in 1537. It is somewhat doubtful to me, whether the horses found in a feral state, in Texas and the Mexican provinces, are not the descendants of chargers escaped from the I'omantic expedition of De Soto through those very regions ; rather than of those liberated at the abandonment of Buenos Ayres, or of other escaped or emancipated animals of Spanish breed, from the southward of the Isthmus. Since the intricate, forest-cumbered and brake-entangled nature of that dark and dangerous bridge between the two portions of the continent, as well as of the adjacent regions both to the north and south of it, is so ill- adapted to an animal like the horse, attached to wide, open plains and prairies, and singularly averse to woody morasses and densely clothed wildernesses, that I cannot readily believe they would voluntarily have involved themselves in those labyrinths of canebrakes, lianas, and mazes of almost impene- trable vegetation, in progress of unmeaning migration toward unknown future habitations. The question, however, is one of little moment ; for, although some equine fossil remains have been discovered in America, 26 THE HORSE. indicating the existence of the horse on this continent, prior to its discovery by Europeans — though by some unknown causes it had been rendered extinct, before the date of their arrival — it is indisputable, that in no part of America, insular or conti- nental, nor yet in Australia or any of the isles of the Pacific, have any traces of the horse been discovered, by the first navi- gators, who have visited, or the first colonists who have planted, their virgin shores. The wild horse of America, therefore, is of undoubted Spanish origin ; and is, to this day, marked by many of the characteristics of that race, which shows, by the fineness of its limbs and the peculiar formation of its head, the large admix- tui-e it possesses of Moorish and Barbary blood. It is said, also, that wild herds, descended from casually escaped domestic individual races, have been seen in the woody lowlands of Jamaica and Hayti ; while the Falkland Islands are stocked with considerable troops, released by the French and Spanish colonists ; and one or more small islands, off New- foundland, were peopled by the Government of Canada with the Korman horse, which has become perfectly naturalized and almost indomitably wild. In Hungary, until within a short space, the horse was still known to exist in the wide, open plains or savannahs, in a state of nature ; in those fierce and fiery squadrons, described by Byron in Mazeppa, " Wide flowing tail, and flying mane, Wide nostril^ — nevtr stretched by pain — Mouths bloodless to the bit or rein. And feet that iron never shod, And flanks unscarred by spur or rod, A thousand horse, the wild, the free, Like waves that follow o'er the but it is probable they are extinct for ever in Europe, unless some be found on the confines of European and Asiatic Eussia. Whether the animal is yet to be found in a state of nature in Arabia appears questionable ; although it is stated that they still exist, thinly scattered in the deserts, and are hunted by the Bedouins for their flesh, and also to improve their inferior breeds by a different strain of blood. " They are said to be PERHAPS rSTDIGENOTIS TO BEITAIN. 2T swifter even than the domesticated horse, and are usually taken by traps set in the sand. Mr. Bruce, however, doubts whether any wild horses are now found in Arabia Deserta." * In Central Africa, however, wild horses still roam untamed, far to the southward of the great desert of Sahara, in the coun- try of Ludamar, where they were seen by Mungo Park in great droves. From that district there extends a range of fertile, well-watered, grassy, and in part wooded country, to Nubia and Upper Abyssinia, whence, in my opinion, the horse was first introduced into Egypt, and thence into Arabia, Europe and the East. Fossil remains of the horse have beei) discovered, of extreme antiquity, in some of the oldest formations in Great Britain. In the Kirkdale cave, in Yorkshire, the bones of this animal are mingled with those of the elephant, rhinoceros, ox, bison, deer, tiger, hyaena, and other beasts of prey ; and from the absence of human remains, as well as from the condition of the bones and the abundance of fossil excrements of the hysena, it is the opinion of Dr. Bucklaud, that England was not peopled at the period when this remarkable cavity of the earth was filled, and its predatory inhabitants submerged, with the relics of their prey, by the rising waters of some local or general inun- dation. It«certainly cannot be regarded as a proof that the English horse is, in any part of its blood, still autochthonous or abori- ginal, that such fossil remains are found there ; any more than it is of the wild horse of the American Pampas or Prairies. It is, however, observable, that at the period of the first Boman invasion, the horse was domesticated in Britain ; and not only domesticated, but so numerically abundant, that a large portion of the forces, which resisted the invaders, were chariot- eers and cavalry. So much so, that when Cassivelan discharged his tumultuary army, as unable to resist the legions in the field, he retained a picked body of four thousand war chariots, where- with to impede the movements, and cut up the foragers of Csesar. And this being the first introduction of the British isles into * Touatt on the Horse, 11. 28 THE HORSE. the civilized world, before which period no historical, and scarcely even a traditional, record exists, there is some shadow of reason for suspecting, from the frequency of his fossil remains in the islands and his actual domestication there on their hrst discovery, that the horse may have been originally indigenous to Great Britain. Just in the same manner, it would have naturally been imag- ined, by the first visitors of this continent, had they found the natives accustomed to the use of horses, that the animal had existed here since the Creation ; and, had their suspicion been corroborated by the subsequent discovery of fossil remains, science would have justified the belief. It is not, however, of the British islands altogetlier so con- clusive ; since it is possible that the race, whose fossil remains are found in conjunction with those of other extinct, and, per- haps, antediluvian quadruj)eds, may also have been extinguished by some natural cause, and re-introduced either from Gaul, or by the Phoenicians, who certainly visited the channel isles in search of tin, before the Eoraan invasion. Throughout the oriental world, cavalry with the addition of chariots immediately became as decidedly the first arm in all services, as it was at a later date in the days of chivalry ; until cuirass and lance and all the gorgeous paraphernalia of knightly warfare went down, to rise no more, before the rolling Spanish volleys at Pavia. In Europe, however, with but a few exceptions, the use of the horse in warfare was slowly, and never, it may be said, until ages had elapsed, generally adopted. The Spartans, the Athe- nians, the Thebans, when at the highest of their military great- ness, had but inferior and slender cavalry services. At the battle of Marathon, the allies had no horse whatever ; and at Plataea, one year later, although they had a combined force of above 110,000 men in the field, they had not a single squadron of cavalry in tlieir army, even to protect their convoys ; in consequence of which they suffered severely, and were actually in danger of being literally ridden down and trodden underfoot by the desperate charges of the myriads of Persian horse. On this occasion, however, it is to be observed that the Thebans, the Thessalians, who as yet were not properly Greeks, though of Hellenic race, and the semi-barbarous Thracians, THE OLYMPIC H0R8E-KACES. 29 fouglit on the side of the Persian. It is somewhat remarkable that, at this very period, the horse was in the highest favor and repute with all the Greeks ; that no imaginable pains or expense were spared to improve his breed, to arrive at perfection in speed, endurance and condition ; and that chariot-i-acing stood the highest, in point of honor, of all the contests of the Olympic games. For it is so early as the 25th Olympiad, equivalent to the year 680 before the Christian era, that chariot-races were introduced among the Olympian contests, which had then been established ninety-six years, whereas the battle of Platsea was not fought until the second year of the seventy-fifth Olympiad, corresponding to 478 B. C, or nearly two centuries after the introduction of horse-racing, among the Greeks. To such an extent, moreover, was this display of horse- racing — for of those days it hardly can be termed a sport — prosecuted, that Alcibiades, the Athenian, who lived at the very date of which we are treating, sent at one time no less than seven four-horse chariots to the Olympic games, three of which obtained prizes ; and that the satirical comedian, Aristophanes, speaks of the horse-breeding mania among the noble youths of Athens, who, like the Koman equites in later days, took rank in consequence of their serving on horseback at their own charges, as a constant cause of impoverishment and ruin* — precisely as we moderns speak of the ruinous expenses and results of Epsom and Newmarket. The nature of the country, it is true, both in the Pelopon- nesus and in all Upper Greece, southward of the great open plains of Thessaly, being mountainous, with gorges and ravines, rather than valleys, intervening, is unsuited generally to the horse ; and, in confirmation of this view of the subject, it may be observed that the Bceotians, who possessed more level land * In a fine chorus of the iirirus, addressed to Neptune. — See Mitchell's Tr. Lord of the waters, King of might, Whose eyes and ears take stern deUght In neighing steeds and stormy fight And galleys swift pursuing ; And starting car and chariot gay, And contests on that festive day, When Athens' sprightly youth display Their pride and their undoing. 30 THE HORSE. thau any other of the pure Greek States, also excelled, com- paratively speaking, in their cavalry. To the same cause, doubtless, must be ascribed the deficiency or rather total absence of cavalry among the Israelites, a singu- larly brave, warlike and conquering people, who, nevertheless, 60 totally neglected the horse, for which animal their rocky, precipitous and stony country is especially unsuited, that it was not even used among them for purposes of state or show, the ass, on the contrary, being the saddle-animal of their patriarchs, their princes, and their prophets, and the beast, on which the Saviour of the Universe entered the streets of Jerusalem, palm branches stre\vn beneath his feet, amid Hosannahs, hailing him King of the Jews.* The first Greek, who seems to have ^^aid particular attention to the horse, on which he wrote an admirable treatise, is Xeno- plion, the celebrated captain of the retreat of the ten thousand, who was, no less deservedl}-, famous as a horseman and a hunter, than he was as a soldier and a statesman. Of this work I shall have occasion to speak hereafter, when treating of the Greek horse as a special variety. We have seen thus far, that so late as the early Persian, and, I may add, during the Peloponnesian wars, the cavalry of * It is well worthy of especial remark, as is observed, I think originally in Mr. Winter's excellent work on the horse, that the attributing the adoption of this animal, on the occasion of the triumphal entry of the Saviour into Jerusalem, " meekly riding on an ass," to /lumility, is an error on the part of modern divines, not supported by any fact, but wholly at variance with the ancient and even the present usage of the inhabitants of tlie Holy Land. "Asses," he says "were once more highly esteemed in Palestine than horses, for reasons before stated, and people of the first quality there commonly rode on them. Deborah, in her song, describes the great and powerful of Israel by the expression, ' Ye that ride on white asses.' At the present day, a breed of white asses, cele- brated for its excellence, is found near Bussorah. This race is cultivated with the greatest attention, and is supposed by Lieut. Col. Smith to be as ancient as the time of the kings of Judah. Jair of Gilead had thirty sons, who rode upon as many asses, and commanded in thirty cities. Abdon, one of the judges of Israel, had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy asses. " Moses had previously forbidden the use of horses, on account of their being more unfitted to the country than asses." This unfitness consists principally in the flexibility of the pastern, flatness of the hoof, and thinness of the horny crust, in the horse, as compared with the upright, rigid, and hard foot of the ass, especially before the use of horse-shoes. CAVALRY IN GREECE. 31 Greoce was of small numerical use and of inferior consideration, in the daj of battle ; although, according to Xenophon's direc- tions for the armament and equipment of a trooper, they were certainly formidably accoutred and well drilled for active ser- vice. So soon, however, as the Macedonians, whose kings were of the old heroic stock of Hellas, though the people were not esteemed Greeks — in proof of which assertion, it may be stated that the kings had always been allowed, on proving their pedi- grees, to contend in the Olympic games, to which none but Greeks were admitted — so soon, I say, as the Macedonian kings came into the shock of battle, whether Greek to Greek, or Greek to Barbarian, the Thessalian, Acarnanian and Thracian horses, the latter bred on the boundless plains between the Archipelago and the Danube, were brought into play ; and cavalry at once became an important part of armies, and, often from this time, the arm which turned the balanced scale of victory. In all Alexander's battles, he himself charged at the head of his splendid cavalry, having a good deal of the paladin of chivalry in his temper and constitution, and for the most part made the final impression by that irresistible onset. From this time forward, the cavalry was a favorite and suc- cessful arm with the Greeks. Philopoemen, the general of the Achaean league, was the best cavalry officer of the world, the Murat of his day. Pyrrhus of Epirus, the successor of Alex- ander, and descendant, as he claimed it, of Achilles, relied much on the charge of his barded cuirassiers, in his wars against the Komans — who never, to the end of their marvellous history of universal conquest, did any thing with Italian native horse, or indeed with cavalry at all, until they had Numidian, Span- ish, Gallic and German troopers in their armies. Tlie same was the case with the latter Philip of Macedon, and his son Perseus, against whose superior horse the Eoman consuls could make head only by the assistance of their ^tolian and Acarnanian allies, the blood of the Greek horses of that day, coming from the extreme east of Europe, being incompar- ably superior to that of the west, which probably had then re- ceived no further mixture of the oriental strain, since their first introduction frem their native land; whence by a course of continued breeding-in-and-in they had seriously deteriorated — a 32 THE HOKSE. deterioration which became yet more palpably manifest, when they were opposed to the Nuraidian barbs of Hannibal, only to be swept away like dust before the whirlwind. With regard to the general character and appearance of the ancient, and more especially the Greek horse, we have two means of forming an opinion — first, from the various sculptures yet extant of this animal, both in harness and mounted ; and second, from the elaborate and admirable directions given by Xenophon — irepl i7r7nK^«Z'///," he might have said certainly^ " were of eastern origin." The statement is made on the faith of an old metrical Romance, wliich is that entitled by the name of the monarch whose feats it celebrated, usually supposed to be of the time of Edward I., and contained in Ellis's Metrical Ro- mances. The lines are curious, as they indicate a full acquaint- ance with various animals, natives of the East, and more par- ticularly with the especial qualities of the oriental horse, his speed and surefootedness. These horses were named Favell and Lyard — " In the world was not their peer, Dromedary, not destrere, Steed 'rabyte, ne caraayl, That ran so swift sans fail, For a thousand pounds of gold. Should not that one be sold." Destrere, it must be observed, is the old spelling of the word Destrier^ in Norman French, derived from the barbarous. Mid- dle Age Latin, Dextrarius signifying a war-horse. Edward I. also is known to have inti-oduced horses from the East ; and that accurate and inquiring antiquary, Sir Walter Scott, de- scribes his spirit, or the demon of the haunted camp under his form, in the noctural tourney with Alexander of Scotland, as being recognized by the horse he bestrode. " Alike his Syrian courser's frame, The rider's length of limb the same." It is notorious, moreover, and was one of the charges against the Templars, at the period of their downfall, that, being vowed to frugality and poverty, as was indicated by their original em- blem of two Knights mounted on one charger, they had ex- pended vast sums in luxurious appliances, of no real utility, as Eastern horses, dogs and birds, for the chase and falconry, and other vain and worldly pleasures. From this I gather, not by any means that the crusaders neglected or failed to perceive the peculiar excellencies of the THE PLANTAGENETS, 83 oriental horses, much less avoided to import them ; but that, when they did introduce them, it was not, as yet, with a view to the improvement of the English animal by crossing, but as a creature to be used for pomp or for pleasure, for the proces- sion, the park, or the hunting field. Imported it undoubtedly was ; and, as it was in those days considered a reproach for a gentleman to ride a mare, they were doubtless stallions which would be introduced, and, as such, would surely cross the blood of the native horse ; not, it is pro- bable, with a view to producing chargers, but palfreys, and what were then styled running- horses. Spanish horses, we have seen, had come to be renowned, as chargers, so early as the Norman conquest, but it is more than questionable whether their superiority was as yet known to arise from their being traceable, in nearly two thirds, to the blood of the Desert. At this time, it would seem to have been considered desir- able to strengthen the English horse, and gain bone and bulk, rather than blood — not, I imagine, as Mr. Youatt suggests in the following sentence, for agricultural, but rather for military pur- poses ; in order to endure the ponderous burden of the mail-clad men-at-arms. "King John," he says, "paid great attention to the im- provement of horses for agricultural purposes, and to him we are indebted for the origin of our draught-horses. He chiefly imported Flemish horses " — one hundred chosen stallions on a single occasion ; the Flanders horse being — as it was even in the time of Marlborough and Prince Eugene — the most ap- proved cavalry trooper — " and such was his anxiety to possess the finest stock from these, that he would accept strong horses as rent for crown-lands, and as fines for the renewal of leases His personal stud was both numerous and excellent." " One hundred years afterward, Edward II. purchased thirty war-horses and twelve heavy draught-horses." " Edward HI. devoted one thousand marks to the purchase of fifty Spanish horses ; and of such importance did he conceive this addition to the English, or rather mingled blood, then ex- isting, that formal application was made to the kings of France and Spain to grant safe-conduct to the troop. When they had 84- THE HORSE. safely arrived at the royal stud, it was computed that they liad cost the monarch no less than thirteen pounds six shilliii<<;s and eiglit pence per horse, equal in value to one hundred and sixty pounds of our money," " This monarch had many r mining- Jiorses. Tlie precise meaning of the term is not, however, clear. It might be light and speedy horses in opposition to the war-horses, or those tliat were literally used for the purposes of racing." Of course nothing like regular systematic racing, with courses, distances, weiglits and colors were as yet in existence ; but that testing the speed of their favorite coursers was, even before this time, an amusement of the English nobility, is made evident by the following historical anecdote. This fact is in- troduced, with much effect, by Mr. James, into one of his admirable romances, not the least of the merits of which is their close adherence to the letter as well as the spirit of the history of the times. Tlie horse, which was lent for the purpose to which he was successfully applied, is described by the novelist as being a tall, gaunt, raw-boned gray, not remarkable for show, but of immense speed and endurance — but whether this minute description be taken from some ancient chronicle, or be merely an ornamental amplification to aid verisimilitude, I know not. Edward I., while prince of Wales, was taken prisoner with his father Henry III., at the battle of Lewes, by Simon de Mont- fort, Earl of Leicester, at the head of the confederated barons. Being confined in a sort of free custody under the guardianship of certain knights and noblemen, who were enjoined at all times to have hira in view, though treating him with all consideration due to his rank, he was permitted to take horse exercise in company with his gentle jailers. On one occasion, being furnished with a charger of surpassing speed by a secret partisan, and instructed how to profit by its powers, he set his guards to matching their horses one against the other, offering small prizes of honor to the winners ; until perceiving that the horses were all more or less worried, he proposed to enter him- self for a match with the last victor, when he easily rode away from the whole party, and won his liberty by the speed of his courser, and his own jockeyship. In the reign of Kichard II., horse-jockeyship and the tricks EARLY VALUE OF THE ENGLISH HORSE. 85 of dealers had increased to such an extent, that a special pro- clamation was issued, regulating the price of animals of various kinds, and fixing a maximum value. Like all other sumptuary laws and prohibitory statutes affecting to regulate trade, this proclamation proved wholly useless and fell dead. It is curious, however, as proving the great increase in the value of horses, since the preceding reign, and " showing what were, four hun- dred and fifty years ago, and what are still, the chief breeding districts. It was ordered to be published in the counties of Lin- coln and Cambridge, and in the north and east ridings of York. The price was restricted to that determined by former sover- eigns." Exportation of horses was strictly forbidden, especially to Scotland, as a kingdom with which England was constantly at war ; and it is remarkable, that, even in the time of Eliza- beth, it was felony to export a horse to Scotland. These prohibitions, how contrary soever to recent and more enlightened views as to the injurious eftects of such restrictions on the freedom of trade, distinctly prove two things. First, that the people and monarchs of England had now become fully awake to the value of race and breed in horses ; and, second, that the superior quality of English horses was thus early ac- knowledged abroad, and that the demand for them was sup- posed to be greater than the superfluity. " We can now," I quote again from Mr. Youatt, " collect but little of the history of the horse until the reign of Henry YIL at the close of the fifteenth century. He continued to prohibit the exportation of stallions, but allowed mares to be exported, when more than two years old, and under the value of six shil- lings and eight pence. This regulation was, however, easily evaded, for if a mare could be found worth more than six and eight pence, she might be freely exported on payment of that sum." This last sentence, I confess, with all deference to Mr. Youatt, is to me incomprehensible ; or rather it seems to be utter nonsense. It is evident, from the spirit of the statute, which is intended to prohibit the exportation of valuable animals, and permit — perhaps promote — that of worthless jades, that six shillings and 86 THE HORSE. eight pence was, then, the minimum price of a two-year-old mare. Tlie difficulty was, probably, not to find a mare of that age, over^ but one under, that value. It was, as in price races, where the winner can be claimed for purchase at a low price, a prohi- bition on the valuable beast. Now, it is not easy to conceive where the ease of evading such a statute should lie. Since if six shillings and eight pence were the value, to the native breeder or dealer, of a very infe- rior animal, he would not — one should say — be very like io find one of greater value, and sell it to the foreign dealer, for less than it was actually worth to himself. If Mr. Youatt merely means to say — what he does not say — that it would be easy to make a nominal sale at six and eight pence, while a much larger price should be secretly understood and paid, he merely predicates what is the case of every statute having reference to money values, bargains, bets, or borrow- ings ; and consequently the remark is of no value, or meaning. In the reign of Henry YIII., many highly arbitrary statutes were passed, and doubtless enforced — for few of his enactments were not enforced, rigorously and unto terror — for the improve- ment of the horse. It was decreed — and I cannot doubt, although Mr. Youatt seems to do so, with great advantage to the breed, however it might be to the owners — that no stallion should be suffered to run at large, on any waste or common, where the animals pas- tured, and were of course liable to breed proiniscuously, under the height of fifteen hands, on pain of forfeiture ; and that all foals, fillies or mares likely to breed undersized or ill-shaped produce, should be killed and buried. He also compelled, by act, all the nobility, gentry, and higher orders of the clergy, to keep a number of horses propor- tionate to their rank ; and obliged, even, every country parson, " whose wife should be entitled to wear a French hood, or vel- vet bonnet," * to keep an entire trotting horse under penalty of twenty pounds. * This was a sumptuary regulation. The wife of no person, below a certain rank in society, possessed of a certain annual income, being permitted to wear such a hood. TIMES OF HENRY VUI, 87 I readily admit the harshness and arbitrary nature of such regulations, but I cannot imagine how " they should have the effect, which common sense would have anticipated — that the breed of horses was not materially improved, and the numbers sadly diminished." The prohibiting, and in a great measure rendering impossi- ble, the production of offspring by undersized and ill-formed parents, is only compelling the whole unreflecting populace to do what every reflecting and intelligent breeder does voluntarily, because he knows it is for his own advantage to do it. Xo horseman can, I presume, doubt that, if such a thing were possible as absolutely to prohibit and prevent the use of stallions or mares, for breeding purposes, evidently broken- winded, with faulty forelegs, bad feet, spavined, or otherwise notoriously unsound, malformed, or physically defective, the race of animals would be immediately and materially im- proved. K the qualities, whether defects or merits, of the horse, and of animals generally, whether phj^sical or mental, be hereditary and transmissible with the blood, the improvement, which would result from such prohibition, is a necessary consequence. If the qualities be not hereditary and transmissible, then the whole theory and system of breeding is a fallacy, and the blood- horse himself not a reality but a myth. That such prohibitory enactments as that first named, com- pelling the destruction of undersized horses and mares on the public wastes and commons, would naturally tend, if uncon- nected with any other statute on the subject, to diminish the number, while improving the standard, of all horses bred, is certain. But we find here in Henry YIII.'s reign — wonderful reign, trul}'', of a wondei'ful man — another enactment, far more arbi- trary than the preceding — rendering compulsory the maintenance of so gi-eat a number of full-sized mares and stallions, in every deer park, and in every rural parish of the realm, as must have tended to bring about an increase of animals, bred of powerful and well-formed parents, equal, at least — in all probability, one would say, vastly superior — to that of the w^orthless jades, de- stroyed under the first clause of the act. 88 THE HORSE. It is curious that we have nearly a contemporary account of horse-races, ridden by Henry himself, with Charles Bi-andon, Duke of Suffolk, in the presence of Queen Katharine, and that, in his reign, the first annual races, on a regular race-course, were established in England : so closely — it might be said, indi- visibly — is horse-racing, in its proper form, connected with the improvement of the horse. " Katharine and the royal bride," says Miss Strickland, in her life of Katharine of Arragon, — the royal bride being Mary, Henry's favorite sister, widow of Louis XII. of France, and bride of Charles Brandon, — " rode a Maying with the king from the palace of Greenwich to Shooter's Hill. Here the archers of the king met them dressed like Kobin Hood and his outlaws, and begged that the royal party would enter the good green- wood, and see how outlaws lived. " On this Henry turned to the queen, and asked her, ' if she and her damsels would venture in a thicket with so many out- laws ? ' " Katharine replied. ' that where he went she was content to go.' " The king then handed her to a sylvan bower, formed of hawthorn boughs, spring flowers and moss, with aj)artment8 adjoining, where was laid out a breakfast of venison. The queen partook of the feast, and was greatly delighted with this lodge in the wilderness : " here follows a long description of tlie pageants which they encountered on their return to Greenwich palace, concluding with this passage : — " The amusements of the day concluded with the king and his brother-in-law, the Duke of Suffolk, riding races on great coursers, which were like the Flemish breed of dray-horses. Strange races these must have been," adds the lady writer, " but this is the first mention of horse-racing made in English history." It is not the first mention, as I have shown above, but it may, perhaps, be considered the first instance of horse-racing being used as an acknowledged sport, and part of a series of regular and pre-devised entertainments — the rather that we find a race- course proper, with annual meetings and fixed prizes, first established in this reign. THE TEEM " GREAT HOESE." 89 Miss Strickland, however, errs widely, and not unnaturally, as a lady is not expected to be skilled in the dialect of the horse-market, in the interpretation she puts on the words of the old chronicler. Hall, and on the character which she attaches to the Flemish Breed. The term great courser^ as used in the text, or as it is, per- haps, more frequently written, great horse, means no more than war horse, as opposed to palfrey or running-horse, and has no especial reference to the size, bulk, or breed of the animal, though doubtless the war-horse was a larger and heavier animal than that used for mere amusement. Afterwards the term gi^eat horse, simply, is to be understood as the horse broken to the manege ; it is a term, familiar to any one acquainted with the old English writers, to say of a young gentleman, who had finished his physical education, that he could fence and ride the great horse, meaning that he could per- fectly ride the manege. It is true, that the inferior men-at-arms, at this period, were mounted on Flemish horses, but the princes and nobles and other knights of renown rode Spani'sh or English horses, with a considerable strain of desert blood, possessing, through Flemish and other strains, bone and bulk sufficient to carry warriors in their panoply. But it is not true that the Flemish horse of that day, or later, when Marlborough at the head of the Dutch and English cavalry, mounted on Flemish chargers, rode over the superb French gendarmerie of Maison Roi at Malplaquet, bore any resemblance whatever to the dray-horse of to-day, though he be also Flanders descent, any more than did the " Flanders mares" which were the highest aspiration of the extravagant court- beauty in the days of Poj)e. To any person, who knows any thing of cavalry tactics, it is evident that the utmost speed, compatible with the ability to carry weight, is the desideratum in a charger. And every one who has ever seen an Enghsh dray-horse knows that he cannot trot, much less gallop ; while I myself remember that within the present half century the old unimproved English carriage horse, high-stepping and awkwardly moving, was doing great work if he trotted six miles an hour, and could by no means be brought 90 THE HORSE. to gallop, even under the saddle, when he was sometimes backed by an unfortunate groom or out-rider. It is certainly true that heavier, slower, and coarser chargers were used when men fought in complete steel, than now when they charge in huzzar dolmans and pelisses ; but the weight has been vastly exaggerated, and the breed deteriorated. Nor do I believe, that, were it jjossible to be proved, there was so much difference between the chargers of the English men-at- arms who decided the fight at Cressy, and those which fought at Malplaquet and Dettingen, as there is between the latter and the British troop-horses lately serving in the East. To proceed, however, in order, it was during Henry's occupancy of the throne, though the exact year is not known, that an annual race was run at Chester. " The prize was a wooden ball embellished with flowers, fixed upon the point of a lance. This diversion was repeated in the presence of the mayor of the city, and was celebrated on the Roodee, the identical spot where the races are held at this day. These trophies were provided by the company of saddlers. In the year 1540, a silver bell was substituted for the former prize, under the title of St. George's Bell." Hence comes the common phrase to " bear the bell," as equivalent to be the victor. In the reign of Elizabeth, for some reason not clearly expli- cable, the number and breed of horses in England would both have appeared to degenerate ; for it is stated, that when she mustered the wliole militia of her realm to resist the invasion of Don Philip, she could collect but three thousand horse. Taking the statement to be true, however, which I cannot readily do, — seeing that at the period of the usurpation of Jane Grey and Dudley, only a few years earlier, the protector North- umberland was at the head of two thousand horse, and Queen Mary of a yet larger body, while the Princess Elizabeth, at a few days' notice, levied a thousand to defend her own and her sister's rights — I attribute it to other causes than the disuse of horses or decay of horsemanship in England. It might,* if it be a fact, arise from the prohibition, enforced * It is evident, however, that, for all this allegation of deterioration of the ani- mal, in the reign of Elizabeth, blood had already its full and due appreciation, and THE MARKHAM ARABIAN. 91 during the Tudor reigns, to the supporting bodies of armed retainers bj the great nobles ; and might rather point to the consequences of the decline of feudal militia, and the absence as yet of a regular cavalry force, than to the decay to so enor- mous an extent in so short a time of the equestrian resources of England, the people of which in their habits continued, both high and low, and still to this day continue, to be singu- larly equestrian, using the saddle infinitely more, and light vehicles immeasm-ably less, than the corresponding classes of the United States. With the accession of James I. to the throne of England, a monarch, of whom it is well that one, by any scrutiny, may discover and declare one creditable feature, a great improve- ment was systematically wrought in the English breed, and from this period breeding was constantly and progressively attended to. James purchased Markham's Arabian horse at the then extraordinary price of £500, but he was found to be deficient in speed; and the Duke of K"ewcastle, who then managed the king's racing and hunting studs, having, it is said, on this account taken a dislike to the horse, his breed does not seem to have been tested, and for a time Arabians fell into dis- repute. Kace meetings were now regularly held at Newmarket, that horses were valued in accordance to their pedigree, as apart from, or perhaps above, their performances ; and that to a degree which seemed absurd and idle to persons ignorant of the extent to which hereditary qualities are transmitted in the blood of horses, and which Bishop Hall considered so worthy of ridicule, as to hold it up to derision as a fallacy, in one of his satires : — " Dost thou prize Thy bmte beast's worth by their dam's qualities ? Say'st thou this colt shall prove a swift -paced steed ? Only because a Jennet did him breed? Or say'st thou this same horse shall win the prize, Because his dam was swiftest Truncheflce, Or Euncevall his sire ; himself a galloway, While like a tireling jade he lags half way ? " The error of the worthy prelate, who is not expected to be a capital Turfman, in under-estimating blood, surely proves that in his day it was not generally under- estimated in England ; and it farther indicates the common and usual occurrence of running for prizes. In conjunction with what has been before shown, I think it goes far to prove that the alleged deterioration of the English horse, under Elizabeth, is imaginary ; and that the improvement of the animal in England has been pro- gressive from the first. 92 THE HORSE. Croydon, Tlieobald's on Epping chase, Stamford, various places in Yorksliire, and, as of old, at Chester,* A regular system of * In Strutt's Sports and Pastimes I find the following curious and suggestive no- tices of the early courses : — The Chester Races. — " In 1665, 5th of Charles Second," according to a Chester antiquary, probably the elder Randal Holme of Chester, one of the heralds of the city, " the sheriffs would have no calves' head feast, but put the charge of it into a piece of plate to be run for on that day, Shrove Tuesday ; and the high sheriff bor- rowed a Barbary horse of Sir Thomas Middleton, which won him the plate ; and being master of the race, he would not suffer the horses of Master Massy, of Pud- dington, and of Sir Philip Egerton of Sutton, to run, because they came the day after the time prefixed for the horses to be brought and kept in the city, which thing caused all the gentry to relinquish our races ever since." The Stamford Races. — " Races," continues Mr. Strutt, " something similar to those above, are described by Butcher, in his survey of the town of Stamford, first printed A. D. 1646, as practised in the vicinity of the town of Stamford in Lincoln- shire ; ' a concourse,' says he, ' of noblemen and gentlemen meet together, in mirth, peace and amity, for the exercise of their swift running horses, every Thursday in March. The prize they run for is a silver and gilt cup, with a cover, to the value of seven or eight pounds, provided by the care of the aldermen for the time being ; but the money is raised out of the interest of a stock formerly made up by the no- bility and gentry, which are neighbors and well-wishers to the town." These two passages indicate, the latter even prior to the commonwealth, the existence of something very nearly allied to our present system of horse-racing, although necessarily without its nice and minute details, the result of long expe- rience, and a complete acquaintance with all the desiderata of the sport. Here, however, we have stated meetings, a stated course, prizes given, partly, it is clear, to encourage the breed of horses, partly to attract company to the town, whose corporation, like that of Doncaster, to-day, profited by the influx of visitors. From this time the sport has continued, unchecked, except for a short period during the foolish fanaticism of the Puritan usurpation — a fanaticism opposed by Oliver Cromwell, who himself owned race-horses, though perhaps he never ran them — until the present day, when it may be considered a national characteristic. James II. and William of Orange both encouraged horse-racing as the best means of improving the British horse. Anne, in whose reign the Darley Arabian and Cur- wen's Barb were imported, both kept running horses herself and gave an annual gold cup to be run for at York ; and the custom of giving king's plates to the value of fifty or a hundred pounds, for the ostensible purpose of fostering the breed of English horses, originated with her, and has been continued unto the present hour, the actual sums of money being run for, in lieu of manufactured plate, at almost every provincial course of any note in England. George lY. and William IV. were both ardent supporters of the turf; and the latter sovereign, at one time, owned a stud not easily to be surpassed in his realm, comprising the Colonel, Zinganee, and Fleur de lis — three incomparable animals, which I once saw, in 1830, come in first, second, and third, the rest of the field nowhere, running against one another for the Goodwood cup, the sailor king refusing, in his naval mood of blunt fair play, to declare^ and insisting that the best animal of the three should win. EARLY STEEPLE-CHASma. 93 training tlie horses, and of running according to weight, age and distance, was now introduced. Pedigrees were kept, the best and stoutest horses and mares being kept for breed, and their progeny being for the most part set aside for racing pur- poses. " The races of King James were in great part," says Mr. Youatt, " matches against time, or trials of speed or bottom for absurdly long and cruel distances." " There was, at first," he says elsewhere, " no course marked out for the race, but the contest generally consisted in running train-scent " — what is now known as a drag — " across the coun- try, and sometimes the most difficult and dangerous part of the country was selected for the exhibition. Occasionally our pre- sent steeple-chase was adopted with all its dangers and more than its present barbarity ; as persons were appointed cruelly to flog along the exhausted and jaded horses." It is to be regretted that Mr. Youatt neither states the date of these performances, nor indicates his authority. He mentions them, however, previously, in point of place, to his mention of King James's matches against time, wherefore I presume that they took place previously, in regard of occurrence. The fact is stated as if in relation to the races at Chester and Stamford, in the reign of Elizabeth. Yet this seems hardly to consist with the mention of the Roodee, which is and was a regular course. Her present Majesty»has never, nor has the prince consort, entered a race-horse for any prize, but they are constant attendants at the racing meetings, and a small but splendid royal stud of mares is now kept at Hampton Court, with success and profit. Never, probably, has the turf been so popular in England, as it is now, since its purification by the late Lord George Bentinck ; never was it so efficiently supported, nor ever, I believe, despite all the silly outcries about deterioration of blood, decline of size and physique, and decrease of soundness, stamina, and stanchness, has the English or the American race-horse been equal, far less superior, to what it now is, either in perfection of blood, stoutness of constitution, symmetry, beauty, size, speed, or bottom. But I will not anticipate ; this portion of the subject will be considered in a dif- ferent place ; and now, after a few general remarks on the now existing thorough blood of the English horse, I shall pass to that of America, which is identical with it, unless in so far as it may have been acted on by the influences of cUmate, or the mode of handling and treatment. 94 THE HORSE. From the reign of James I. racing and of tlie English race-liorse may be held to commence, althongh no existing pedigrees trace so far back. I ilnd a curious notice in Brandt's popular antiquities, which appears to relate to this period, if one may judge by the con- text ; the date of Misson's travels I have not yet been able to ascertain, but the collocation of the sentences seems to indicate that it was prior to 1641. " Misson, in his travels in England, translated by Ozell, p. 231, says : ' The English nobility take great delight in horse- races. The most famous are usually at J^ewmarket, and there you are sure to see a great many persons of the first quality, and almost all the gentlemen of the neighborhood. It is pretty common for them to lay wagers of two thousand pounds sterling upon one race. I have seen a horse after having run twenty miles in fifty-five minutes, upon ground less even than that where the races are run at Newmarket, and won the wager for his master, would have been able to run anew without taking breath, if he, that had lost, had ventured to run again. There are also races run by men.' " In Ilinde's Life of Master John Bruen, a Puritan of great celebrity, 1641, p. 104, the author recommends ' unto many of our gentlemen, and to many of inferior rank, that they would give over their foot-races, and horse-races, &c.' "A proclamation was issued by the Protector Cromwell, 8tli April, 1658, 'prohibiting horse-races in England and Wales for eight months.' " I have extracted the three quotations, though it is the first only, which I especially regard in this place — supposing it to have some relation to '"the absurdly long and cruel distances" of Mr. Youatt — in order to show how their relative bearing would aj^pear to countenance the idea of its date being that of King James I. or early in the reign of Charles I. It is, and is acknowledged and admitted to be, a fact, that Barbs and Turkish horses had, long before the period of the commonwealth, been imported into England — although with the exception of the horse, mentioned before as introduced by Alexander I. of Scotland — the Markham Arabian is probably the first of this strain ever brought into the British Isles ; yet TURKISH HOKSES IN ENGLAND. 95 I cannot, myself, perceive wlierefore the rejection of this Arab should be charged, as it generally appears now to be, as an error, against the Marquis of Newcastle, the same who gallant- ly commanded for the king at Marston Moor, and would have won for him his battle, and perhaps his crown, but for the mad and selfish impetuosity of Kupert. This is, however, nothing to the point, however much it may be so that he was considered the best horseman and the best judge of horses of his day, and that he has left, as a legacy to posterity and a bounty to all those who love that noble animal, incomparably the best old English work on the horse. It is now pretty generally admitted that, whether Barb, Turk, Syrian, or Arab of the desert proper, all oriental blood has had its share and influence in reinvigorating the blood of the English thoroughbred, and giving to it those peculiar qual- ities which cause it, with justice, at this day, to be esteemed the best, completest, and most perfect animal in the world. In what degree these animals have ministered to our now dominant strain, is by no means to be ascertained ; but it is to be noted that most of the early imported foreign stallions were not Eastern Arabs. During the protectorate, Oliver Cromwell, who, though he was compelled by the necessity of conciliating the absurd pre- judices of the Puritans, to forbid racing, was yet an ardent lover of the horse, and an earnest promoter and j)atron of all that belongs to horsemanship, purchased of Mr. Place, after- wards his stud-master, the celebrated " White Turk " — still re- corded as the most beautiful south-eastern horse ever brought into England, and the oldest to which our present strain refers. To him succeeds Yilliers, duke of Buckingham, his Helmsley Turk, and to him Fairfax's — the same great statesman and brave soldier, who fought against Newcastle at Marston — Mo- rocco Barb. And to these three horses. it is that the English race-horse of the old time chiefly owes its purity of blood, if we except the royal mares., specially imported by Charles II., to which it is — mythically, rather than justly — held that all English blood should trace. Of all succeeding importations, those, which are principally 96 THE iioitsE. known and referred to, as having notoriously amended our horse — by proof of stock begotten of superior qualities, and victorious on the turf through long generations — but few are true Arabs. We have, it is true, the Darley Arabian, the Leeds Arabian, Honey wood's White, the Oglethorpe, the Newcome Bay Moun- tain, the Damascus, Cullen's Brown, the Chestnut, the Lonsdale Bay, Combe's Gray and Bell's Gray Arabians ; but what is generally called the Godolphin A/'aMan, as it seems now to be the i^revailing opinion — his origin not being actually ascer- tained — was a Barb, not an Arab from Arabia proper. Against these, again, we find Place's White Turk, D'Arcey's Turk, the Yellow Turk, Lister's or the Straddling Turk, the Byerly Turk, the Selaby Turk, the Acaster Turk ; Curwen's Bay Barb, Comp- ton's Barb, the Thoulouse Barb, Layton's Barb Mare, great- great-grandam of Miss Layton ; the Koyal Mares, which were Barbs from Tangier, and many other Barb horses, not from the Eastern desert, heading the pedigrees of our best horses. In this connection, I would observe that the very reasons for which the Marquis of Newcastle condemned the Markham Ara- bian — viz., that when regularly trained he could do nothing against race-horses — on account of which condemnation he has i-eceived a sneer or a slur from every writer w^lio has discussed the subject, are those which, at this very moment, prevent prudent breeders from having recourse to oriental blood of any kind. They cannot run or last against the English horse. They have not the size, the bone, the muscle, or the shape, if we ex- cept the beautiful head, the fine neck, thin withers, and admira- bly long, deep and sloping shoulders, which are the inevitable characteristics of the race. Therefore, all men who breed with an eye to profit, — and howsoever it might have been in the olden times of the Turf, there are few now who have not an eye to it, either as hoping to win oji the turf, or to ]>roduce sala- ble stock — prefer to jDut their mares to known English winning liorses, proved getters of winners, of unquestioned bottom and stoutness, rather than to try stallions of the desert blood, con- cerning Avhich nothing is known beyond the attested pedigree, and the visible shapes BAKB 'VS. ARAB. 97 All this being considered, and especially tlie fact that there is more Turk and Barb than real Arabian blood in the present race, when it is admitted also that ISTewcastle was a consummate horseman, I think it quite as well to hear what he has to say for himself, and not to continue uttering, what Mr. Carlyle would call inarticulate howls over what cannot, at all events, now be helped, and perhaps was not any harm in the beginning. " I never saw," says he, ed. of 1667, p. 73, " but one of these horses, which Mr. John Markham, a merchant, brought over, and said he was a right Arabian. He was a bay, but a little horse, and no rarity for shape, for I have seen many English horses far finer. Mr. Markham sold him to King James for five hundred pounds, and being trained up for a course, when he came to run, every horse beat him." Of this statement, Mr. Youatt, who decides ex cathedra that the Marquis's opinion was " probably altogether erroneous " — one does not see why so, unless because, on all other points, it is almost invariably sound — makes quite a diiferent one, ascrib- ing to the old writer a dictum, which he uses not, namely, that " this Arabian was a little hony horse." The introduction of the word hony, carries much with it ; so much that in all likeli- hood, if the horse had been bony, the Marquis might have held a different opinion concerning the propriety of breeding from him. As it is, we can only hold that his view was a correct one ; the horse when tried could not run, and when examined as to form was found inferior. For these causes, he was ruled out as a stock getter. So would any horse be ruled out to-day, if he were an Arab bearing visibly on his forehead the seal of King Solomon himself, or if he were an English thoroughbred, de- scended, through all the time-honored magnates of the Turf, from that most unimpeachable of all attainable ends, an im- ported Eastern sire, and a royal mare. It is, I think, worthy of notice, that Newcastle, who was a scholar, a travelled man, an observer and a gentleman, as well as a soldier and a horseman, distinctly records his preference of the Spanish horse to any other strain of blood existing in his time, and in doing so directly refers to the Barb, for service, though not in those terms, as a racing stallion. And it is observable, Vol. I.— 7. 98 Till!; iioKtjK. that the veiy authors wlio attack him, borrow his descriptions of the various races, without acknowledgment, " And the Marquis of Serai vo " — says he, in his preface- — " Master of horse to his Highness, and Governor of the castle of Antwerp, told his Highness, that he had asked me, ' what horses I liked best ? ' and that I had answered, ' there were good and bad of all nations ; but that the Barbs were the gen- tlemen of the horse kind, and Spanish horses, the princes.' " In commenting, afterward, on the various races, and their fitness for the stud, he thus speaks of the Spanish horse, and thus of the Barb. I quote these various j)assages, for two rea- sons, which I shall explain hereafter. " If he be well chosen, I assure you he is the noblest horse in the world. First, there is no horse so curiously shaped, all over from head to croup. He is the most beautiful that can be. For he is not so thin and ladylike as the Barb, nor so gross as the Neapolitan ; but be- tween both. He is of great spirit, and of great courage, and docile ; hath the proudest walk, the proudest trot, and best ac- tion in his trot ; the loftiest gallop, the swiftest careers, and is the lovingest and gentlest horse, and fittest for a king in a day of triumph to show himself to his people, or in the head of an army, of any horse in the world. " Therefore, there is no horse so fit to breed on, as a Span- iard ; either for the manege, tlie war, am^bling for the pad, hunting, or for running. Conqueror was of a Spanish horse., Shotten Herring was of a Spanish horse. Butler was of a Spanish iiorse, and Peacock was of a Spanish mare ; and these beat all the horses in their time, so much as no horse ever ran near them. " I say he is absolutely the best stallion in the world, for all these things I have formerly named, if you do wisely appro- priate such mares to him, as shall be fit for uses such as you would have your breed, and so he is fit for all breeds, except to breed cart horses. " The king of Spain hath many, but his best is at Cordova in Andalusia, where he hath above three hundred mares and colts, as my Lord Cottington told me ; and besides those of his majesty, there are other most excellent races, not only of noble- men, but also of private gentlemen." THE BARB. 99 jN'ext, in position, speaking of the Barb, lie discourses in this fashion. " The Barb is next to the Spanish horse for wisdom, but not near so wise, and that makes him easier to be drest, besides he is of a gentle nature, docile, nervous and light. " He is as fine a horse as can be, but somewhat slender, and a little ladylike ; and is so lazy and negligent in his walk as he will stumble in a bowling green ; he trots like a cow, and gal- lops low, and no action in any of those actions. But commonly he is sinewy and nervous, and hath a clear strength, is excellently winded and good at length, to endure great travel ; and very apt to learn, and easy to be drest, being for the most part of a good disposition, excellent apprehension, judgment, memory ; and when he is searched and wakened, no horse in the world goes better in the manege in all ayres whatsoever, and rarely upon the ground in any. " The mountain Barbs, they say, are the best ; I believe they are the largest ; but for my part I rather desire a middling horse, or a less horse, which are cheap enough in Barbary, as I have been informed, both by many gentlemen, and many merchants." Of the Fris horse — that, I conceive, which we now term the Flemish or Flanders horse, he says — " He is hardy, and can live on any thing, and will endure either heats or colds ; and on no horse whatsoever does a man appear more a swordsman, than on this horse, being so quiet, so bold, and so assured. " He is also manly, and fit for any thing but running away ; though he will run fast for a while, yet I doubt not long ; be- cause his wind is not like a Barb ; yet a heavy man well armed upon a Barb, and the same weight upon a Dutch horse, the Dutch horse's strength is so much above the Barb's, as compared thus, I believe the Dutch horse may run as fast and as long as the Barb ; for the Barb's wind serveth to no purpose, when his strength is not able to carry his weight." On these passages I would observe, what will be yet more decidedly apparent when I come to quote from the same writer his remarks on the English horse, that it is quite too absurd to endeavor to ignore or set aside his reasonings, as if he were 100 THE IIOKSE. ignorant, or careless in giving his judgment, because lie lived above two centuries ago ; when we hnd that, in every respect, he rests his judgment on precisely the same grounds on which the wisest and best judges of the present day, with all the lights of science and all the statistics of two hundred years to guide them, would determine their choice of a stallion, to which they should put their choice blood mares — temper, spirit, form and 'performance. The last word I use in its largest and most comprehensive term, performance in the stud, as well as performance in the field. For it is not every performer on the turf, that is a per- former in the stud. Many of the greatest winners have utterly failed to beget winners. Catton, the stoutest and hardest horse of his day, in England, always got soft ones. In America, Chateau-Margaux, the most honest horse and best four-miler, on the British turf, and, therefore, thought peculiarly suited for American stock- getting, has scarcely got a winner. Priam, the crack of his day, winner of the Derby, and should have been winner of the Leger also, but for the accident of mud hock deep which gave the race to the worthless Birmingham, has not only not improved, but actually deteriorated the racing blood of America, as regards form and power wherever he has altered it. Yet both these horses were of unquestionable blood, and, except that Priam was too leggy for my taste — though I have heard him called, and that by judges too, the perfection of horseflesh — were both eminently sound and finely formed horses. The old Marquis, however, prefers the Spanish horse, he tells us, after his temper, shape, and blood, because he is him- self a winner and a sure getter of winners. This is the true test— the winner, who gets winners, is the horse from which to breed. And this brings me to anotlier point. It will be admitted now beyond a doubt, that any practical and prudent breeder of the day would prove his prudence and practice by choosing an undeniable English stallion — say, for example Glencoe, himself a great winner, and j^erhaps the greatest modern getter of win- ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ENGLISH TURF. 101 ners, before any unknown, teclinicallj speaking, darlc^ Arab or Barb liorse, however beautiful, that slionld now be imported. The same was, then, the opinion of a great breeder and greater rider in his day, founded as it seems on experience, for any thing except race-horses, if not for race-horses — in speaking of breeding especially for the turf, he afterward gives the pre- ference to the Barb. Now, it seems to me more than possible, more even than probable, that there was in those days, in Spain, a breed of the best Spanish horses, which might trace directly, or as nearly directly as the best English horses now do, to oriental dam and oriental sire ; and that, consequently, there may have been as just a reason for preference of the then Spanish to the then Eastern stallion, as there is for that of the present English thoroughbred to the present untried courser of the Desert ; and that, therefore, there may be in the present pure blood-horse of Great Britain and America, yet another unsuspected cross of pure Desert blood, from an unsuspected source. In the reign of which the Marquis of Newcastle writes, that of Charles 11., the English Turf was for the first time fairly established. That king sent his master of the horse to the Le- vant especially to import both mares and stallions, and it is through these females, kno^vn as the royal mares, that our pre- sent race-horse draws his claim to pure blood, since it is evident that, but for these, there must have been in all, as there is undeniably in some, of the best English thoroughbreds, an infinitesimal taint of common, or at least of improved blood. Eor, though one were to cross the pure blood of the Desert ten thousand times on the produce of a common-bred dam, one fraction of a drop of the impure blood must remain there ad infinitum. Perhaps it may appear paradoxical in me to say so, but I must say, that I believe the undoubted superiority of the thoroughbred English and American blood-horse to come from the very existence of this mixture of various crosses with the oriental blood. A remarkable calculation has been entered into by a very clever and observant modern writer on the horse, " Cecil," to whom I gladly record my obligation, to prove how extremely 102 THE HORSE. small a quantum of any given blood remains, after a given nnmber of crosses, in the veins of any animal ; yet how vastly that minimum quantity affects the quality of the descendant. " The pedigrees of many horses of celebrity," he says, " may be traced back to Childers, the Darley Arabian, and other worthies of that date ; but where there is only one direct line of descent, the following calculation will show how little of the blood flows in the veins of the present generation. It may be considered that these horses flourished about a century ago, and taking ten years as a generation, a lineal descendant of a horse of that period only possesses ^ oV* portion of the blood. The 1st cross had i The 6th 2nd u i Yth 3rd (( i 8th 4th u tV 9th 5th a ■32 10th Farther crosses diminish it in a still more striking degree. I now come to the Marquis of Newcastle's last piece of ad- vice to breeders ; and after briefly showing, by the example of a few illustrious horses to which, more or less directly, our best American blood traces, how implicitly liis advice has been fol- lowed, I shall conclude my history of the English horse, with the pedigree of the far-famed Eclipse ; and those of three or four others, notable as the sources of the best American blood. " If you would have mares to breed running horses of, then they must be shaped thus ; as light as possible, large and long, but well shaped, a short back but long sides, and a little long- legged ; their breast as narrow as may be, for so they will gallop the lighter and nimbler, and run the faster, for the lighter and thinner your breed for galloping the better. Your stallion by any means must be a Barb, and somewhat of the shape that I have described the mares to be of. For a Barb, that is a jade, will get a better running horse than the best running horse in England ; as Sir John Fenwick told me, who had more expe- rience in running horses, then any man in all England. For he had more rare running horses than all England beside, and the most part of all the famous running horses in England that ran, one against another, were of his race and breed. OEIENTAL HORSES. 103 " Some commend the Tm-ks very much for a stallion to breed running horses, but they are so scarce and rare, that I can give no judgment of them ; and therefore I advise you to the Barb, which I believe is much the better horse to breed running horses." On this passage I have only to remark, that the observations on the shape of the brood mares are to be taken as comparative, not positive, and that the comparison is instituted not as of thoroughbred with thoroughbred, but as of thoroughbred with the coarse common heavy mare of the day, and it w^ould seem to follow, that the preference of the Marquis for the Barb is fully borne out by the pedigree of Eclipse, in which it will be seen there is but one genuine Arabian, all the other oriental strains being either Barb or Turk, of one of which stocks, it is w^ell ascertained that all the royal mares of Charles II. are derived.* * The following list comprises some of the earliest recorded importations of Oriental stallions into England, with notices of their stock as far as known. Markham's Arabian, Temp. James I. Failed as a racer. His stock, if any, unknown. Plaice's White Turk, ^ The Morocco Barb, V Temp. Commonwealth. The Helmsley Turk, ) To one or other of these many of the best horses in England and America directly trace. To the last. Eclipse and Highflyer, in the female line. The Damascus Arabian. j Three Turks, from Hamburgh, 1684, V Temp. Charles II. The royal. Barb or Turkish, mares. ) To the latter, with scarcely an exception, every celebrated hoi-se in England or America, in some sort traces a portion of his blood. Evelyn, in his Memoirs, vol. I., p. 577, thus describes the Turkish horses from Hamburgh : — " Early this morning I went into St. James's Park to see these Turkish or Asian horses, newly brought over, and now first showed to his majesty. There were four, but one died at sea, being three weeks coming from Hamborowe. They were taken from a Bashaw, at the siege of Vienna, at the late famous raising that leaguer. I never beheld so delicate a creature as one of them, of somewhat a bright bay, two white feet, a blaze ; such a head, eyes, ears, neck, breast, belly, haunches, legs, pas- terns, and feet, in all regards beautiful and proportioned to admiration ; spirited, proud, nimble, making halt, turning with that swiftness, and in so small a compass as was admirable. * * * They trotted like does, as if they did not feel the ground ; 500 guineas was demanded for the first ; 300 for the second, and 200 for the third, which was brown. All of them were choicely shaped, but the two last not altogether so perfect as the first." 104 THE IIOESE. " Cecil " speaks, in conclusion, thus, and with no passage can I It is not, I believe, known what became of these horses, or what stock they produced. The Byerly Turk, ) Lister's or' the StraddHng Turk, \ Te"^?- ^'^^'^^ H- Both these horses produced good stock. The latter "Brisk," "Snake," and other celebrated stallions. The Darley Arabian, j Curwen's Barb, V Temp. Queen Anne. Lord Carlisle's Turk, ) Tlie former, sire of Flying Childers, and the most famous progenitor, on the whole, ever imported — the latter sire of the Bald Galloway, and other famoua horses. The Godolphin Arabian, Temp. George II. sire of Blank, Regulus, &c., &c., and the last Oriental horse, from which the British turf has derived permanent or positive advantage. The Winter Arabian did Httle or nothing for the improvement of our blood, and the Wellesley Arabian — which ia said, however, to have been neither perfect Arabian nor perfect Barb — got but one offspring, fair Ellen, of even ordinary pretensions on the turf Sampson and Bay Malton, though the best horses of their day, had both a strain of base blood. I have yet to learn that any of the Eastern horses sent to this country — three to Gen. Jackson, in 1833 or 1834, by the Dey of Algiers, several by the Sultan of Mus- cat in 1839, one imported, I believe from Tripoli, by the late Commodore Elliott, and others — have done any thing to maintain their repute as stock-getters. I myself owned a large chestnut stalHon, above 16 hands in height, by one of the former, Zilcaadi, out of a Sweetbriar mare, which had a fair turn of speed, though not such as to justify training him. He had power, and was a fine fencer, so that I had designed training him for the Montreal hurdle races in 1838, when he was in- curably lamed by the carelessness of a groom. He was sold and sent to the Havana, as a stallion, but what became of him, or what he did, I know not. This is the only Eastern bred horse I have ever known in the United States. The following list shows the number of all the foreign and all the most celebrated native stallions, descended, more or less remotely, from Arabian or African strains, which were covering in England in 1730, from which date the use of Oriental stock began to decline, as it has continued to do gradually until the present day, when it seems to be the fact that the English thorough blood is no longer susceptible of im- provement by a farther infusion of Oriental blood. FOEEIGN STALLIONS, IN 17.30. The Alcock Arabian, The Godolphin Arabian, The Bloody Buttocks Arabian, Hall's Arabian, The Bloody Shouldered Arabian, Johnson's Turk, The Belgrade Turk, Litton's Arabian, The Bethel Arabian, Matthew's Persian, Lord Burlington's Barb, Nottingham's Arabian, Croft's Egyptian horse, Newton's Arabian, The Cypress Arabian, Pigott's Turk, BUSTLER. 105 more fittingly close mj history of the blood of the present Eng- lish race-horse, except it be by the pedigree of its noblest son" " Tlie Eoyal mares ! " says he, " from one of which in the maternal line the genealogy of Eclipse is traced. The pedigree of his sire, Marske, is somewhat obscure ; it goes back through eight generations to a daughter of Bustler, but how her dam was bred there is no authority to decide. It may be conjec- tured that she was descended from some of the worthies which distinguished themselves on the course in the reign of James I. There are several examples of a similar nature traceable in the stud-book, which lead to the conclusion that during the early periods of breeding for the turf, mares used for ordinary pur- poses were occasionally selected in case they evinced speed and stoutness, without reference to their oriental pedigrees. ''The pedigree of Highflyer affords a similar instance to that of Eclipse, and singular to relate, runs precisely into the same strain of blood. On his dam's side he can be traced to a royal mare, but in the paternal line his genealogy terminates in a mare, which produced a filly from Bustler, Mdiich horse was a son of the Helmsley Turk. " Although there are scarcely any horses on the turf at the The Duke of Devonshire's Arabian, Strickland's Arabian, Greyhound, a Barb, Wynn's Arabian. Hampton Court grey Barb, Dodsworth, a Barb. NATIVE STALLIONS, IN 1730. Aleppo, Doctor, Jigg, Almanzor, Dunkirk, Lamprey, Astridge BaU, Easby Snake, Leedes, Bald Galloway, Fox, Marricle, Bartlett's Childers, Foxcub, Oysterfoot, Basto, Graeme's Champior Partner, Bay Bolton, Grey Childers, Royal, Blacklegs, Grey Crofts, Shuffler, Bolton Starling, Hampton Court Childers, Skipjack, Bolton Sweepstakes, Harlequin, Sraales's Childers, Cartouch, Hartley's Blind Horse, Sorehecls, Chaunter, Hip, Squirrel, Childers, HobgobUn, Tifter, Cinnamon, Hutton's Blacklegs Trueblue, Coneyskins, Hutton's Hunter, Woodcock, Councillor, Jewtrump, Wyndham. Crab, 106 THE HORSE. present day which are not in some degree descended from the royal mares, it apj^ears too much to assert that they all owe their origin entirely to Eastern blood. " The casuist may, therefore, with consistency inquire, "What is a thoroughbred horse ? The term is accepted conventionally to signify a horse whose pedigree can be traced through many generations, the members of which have signalized themselves on tlie turf, or have established their reputation as progenitors of superior horses." This is undoubtedly the true and practical reply, and such the pedigree of Eclipse will prove it in plain truth to be.* " The pedigree of Eclii^se will likewise afford us another curious illustration of the uncertainty which attends thorough- bred horses. Marske was sold at the sale of the Duke of Cum- berland's stud for a mere trifle, and was suffered to run almost wild in the New Forest. He was afterwards purchased by the Earl of Abingdon, for one thousand guineas, and before his death, covered for one hundred guineas. Squirt, when the property of Sir Harry Ilarpur, was ordered to be shot, and, while he was actually leading to the dog kennel, he was spared at the intercession of one of Sir Harry's grooms ; and neither Bartlett's Childers, nor Snake, was ever trained. On the side * In 1732 was foaled Squirt, who as the sire of Mr. Pratt's old mare, Marske and Syphon — the former sire of Eclipse, Shark, and an almost infinite number of racers — certainly merits a peculiar commemoration. Squirt was bred by a Mr. Metcalfe, near Beverly in the county of New York, and was by Bartlett's, own brother to Flying Childer-. His dam, known by the name of " Metcalfe's Old Mare," was bred by Mr. Robinson of Easby, near Rich- mond. She was by Snake, and descended from the cross of the D'Arcy Turk with the royal or Barbary mares. Squirt was a fair good racer, but, fiiUing into the hands of Sir Harry Harpur, he was held in so little repute, that once, when by uo means an old horse, he was sent to the kennel to be shot. He was reprieved at the earnest solicitation of Sir Harry's groom, and subsequently became sire of Marske, Syphon, and Pratt's old mare. What a void in the annals of the turf would that bullet have produced ! Eclipse and all his descendants. Shark, and the numerous tribe of other horses that sprang from Marske — Tandem, Sweetbriar and Sweet- wilHam, sons of Syphon ; Rockingham, Walnut, Gohanna, &c., descended from the old mare, would have had no existence. From this date the breed of the English race-horse may be held to have been fully established, and thenceforth has transmitted its progeny to be victorious in every country, over every native horse, to which it has been imported, or against which it has been pitted. PEDIGREE OF ECLIPSE. 107 of the dam, Spiletta never started but once and was beaten, and the Godolphin was purchased from a water-cart in Paris." — Smith on Breeding. The pedigree of Eclipse, wliich follows, is worthy of remark, as showing a singular example of in-breeding. The great-grandsire of Eclipse in the male line is Bartlett's Childers, who traces from his dam, in the male line, to Spanker, and in the female to Spanker and his own dam ! Doubly in- cestuous ! The grandmother, in the male line, of his sire, Marske, traces on both sides to Hautboy ; and in the female, once to the same horse. And there are, in his ancestry in the female line, three more crosses of the same animal. The other English pedigrees, which are either taken entire from the best English authorities, or made up originally with great care from the stud books, are those of the horses to which the best American blood directly traces, in the families, which will be hereafter indicated. HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN HORSE. At a very remote period in the history of America, this most vahiable of all the animals subject to man, began to be imported from Europe by the earliest settlers, it being conceded that, al- though the horse had at some former time existed on this con- tinent, as is proved by his fossil remains, he had become extinct previous to its colonization by the white nations. It is generally believed that the horses, which are found in a feral state over the pampas of South and the prairies of North America, so far east as to the Mississippi, are the progeny of the parents released by the Spaniards at the abandonment of Buenos Ayres ; but it seems to me that this date is too recent to be compatible with the vast numerical increase, and the great hordes of these animals now existing in a state of nature ; and I should be inclined to ascribe their origin to animals es- caped, or voluntarily liberated, in the earlier expeditions and wars of the Spanish invaders, the cavalry of that nation con- sisting entirely of j^erfect horses, or mares. It must have been the case, in the bloody wars of Mexico and Peru, where the battles more than once went disastrously for the Spaniards, that war-horses, their riders being slain, would recover their freedom, and jDropagate their sj)ecies rapidly, in the wide, luxuriant and well-watered plains, where the abundance of food, the genial climate, and the absence of beasts of prey capable of coping with so powerful an animal as the horse, would favor their rapid increase. We know that De Soto had a heavy force of cavalry in that FIRST IMPORTATIONS. 109 expedition, in wliicli he discovered tlie Mississippi and found a grave in its waters ; and, when the warriors of his party re- turned home by water in barques, which they built on the banks of tlie great river, it is nearly certain that they must have abandoned their chargers ; as it is little probable that the frail vessels, built by inexperienced hands merely for the purpose of escaping with life, should have been capable of containing the horses of tlie fugitives. The first horses imported to America for the purpose of cre- ating a stock, were brought by Columbus in 1493, in his second voyage to the islands. The first landed in the United States were introduced into Florida in 1527, by Cabeca de Yaca, forty- two in number, but these all perished or were killed. The next importation was that of De Soto, alluded to above, of which many doubtless survived, and to which I attribute the origin of the wild horses of Texas and the prairies, strongly marked to this day by the characteristics of Spanish blood. In 1601, M. L'Escarbot, a French lawyer, brought horses with other domestic animals, into Acadia, and, in 1608, the French, extending their colonization into Canada, introduced horses into that country, where the present race, though it has somewhat degenerated in size, owing probably to the inclemency of the climate, still shows the blood, sufficiently distinct, of the ITorman and Breton breeds. In 1609, the English ships, landing at Jamestown, brought, beside swine, sheep and cattle, six mares and a horse, and in 1657 the importance of increasing the stock of this valuable animal was so largely recognized, that an act was passed prohibiting its exportation from the province. In 1629, horses and mares were brought into the plantations of Massachusetts Bay by Francis Higginson, formerly of Leices- tershire, from which county many of the animals were imported. New York received its first horses in 1625, imported from Hol- land by the Dutch "VYest India Company, probably of the Flanders breed, of which, however, few traces seem to exist, unless it be in the Conestoga horse of Pennsylvania, which, I think, shows some affinity to that breed, either directly or through the English dray-horse, which is understood to be originally of Flemish origin. 110 THE HORSE. In 1T50, the French of Illinois possessed considerable num- bers of French horses, and, since that time, as the science of agriculture has improved and advanced, pure animals of many- distinct breeds have been constantly imported into this country, which have created in different sections and districts distinct families easily recognized ; as the horses of Massachusetts and Vermont, admirable for their qualities as draft horses, both powerful and active, and capable of quick as well as heavy- work — the Conestogas, excellent for ponderous slow efforts in teaming and the like — and the active wiry horses of the West, well adapted for riding, and affording mounts to most of the American cavalry. Although, however, these horses are readily known — apart, and recognized by the eye of a judge, it is not always easy or possible to assign the origin of each breed, or to trace out the foreign family from which it is derived ; as, until recently, a lamentable carelessness has existed as to preserving the i^edigrees of animals, which has produced irretrievable con- fusion — while now, since the value of blood and hereditary qualities is every where admitted, a much worse evil is begin- ning to show itself, in the manufacture of spurious pedigrees, which is becoming unfortunately too common, and, owing to the want of properly kept and authenticated stud-books, is nearly impossible of detection. It would appear that there is a growing necessity for the enactment of some highly penal statutes, in all the several States, for the rej)ression of this offence, which is not only a most infamous sj)ecies of swindling, but, in fact, an absolute act of forgery. The unlucky absence of properly kept stud-books has also rendered it impossible to prove the blood directly of many of our most celebrated race-horses and stallions, the dams of which have not been duly recorded. It cannot be said, however, that their lineage is doubtful, though it may be unknown ; as their own qualities of speed, stoutness, and their ability to stay a distance, go far to show their claims to pure blood, while their power of transmitting it to their progeny proves it beyond a peradventure. For, although some horses, not perfectly thoroughbred, have run well themselves, both for speed and endurance, none such have been the sires and grandsires of dis- tinguished winners. The power, therefore of transmitting high VAKIOUS RACES. HI qualities by hereditary descent, may be held to prove the pos- session of pure blood in the sire. The pedigree of American Eclipse cannot be absolutely proved — that is to say, there is a doubt in his pedigree, but no proof of a stain in his blood — yet no one in his senses, looking to his own performances and the performances of his get, can doubt his being as thoroughbred as his English namesake, to whom he is supposed to have been connected on the mother's side. It is evident then, in the first place, that the original stock of the unimproved American horse is the result of a mixture of breeds, the French, the Spanish, the Flemish, and the Eng- lish horses having all sent their representatives to some portion or other of the United States and British Provinces, and proba- bly still prevailing to a considerable degree in some locations, though nowhere wholly unmixed, while, in others, they have been so thoroughly mixed and amalgamated, that their identity is no longer discoverable. In 'New York, it appears that the early importations of thorough blood, and the constant support of horse-racing, have so changed the original Dutch or Flemish stock, that the char- acteristic of her horses is that of the English race, with a strong cross of good blood. In Massachusetts, Yermont, and the Eastern States generally, the Cleveland Bay, and a cross be- tween that and the English dray-horse blood, with some small admixture of a thorough strain, j)i"edominates. In Pennsyl- vania, the most distinct breed appears to be of Flemish and English dray-horse origin. In Maryland, Yirginia, and South Carolina, English thorough blood prevails to a great extent ; so much so as to render the inferior classes of working horses weed}^ and undersized. In Louisiana, and many of the Western States, French and Spanish blood is prevalent in part, though with a mixture of an English strain. But, generally, it may be assumed that, with the exception of the thoroughbreds, there is scarcely any breed in any part of America entirely pure and unmixed, and that there are very few animals any where which have not some mixture, greater or less, of the hot blood of the desert, transmitted through the English race-horse. In fact, with the exception of ihe Conestoga horse, there is in the United States no purely bred draft or cart-horse, nor any 112 THE UORSE. breed which is kept entirely for field or road labor, without a view to being used at times for quicker work, and for purposes of pleasure or travel. The same horse which ploughs or har- rows to-day, is harnessed to-morrow to the sulky or the Jersey wagon, or the old-fashioned New England chaise, or is used under saddle, and expected to make tolerable time by the owner. Nor, although Cleveland Bays, and Suffolk punches of the improved breed have been imported into Massachusetts, and left their mark on the horses of the Eastern States, are any horses bred there without the ambition to produce something beyond a mere cart-horse, aspiring to draw a heavy load at a foot's-pace ; the use of oxen, which is almost entirely aban- doned in England, supplying the place in the United States of mere weight-haulers ; so that every horse, for the most part, bred in America is, or is intended to be, in some sense, a road- ster ; and it is but fair to say that for docility, temper, soundness of constitution, endurance of fatigue, hardiness, surefooteduess, and speed, the American roadster is not to be excelled, if equalled, by any horse in the known world not purely thorough- bred. Of roadsters, two or three families have obtained, in different localities, decided and probably merited reputations for different peculiar qualities ; such as the Narragansett Pacers, the families known as the Morgan and Black Hawk, the Canadians, and genei-ally what may be called trotters. No one of thege, however, it may be asserted, M-itli the single exception of the Narragansetts, appears to have any real claim to be held a distinctive family, or to be regarded as capa- ble of transmitting its qualities in line of hereditary descent, by breeding within itself, without farther crosses with higher and hotter blood. Of the Narragansetts it is extremely difficult to speak ; for there is reason to believe that as a distinct variety, with natural powers of pacing, they are extinct ; and their oi'igin is, in some sort, mythical and uncertain. The other families, it is clear, owe their merits to a remote strain of thoroughblood, perhaps amounting to one-fourth, or one-third part, some three or four generations back. Now, by all rules of breeding, based on experience and IN-BREEDING. 113" reduced to certainty, siich families cannot continue without degeneration, unless tliej are farther crossed with pure blood. If mares of any family, unmixed, be stinted to unmixed stallions of the same family, generation after generation, the result is as certain as it is that the earth revolves on its. axis. The good blood will die out, and the progeny, sooner or later, become degenerate, weak, and worthless. Again, to breed stallions of such a family to mares of better blood must, necessarily, fail ; for though it has often been attempted to produce improved bone and power, by putting blood mares to bony underbred stallions, it has never succeeded, and it is now universally known and conceded that, in order to improve the races, the sire must be the superior animal. Indeed, it is argued, with much probability, that a mare once crossed with a sire of different blood, not only produces, but 'becomes herself, a cross ; and is incapable of ever again producing her own strain. Thus a thorough mare, once stinted to a cold- blooded horse, could never again bear the pure colt, even to a pure sire ; while a cold-blooded mare, having once foaled to a thorough horse, would always be improved as a breeder by the change produced in her own constitution. This is a mysterious and difhcult subject, and it is probable that the question is not fully sounded ; I am satisfied, however, that there is much in it, and I shall enter more largely into the matter when I come to treat especially of breeding ; as I shall into the qualities alleged to belong to these families, when I come to deal with them dis- tinctively as such. At present, I only wish to record it as my opinion, that the supposed superiority of any of these breeds is only attributable to their possessing a larger share than ordinary horses of pure blood, and that this superiority cannot last without farther admixture. Therefore, while I should expect no possible advantage from breeding a Morgan, or Messenger, one-third part bred mare, to a similarl}' bred stallion, I should look forward confidently to a vastly superior progeny by putting her to a powerful sire of pure blood. Again, by putting an entirely cold-blooded mare, say of l^'orman, Cleveland Bay, or Flemish blood, to a Morgan or Vol. I.— 8 114 THE HORSE. Messenger, third-part horse, I should expect to get an animal improved above the dam, but not so much improved as I should, had she been put to a properly selected animal of undis- puted blood. In a word, unless I were intending to breed dray-horses, cart-horses, or punches, I would never put a mare to a halt-bred sire at all ; and even of these, excej^ting the dray-horse — which in reality is an animal for ostentation and show, sanctioned by usage among brewers and distillers in England, not for utility — I am satisfied, that they would be bettered by a cross of blood. The original Canadians were, I have no doubt, of pure Nor- man and Breton descent ; but, since the Canadas have been under British rule, they, too, have been mixed and improved largely by the introduction of a pure strain ; so that the animals, which in late years pass here under the name of Canadians, such as Moscow, Lady Moscow, and many others of name, are Canadians only by title, and differ only from other American roadsters in the fact, that they have, it is probable, for the most part only two crosses, of tlie Norman and pure English blood, while the ordinary road-horse of the United States is perhaps a combination of several English distinct families, with French, Spanish and Flemish crosses, beside a strain of thorough blood. Of trptters it is now certain that there is no distinctive breed, or family, or mode of breeding. The power, the style, the ac- tion, the mode of going are the things ; and it is most probable that the speed and tlie endurance both of weight and distance depend, more or less, on the greater or inferior degree of blood in the animal. There is no doubt whatever in my own mind, that allowing such men as Hiram Woodruff, George' Spicer, and others of the same kidney, to select such horses as they should pick for shape, bone, action, movement and blood, out of tlie best hunting sta- bles in England, and to train and drive them themselves, after their own fashion, they would find an equal, or even larger, pro- portion of animals — owing to their superiority in blood — capa- ble of making as good time as has been made here. It is to the fact that no favor has been ever attached to trotting, either as a national sport, or as an amusement of the wealthier classes — to the fact that all the best and most promising animals, which TROTTING HORSES. 115 would in tliis country be used on the road or the trottiug-course, are there employed in the hunting field — to the fact; that trot- ting rules, trotting-training, and trotting-riding, or driving, are all, in England, imperfect, injudicious and inferior ; and lastly to the fact, that the animals used as trotters, themselves of in- ferior quality, are almost entirely in the hands of persons of in- ferior means and equal character, that must be ascribed the in- feriority of the English trotter ; no such distinction being dis- coverable against the English hunter, carriage-horse, cavalry horse, riding-hack, or race-liorse. And it is to the great popularity of trotting in this country, to the great excellence of tlie trotting-trainers, drivers and ri- ders, arising from that popularity, and to the employment of all the very best half and three-quarter-part bred horses in the land for trotting purposes — ^none being diverted from that use for the hunting field, or park-riding — that we must ascribe the wonder- ful superiority of the American roadster. It may be added, that this view of the subject is confirmed by the fact, that in the Southern and South-western States, where the persons of wealth and horse-owners are, for the most part, agriculturists and rural proprietors, rather than dwellers in cities, many of them owners of race-horses, and most of them more or less addicted to fox-hunting or deer hunting, trotting has never taken root to any thing like the extent it has to the North and Eastward ; and that, on the contrary, where trotting pre- vails, it is as diflicult to procure a handsome, well-broken and well-bitted galloper, with stylish action, a good turn of speed, and able to stay a distance under a weight, as it is easy to find an undeniable trotter, of equal appearance and performance, that shall go his mile low down in the thirties, or his fifteen miles in the hour, on a square trot. The efiect of all this, as I have said, probably not a little the result of the very mixture of breeds, has been to produce in America a general horse for all purposes, omitting only the hunting-field and park, or parade-ground — for which there is no demand — that cannot, I think, be equalled in the world. On my first arrival in this country, when the eye is more awake to distinctions, than after it has become used by years of acquaintance to what it has daily before it, and forgetful of what 116 TOE HORSE. it has ceased to see, I was particularly struck by the fact that the American general horse, as compared with the English horse, Avas interior in height of the forehand, in the loftiness and thinness of the withers, and in the setting on and carriage of the neck and crest, while he was superior in the general devel- opment of liis quarters, in the let down of his hams, and in his height behind, and farther remarkable for his formation, ap- proaching to what is often seen in the Irish horse, and known as the goose-rump. I still think that these are prevailing and characteristic ditferences of the horses in the two countries. Even in the race-horse, purely of English blood, I fancy that I can perceive the same distinction prevailing, the American racer standing very much higher behind, and lower before, than his English congener. My judgment on this point seems to be confirmed by an ex- amination of the portraits given in tlie Spirit of the Times of many celebrated English and American horses, by which it ap- pears that Boston, Wagner, and Shark measured exactly the same at the withers and the highest point of the crouj) ; that Bhick Maria, in a drawing of a little under six and a half inches, measures two-tenths of an inch loioer before than behind, while all the English horses are from one to two-tenths higher before. To what this difference in construction is owing, I do not pretend even to conje^tr.re, nor whether it has or has not any effect; on comparative speed. I believe the difference to be yet more conspicuous in roadsters than in thoroughbreds. It is cer- tain that a breast-plate, a thing commonly in use in England to jn-event the saddle from slipping back, is never seen in America ; and that, in the former country, a horse which would not carry his saddle without a crupper, would l)e considered fatally defi- cient in tbrm, while here it is not unusual, nor, I believe, consid- ered a serious disadvantage. Another point in which the American horse of all conditions diftei's extremely, and here, most advantageously, from the Eu- ropean animal, is his greater snrefootedness and freedom from the dangerous and detestable vice of stumbling. It is only ne- cessary, in order to convince himself that this is a real and not an imaginary difference in favor of our horses, to examine the knees of the hack-horses let for hire, either in the cities or rural FEEEDOM FROM STCr:NrBLING. 117 villages of the United States, as compared with those of similar Englisli localities. In this country a broken knee is one of the rarest blemishes, if not the very rarest, one ever encounters in the horse. Of horses let for hire in England, nnless it be by a few crack livery-keepers in London, in the Univ^ersities, and in one or two other of the most important towns in hunting neigliborhoods, a majority are decidedly broken-kneed. Nor is it at all unusual to meet perilous stumblers, even from gentlemen's stables, and in the case of animals whose appearance would indicate any tiling but liability to so manifest and disqualitying a fault. I have had in my life several heavy falls on the road in England, from my horse coming down with me on a trot, when, from the character of the horse, I should have expected any thing else ; and it is needless to add that the roads in Great Britain, as a general thing, are infinitely better, freer fi-om ruts, stones, or other obstacles, than those of the United States ; while in this country I have never had a horse stumble with me in harness, and but twice under the saddle, one of wliich was easily recov- ered, while the other, which fell outright, was a notorious blun- derer, and, I think the only broken-kneed horse I have met in America. I ascribe the immunity of the horse, on this side of the At- lantic, tVom this tault, first, to the fact that both the pisturc- lands and the roads are far roughei-, more broken in surface, and more interrupted by stumps, stones and other obstacles, hei-e, than in the longer cultivated and more finished countries of Europe ; which teaches young hoi-ses to bend their knees, and throw their legs more freely while playing with their dams in the field, and also to lift and set down their feet with far greater circumspection, even on our great thoroughfares, many of which are scarcely superior to a French cross-road, and few of which are equal to an English one, especially in the autumn or in the spring, when the frost is coming out of the ground. Secondly, I think it may be attributed to the higher blood and breed of the gentlemen's riding horses in England, which are often cantering thoroughbreds, or at worst four or five-part-bred hacks, and from their blood liable to be daisy-cutters and un- safe goers on the road ; and lastly, to the well-known circum- stance that most of the hired horses, posters, and casual road- 118 THE HORSE. sters are worn out, or broken down, or otherwise disqualified animals of higlier caste, which, because they have once held a better, are still supposed equal to a secondary situation, when they are in truth fit for none, and are dangerous in any posi- tion. To this admirable quality of the American horse, which, from what cause soever it arises, cannot be doubted or disputed, must be added his extreme good temper and docility, in which he unquestionably excels any other horse in the world. I can give no reason for this want of vice ; but there it is — a fixed and established fact. From the first childhood of the animal, until he is fully put to work, he requires little or no breaking, and for the most part receives none — ^unless he shows qualities, which promise such speed or endurance as to render it advisable to break, or rather to train, him as a trotter. And when this is done, it is for the purpose of developing his powers, getting him to exert himself to the utmost, and teaching him how to move to the best advantage ; and not to render him submissive, easy of management, or gentle to be handled. Such a thing as a professional horse-breaker is unknown ; colts are rarely, if ever, put upon the breaking bits, lounged or subjected to any of the processes of handling, without which the young horse of Europe is, in nine cases out of ten, particu- larly if he have any pure blood in his veins, a wild, headstrong, ungovernable, and almost indomitable savage. There is scarcely ever any difficulty in saddling, in har- nessing, in backing, or in inducing him to go. He may be awk- ward at first, uncouth, shy and timid, but one may say never violent, splenetic, and fierce ; never making those wild bounds and plunges by which he strives resolutely to divest himself of his trappings, and to get rid of his rider, as one almost in- variably sees a young animal do in Europe, while in the break- er's hands. It is true that they are treated for the most part with supe- rior judgment and greater humanity in the United States, un- less in very exceptional instances ; that the whip is little used, and the spur almost unknown ; but the whole of this remarka- ble diflPerence in temper, on the part of the American horse, cannot be attributed to the diflPerence of treatment, for it cer- HIGPI GUOOMING. 119 tainly would not be safe, much less wise or easy, to mount an English liiglilj-bred colt without having the means of compel- ling obedience in case of resistance, and insuring the victory to the horseman, in case of what is constantly occurring, a long and obstinate encounter of wits and trial of powers between the intellectual man and the intelligent brute. As he begins, morever, so he continues to the end. One rarely, if ever, meets a kicker, a runaway, an inveterate shyer or balker, and hardly ever a furious, biting, striking, screaming devil, whom he cannot approach but at the risk of limb or life, in an American horse of any class or condition. Probably, this fact may be in some respect attributed to the less high strain of blood in the American roadster ; and still more to the hardier and less stimulating mode of treatment to which he is subjected. The American trotter of the highest grade being a very out-of-door plant indeed, as compared to an English hunter or park hack, which is invariably in the most pampered and blooming condition, generally above his work, and excited, by the high and constant grooming, rubbing and currying, which is going on in first-class English stables, to great irritability both of skin and temper. No one who has seen hunters groomed in England, or race- horses in this country, ^^ich are, one may say as a rule, the only horses subjected to this extreme dressing, can doubt, when he hears the animals squealing and snorting, and sees them bit- ing or lashing out at every tiling they see, that the animal is rendered in the highest degree sensitive, and has his nervous temperament excited and stimulated very far by this treatment, while his spirits, his health, his courage, and his beauty are promoted by it, in at least an equal degree. Certainly I have never seen horses in America, unless they were either race- horses or trotters in match condition, either groomed, or show- ing the grooming in the bloom and perfection of their coats, which is expected of the horsekeej)er in every English gentle- man's stable. I do not say that it is desirable, or that the American mode should be altered ; I only assert that it is so. For the English hunter, or steeplechaser, whose work is closely analogous to that of an American four-mile-heater, nearly the same condi- 120 THE HORSE. tion, and the blooming coat are doubtless necessary. Produced as tliey must be by hot stabling, thick clothing, and extremely high and pampered feeding, I do not believe that such treat- ment would be beneficial to American roadsters, but the reverse. And, apart from the parade and show — which, as they are a principal part of the object for which the European gentleman keeps his carriage horses and park hacks, cannot be sacrificed — 1 do not believe that it is advantageous to the hardihood, healtli, or endurance of weather, of such animals in Eng- land. I remember, it struck me with great wonder, some five and twenty years ago, when every young gentleman, in Kew York, kept his fast trotter, or fast team, to see those animals driven at a rate I had never before heard of, some eight or ten miles, till they were in a lather of sweat, and then left to stand in the open air with tlie thermometer not mnch above zero, for two or three hours, with only a single blanket over them, at Cato's door, while their owners were talking "horse," within, round a blazing fire. I at once recognized that no English horse, stabled and groomed as English horses are groomed and stabled, could have been subjected to such treatment, without incurring al- most the certainty of an inflammation of the lungs, and the greatest imaginable risk of being rendered worthless for ever after. It is true, that in England such trials are not required of horses, ownng to the far greater equability of the climate, in which the hottest summer day rarely exceeds 75 to 80 degrees, or the coldest winter day falls lower than 25 to 20 degrees above zero ; so that there is, perhaps, little more difiference be- tween the heat of a warm English stable and the outer air, than tliere is between that of a cold American one and the wdnter atmosphere without. Still I believe that the heating treatment, in some degree, unnerves horses, deprives them of the power of enduring long protracted exertion, privation, hardship, and the inclemency of weather. And I farther believe that tlie pampering, high feeding, excessive grooming, and general maintenance of horses iu an unnatural and excited state of health and spirits, has an DOCILITY OF THE AMERICAN RACERS. 121 injurious effect on the general temper of the animal ; though not, perhaps, so greatly as to account for all the difference al- luded to above. If it have any injurioiis effect in provoking the animal to resistance, rebellion, or caprice, the rest soon follows ; for the rebellion or caprice of the animal constantly calls forth the vio- lence, the injustice, and the cruelty of the groom. By these means a casual trick is confirmed into a depraved habit, and a playful, mischievous creature, transformed into a vicious, savage devil. Still, while I attribute some of the extra amount of mis- chief, wantonness and vice ^ in European horses — French and Spanish horses I think even more vicious than the English — to the effects of the system, I also think that, by some stccident of blood, or climate, American horses are the more docile and gentler by nature. I have observed the fact in race-horses, as highly groomed, and as much pampered as any ; I have also observed it among stallions, on exhibition, in the highest bloom, at fairs, animals which no man in his senses in Europe would think of approaching, under the like circumstances. And I must say, in conclusion, that I consider the general horse of America superior, not in blood or in beauty, but decid- edly in hardihood to do and to endure, in powers of travel, in speed, in docility and in good temper, to any other race of general horses in the known world. HISTOEY OF THE AMERICAN BLOOD-HORSE. Unlike the liiiman race of tlie United States, unlike the ordi- naiy working horse, unlike the cattle and most of the domestic animals of JSTorth America, which cannot be traced or said to belong to any one distinct breed or family, having originated from the mixture, combination, and amalgamation of many- bloods and stocks, derived from many different countries, the bloodhorse of America stands alone, unquestionably of pure English thoroughblood. What that English thoroughblood is, has been already dis- cussed above ; and it is only necessary here to say, that, although it is not possible, in every instance, to trace the great j)rogeni- tors of the English and American Turf, directly on both sides to Desert blood, and although it can scarce be doubted that, in the very commencement of Turf-breeding, there mnst have been some mJxture of the best old English blood, probably in great part Spanish by descent, with the true Arab or Barb race, the impure admixture is so exceedingly remote, not within fourteen or fifteen generations — since which the smallest taint has been jealously excluded — that the present race-horse of England or North America cannot possess above one sixteen-thousandth part of any other blood than that of the Desert. JSTor is it to be doubted, in the smallest degree, that the modern thoroughbred is as far superior to the present horse of the East, in his qualities and powers, as he is in size, bone, " FAIK NELL." 123 strength, and ability to cany weight. It is to this very supe- riority of our thoroughbred, which is proved * wherever it has * It ■will be remembered, by many of my readers, that some years since the Viceroy of Egypt challenged the English Jockey Club to run a certain number of English horses against the pick of his stables. The bet was declined ; first, because the EngUsh Jockey Club, in their corporate capacity, do not own racers ; and, sec- ondly, because to run a distance race over broken desert ground was considered a greater risk of destroying valuable animals than the circumstances would justify. The match has since been made, on private account, with the usual result, as the following extract shows : — " An interesting race was run recently at Cairo between an English mare and an Arab horse belonging to Aaleen Pacha, when the former beat the latter. The length of the race was eight miles, the time occupied by the mare 18^ minutes, over a rough, gravelly, sandy road. The same race has been offered for the last two years against all England, for 10,000 sovereigns, with the same horse, and not accepted. The Egyptian princes are now convinced that their Arabs can be beaten by English horses. The late Viceroy Abbas Pacha had offered to stake any amount up to 150,000f. on his own horse against any others that might be brought to run." A farther account of this mare has been more recently published, which is sub- joined, showing it to be very doubtful whether the mare, which so easily beat the Arab, was fully bred. " Fair Nell," the Irish mare that beat the Pacha's Arab. — A short time since some sensation was created by a paragraph which went the rounds of the press, stating that an English mare, in a race of eight miles, had beaten the best Arab in Egypt by a full mile, doing the distance in 18^ minutes, and pulUng up fresh. On inquiry, it was found that the Arab was the property of Aaleen Pacha, a son of Abbas Pacha, who, it will be remembered, about three years ago, challenged the Jockey Club to run any number of Enghsh horses against his Arabs, for any sum not less than ten thousand pounds sterhng. The Jockey Club, which makes rules for racing, and by its stewards fixes the weights of certain matches and handicaps, does not own or run horses in its Club capacity, and dechned to take up the chal- lenge. It was said that Abbas Pacha would not accept a challenge from any private individual ; and the reputation of his stud — which had been collected at an unlimited expense, with the power of despotism — was so high, that the owners of good horses were afraid of risking their reputation in a foreign country over a long course of sand and gravel. However, the other day a party of Cairo merchants made up the match above referred to for about £400, and won it so easily that they now find it impossible to make another. "We learn through private sources that El Hami Pacha, the youngest son of Abbas Pacha, who inherited his stud, not less than 300 in number, still fan- cies that he could find a horse that in a twenty-mile race would beat the European mare ; but, although quite young, he is so indolent that he seldom leaves his harem ; and it is doubtful if he will take the trouble to make the necessary pre- liminaries for a race. About the result there can be no manner of doubt. No Arab in the world can go through a day's racing with our best thoroughbred steeple- chasers and hunters — not even the stock of Disraeli's Star of the Desert, jockeyed by Sidonia. 124 THE HORSE. encountered the oriental horse, that it late cross of Arab blood has, in the smallest degree, improved the European or American racer. It appears to be now an admitted fact that, to improve any blood, the sire must be the superior animal ; and, inasmuch as by care, cultivation, superior food, and better management, our descendant of the Desert blood has been matured into a crea- ture superior to his progenitors, mares of the improved race can gain nothing from being referred to the original stock ; although it remains to be seen, whether by the importation of oriental mares, and breeding them judiciously to modern thoroughbred sires, something might not be effected. The first systematic attempts at improving the blood of the English horse began, as we have seen, in tlie reign of King Fair Nell is supposed to be thoroughbred ; her sire, according to the best infor- mation, was the celebrated Irish horse Freney, to whom she bears a strong resem- blance, both in appearance and temper, but she is not in the stud-book. She is a beautiful light bay, with black legs, standing fifteen hands one inch and a half high, with a game, determined head, very lengthy, with beautiful shoulders, arms, and fore legs, back and hind quarters, with very powerful thighs. She is a delightful mare to sit when going ; her stride is great, strong, and elastic ; and, from her form, she gives the feeling of " plenty before you." She is a hard puller, with a good mouth, graceful, and easy even when plunging most violently. In hunting, she rushed at her fences at a terrible pace, but never made a mistake. As a hack she was most luxurious, but at times it was real work of danger to cross a crowded road with her. In the stable she was perfectly quiet. She was purchased in Ireland by a well known old Irish steeple-chase rider and groom, Andy Rogers, for a gentleman of Bath, who found her too spirited and uncomfortable for a hunter, and sent her to be sold at Hetherington's stables in the Edgeware road. Not finding a purchaser, she was put up at Tattersall's, where she was set down by the crowd as a " raking Irish devil," and found no favor. After being withdrawn, Mr. Edmund Tattersall, the junior partner of the firm, was so struck with her shape and beauty that, against the advice of his friends, he bought her as a park and cover hack. She often carried him sixteen miles within the hour, including stoppages, to meet hounds, he riding twelve stone, seeming to be only cantering all the time ; and back again in the evening, at the same rate, without showing the least fatigue; and was perfectly pleasant so long as ridden alone, and with fine hands. Although more than once offered on loan to racing men, by her owner, who felt sure she must win a long race over deep ground, no one ventured to try her ; a mistake, evidently ; for it turns out that, on her trial in Egypt, before the race, she did five miles in ten minutes and a half. Eventually Mr. Hetherington applied to Mr. Tattersall, to purchase Fair Nell back for the merchants of Cairo. She was in low condition when she was shipped, yet ran and won her race within two months from the time of landing. FIRST IMPORTATIONS. 125 James I., was continued in that of Charles I., and during the Commonwealth; and advanced with renewed spirit on the restoration of the Stuarts, of whom one is hajjpy to record — since there is little else to be recorded in their favor — that they were a horse-loving and sport-encouraging race, and that Eng- land, and through her America, owe to them, in great part, the blood of their matchless steeds. " In the reign of Queen Anne, the last of that house who sat on the royal throne of England, the English thoroughbred horse may be regarded as fully established ; the Darley Arabian, sire of Elying Childers, Curwen's Barb, and Lord Carlisle's Turk, sire of the Bald Galloway, being imported in her reign. Sixteen years after her death, and three years before the foun- dation of Georgia, the youngest of the royal colonies, twenty- one foreign, and fifty native stallions, some of them the most celebrated horses the world has ever seen, such as Childers, Bartlett's Childers, the Grey Childers, the Bald Galloway, Bay Bolton, Coneyskins, Crab, Fox, Hartley's Blind Horse, Jigg, Soreheels, and Trueblne were covering in the United Kingdoms ; and from some of those are descended almost all our racers of the present day. Six years before this, the first Kacing Calen- dar was pnblished in England, with nearly seven hundred sub- scribers. During this period it was, precisely, that the American, colonies were planted ; and, as might be anticipated, English horses of pure blood were at a very early date introduced ; and in those regions, where the settlement was principally effected by men of birth, attached to the Cavalier party, race-horses were kept and trained, race-courses were established, and a well- authenticated stock of thoroughbred animals, tracing to the most celebrated English sires, many of which were imported in the early part of the eighteenth century, was in existence considerably before the outbreak of the old French war. In the Eastern States, the settlers of which were for the most part attached to the Puritan party, and therefore opposed to all amusements and j^astimes as frivolous at the least and unprofitable, and to horse-racing more especially as profane and positively wicked, very few horses of thorougli blood were im- ported ; racing has never taken any root in them, nor I believe 126 THE HOKSE. lias any stable of racers ever been kept to the eastward of New- York.' Yirginia and Maryland as the head-quarters of tlie Cavaliers — the former State having for a long time refused submission to the Connnonwealth and to stout old Oliver — as the seat of the aristocracy, fashion, and wealth of the Colonies, prior to the Kevolution — took an early and decided lead in this noble pur- suit ; and, while the love of the sport continues to distinguish their descendants, who are by far the most equestrian in their habits of any other citizens of the Kepublic, the result of the liberality of the first settlers is yet visible in the blood of their noble steeds. It is probable that Eacing may have commenced simultane- ously, or nearly so, in the two States above named. It was an attribute of the principal towns of Maryland some years pre- vious to Braddock's defeat in 1753, and it is nearly certain that Spark, owned by Governor Ogle, of that colony, presented to him by Lord Baltimore, who received him as a gift from the Prince of Wales, father to King George III., came hither pre- vious to that event, and was among the first horses of great dis- tinction brought to America, though it cannot be shown, what was the exact date of his importation. It seems also that there is some dispute as to his pedigree. Weatherby's stud-book has S])ark, by Honeycomb Punch out of Wilkes' Old Hautboy mare, and this I presume is the horse in question, as is stated by Patrick Nisbett Edgar, in his Sportsman's Herald, who gives his pedigree as above, signed and sealed by Lord Baltimore. Skinner, in his stud-book, states him to have been got by Aleppo, son of the Darley Arabian, dam by Bartlett's Childers, &c. ; but he states no authority, and I presume is in error ; as I find no grounds for such a pedigr(>e. Edgar states, also, that Wilkes' Old Hautboy mare, dam by Brimmer, was also imported into Virginia by Col. Colville, and afterward known as Miss Col- ville. Old Hautboy was son of the D'Arcy white Turk, out of one of King Charles II.'s barb mares. Honeycomb sire of Punch, by the Dun Barb out of a Babraham mare. Governor Ogle, the owner of Spark, who as a grandson of Hautboy must date back to early in the 18th century, also imported Queen Mab, by Musgrove's grey Arabian ; but the date of her importation MARYLAND AND VIRGINIA. 127 is not known more certainly than that of Spark. Frederic, Prince of Wales, however, who gave him to Lord Baltimore, died himself in 1751, by which one may conjecture his importation to have occurred previously to that date. The circumstances of the gift speak well for the character of the horse, who was pro- bably in a high form as a racer, since royal donors are not wont to make worthless donations. About the year 1750, Colonel Tasker imported into Mary- land the celebrated English mare Selima, a daughter of the Go- dolphin Arabian, one of the most distinguished mares that ever ran in America, and progenitrix through Kockingham, Mark Antony, and many others, of half the best and most fashionable blood in America. In December, 1752, Col, Tasker won a 'sweepstakes with that mare at Gloucester, Yirginia, beating Col. Byrd's renowned horse Tryall — by, imported, Morton's Tra- veller, out of Blazella by Blaze, out of Jenny Cameron by Quiet Cuddy, son of Fox out of Castaway mare — Colonel Taylor's Jenny Cameron, and a mare of Colonel Thornton's, for a sweep- stakes of four miles, for 500 pistoles. After this time, it appears to have been considered part of the duty of a governor of Mary- land to keep a racing stud ; as, succeeding Governor Ogle, the importer of these famous animals, Governors Eidgely, Wright, Lloyd, and Sprigg, were all determined turfmen and supporters of the American racing interest. l^early about the same time, there were imported into Yir- ginia, Kouth's Crab, by old Crab, dam by Counsellor, daughter of Coneyskins, supposed to be in or about 1745. Li 1747, Mon- key, by the Lonsdale Bay Arabian, dam by Curwen's Bay Barb, daughter of the Byerly Turk and a Koyal mare. He was 22 years old when imported, but left good stock. In 1748, Eoger of the Yale, afterwards known as Jolly Eoger, by Roundhead, out of a partner mare. Woodcock, Croft's Bay Barb, Dickey Pierson, out of a Barb mare. Roundhead was by Flying Chil- ders, out of Roxana, dam of Lath and Cade, by the Bald Gallo- way, out of a daughter to the Acaster Turk. Woodcock was by Merlin, out of a daughter of Brimmer. Dickey Pierson by the Dodsworth Barb out of the Burton Barb mare. In about 1764, was imported Fearnought, got by Regulus out of Silvertail by Whitenose, grand-dam by Rattle, great 12S THE HOKSE. grand-diiui by the Darley Arabian, great great grand-dam Old Child mare, by Sir Thomas Gresley's Arabian, great great great grand-dam, Vixen, by Helmsley Turk, out of Dodsworth's dam, a natural Barb. Kegulus was by the Godolphin Barb, dam Grey Kobinson by the Bald Galloway, grand-dam by Snake out of Old Wilkes' Plautboy mare. Eattle was by Sir H. Har- pur's Barb out of a royal mare. AVhitenose was by the Hall Arabian out of dam to Jigg. Thus Fearnought is come of the very liighest and purest blood in England, and has left his mark largely on the blood-horse of Virginia. It is said that, before his time, there was little beyond quarter racing in Virginia, that his progeny were of uncommon figure, and first introduced the size and bottom of the English race-horse into America. This must be taken, however, cum grano salts, as it is evident* from what has been stated in regard to Selima, that four-mile racers were the fashion in Maryland at least fifteen years before that date, and it is only to be understood in the case of second- rate racers, that quarter running was in vogue at this period. These capital horses Avere shortly followed by Morton's Traveller, who was probably got by Partner, a grandson of the Byerly Turk, and grandsire of King Herod, dam by the Bloody Buttocks Arabian ; grand-dam by Greyhound, a Barb ; g. grand dam by Makeless ; g. g. g. dam by Brimmer ; g. g. g. g. dam by the White Turk ; g. g. g. g. g. dam by Dodsworth, a Barb ; g. g. g. g. g. g. dam Layton Barb mare. Makeless was by the Oglethorpe Arab out of Trumpet's dam. She was a pure Barb by Dodsworth out of the Layton Barb mare. Brimmer was by the Yellow Turk out of a royal mare. Tiiese were jn-obably the best early horses that were im- ported into America ; and to these, with the mares Selima, Queen Mab, Jenny Cameron, Kitty Fisher, Miss Colville, and a few others of about the same period, may be traced all, or almost all the families of running horses now existing in the United States, in a greater or less degree, and with nearly as much certainty as the English champions of the olden day may be followed up to imported Arab and Barb on both sides. It is unfortunate, first, that our Eevolutionary War inter- rupted the peaceful progress of the country and the avocations of our country gentlemen, at so early a period in the history of WAXT OF KKGISTKIES. 129 the Ainericau Tuif; since it lias materiallj increased the diffi- cultj of ascertaining liow far records or registries have been l^reserved, or were kept from the first. When men were fio-ht- iug for their hearths, with the halter litej-allj about their necks, and daily expecting their houses to be burned over their heads, they had little time, one may well imagine, to be attending to the pedigrees of thoroughbred horses, or to preserving reo-ular entries. It is to be presumed, moreover, where many heads of families were absent from their estates with the army, or were obliged to expatriate or conceal themselves from the con- sequences of proscription and outlawry, that many irregularities must have occurred from want of due attention to the studs themselves, as well as to the records of them. Many documents must likewise have been destroyed by conflagrations, or other accidents, and lost in the hurry of removals. And, secondly, it is most unfortunate that no regular Turf Eegister was ever set on foot in America until so late as 1829. But, on the whole it may be regarded as remarkable, rather, that so many pedi- grees can be unequivocally followed out than that a few should be obscure and untraceable farther than to an imported mare. In fact, so that the owners were satisfied that the imported mares were undoubted thoroughbreds, out of a well-known and accre- dited English Turf stable, they seemed to have received them almost as undoubtingly, as did our still more remote ancestors those of oriental blood, without much questioning, or going beyond the record. For curiosity and precision, it is to be regretted that a few of our genealogies cannot be traced a little farther and more definitely ; but it must be conceded as a fact, which cannot be questioned or doubted, fully established botli by their own per- formances and by the unfailing transmission of their hereditary qualities, that our American horses are as unequivocally thoroughbred, as are any of those English champions, whose blood no one ever dreams of disputing, which go back, like that of Eclipse himself, through Bustler or Kockwood, or ,inany others of equal renown, to an nnhnown dam or sire. It will be observed, and it is not a little remarkable, how very many of the earliest Virginia and Maryland importation run through Partner, on the one hand, to Spanker and Span- VoL. I.— 9 130 Till'; iioiwK. ker'(< dam, the White and Yellow D'Arcy Turks, the Selaby Turk, and either the old Vintner or the Layton violet Barb mares ; and, on the other, to the Godolphin Arabian, through Regulus, Babraham, Juniper, Dormouse and others. I say it is remarkable, because— after this blood had for very many years been bred in this country, more or less, in and in — the celel)i-ated horse Sir Archy, son of imported Diomed and im- ported Castianira, running back through his sire, his grandsire Florizel, and his great grandsire Sir Herod into precisely the same strain of Partner blood, and through his grand-dam Tabi- tha, into the same Babraham and Godolphin strain, seems to have i)rodueed by a reinfusicm of the selfsame original elements, a new stock of unequalled excellence, of iron endurance, con- stitution, speed and stoutness, which is hourly winning fresh laurels on our own turf, and is shortly, as it is understood, to compete in the lists of fame, on the very courses whereon their ancestors ran above a century ago, with their far-away kindred of the ocean island. From Virginia and Maryland, the racing spirit extended itself rapidly into the Carol in as, where it has never to this day flagged. The oldest race-courses in this country, which are yet kpet up for purposes of sport, are the Newmarket course, near Petersbui'gh, Virginia, and the Washington course, near Charles- ton, South Carolina ; at Alexandria, D. C, there was a Race- course early in the last centurj', and the courses in the neigh- borhood of Ilichmond have been in existence above seventy years. Xot very long after this date, and previous to the Revo- lutionary War, there were two race-courses on Long Island, in the State of New York, one called Newmarket, near the centre of Suifolk county, and the other near Jamaica in Queens county, at both of which trials of speed were frequently had, but whether there ^^ere meetings at stated intervals and for regular prizes is not known ; it was not until about the commencement of the present century, however, that what may be called race-courses proper* were established in New York ; the first club for the promotion of the breed of horses by means of racing, taking date from 1804, in which year the old Newmarket course was re- modelled, and regular meetings with two and three-mile heats were established. EARLY RACES. 131 Long prior to this time, however, the improvement of the breed of horses had created much interest in that State, and as early as 1764 and 1765 two celebrated horses were imported Wildair, by Cade, and Lath, by Shepherd's Crab— by Col. De- lancy, of King's Bridge, who also imported the Cub mare, dam of Mr. Gibson's Cub mare, killed on the course at Lancaster. Both Wildair and Lath greatly distinguished themselves as sires, the former was esteemed so valuable, that he was re-imported to England. Another horse, Sloven, said to be by Cub, is stated by Skinner and by Edgar, on the faith of a pedigree signed Jacob Adlie, to have been imported also into New York in about 1764 ; he is not, however, to be found in the British stud- book, Weatherby's ; and I am not aware that any of the greater champions of the American turf trace their descent to Sloven. Li ;N'orth and South Carolina racing commenced with spirit, second, if second, only to the date of its commencement in Vir- ginia and Maryland. Flimnap, Sweeper and Toby, all horses held in high estimation at the time, were imported between the years 1760 and 1770 ; the former a grandson on both sides of the Godolphin Arabian, and both the others tracing to the same great progenitor, and to other ancestors scarcely of inferior note ; the last named was imported by Col. Alston, of racing celebrity in North Carolina. Into Pennsylvania, which State lias never shone particularly on the racing turf, were brought two horses, Gray Northumber- land, also called L-ish Gray, said to have been bred by Lord Mazarine, and to have been a racer in high form, supposed imported by Mr. Crow, and, about the same time. Old England, pedigree also unknown, but supposed begot by Old England, son of the Godolphin Arabian. To these must be given the credit of running one of the old- est great American time races on record, so long ago as 1767, against two other horses, one of whom, Selim, it is not easy to identify, on account of there aiDpearing to have been three of the same name, covering nearly at the same time. I presume he was the son of the imported horse Selim, by Othello, grand- dam the large Hartley mare, described at page 55 of Edgar's stud-book, as imported in his mother's belly in 1753 ; this date 132 THE HORSE. does not, however, exactly agree with the ages of the horses as recorded below. In Volume I., j^age IT, of the American Turf Kegister, I find the following highly interesting letter ; Marietta, June 26, 1836. " Mr. Editor, " 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 Philadelphia paper. " ' On Tuesday last, the following horses started for the gentlemen's subscription purse of 100 guineas. " ' Samuel Galloway, Esq., bay horse Selim ... 1 1 " ' Mr. Lcary's bay horse Old England . . . .2 dist. • " ' Mr. Samuel's bay horse Granby . . . . 8 dr. " ' Mr. Andrew Orr's gray horse Northumberland . . . dist. " ' Tlie first heat was rnn in 8 min. 2 sec, Selim winning from Old England by a single length. The second, after rnn- ning three times round 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 lbs. full weight. Old England and North- umberland 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 fourteen pounds will make the difi'erence of 480 yards, a space which would consume 22 seconds at the rate of running at Philadel- phia. Deduct this from 8 minutes and 2 seconds and it leaves 7.30, in which this race would have run if the standard had been nine stone, 126 lbs. I have never seen an account of a race where the four miles were run in 7.30 minutes in the United States. "Figure beat Selim in 1768, at Upper Marlborough, but Selim was undoubtedly in bad condition, and had been lately cured of distemper in the throat. He was certainly a capital SELIM AND SKLIMA. l33 racer. I saw him beat the celebrated Silver Legs from Virginia in the year 1772 at Alexandria, fonr miles and repeat. He was then thirteen years old and Silver Legs only nine. " With respect and esteem, " G. Duval." "Without entering here into a consideration of the effects of weight on speed, this is certainly a remarkable performance ; bnt what is, perhaps, more remarkable, is that there is some considerable diflicnlty in making out what this horse Selira can be, unless, perhaps, it be Selim by imported Othello, dam by imported Jolly Eoger, grand-dam by imported Silver Eye, out of an imported thoroughbred mare. The imported horse English Selnn was by another Othello, also called Black and all Black; but as he was not foaled until 1753-4, it is hardly probable that he should have been a foal-getter so early as 1759, unless he was never trained at all. It is not stated of what color was Selim by imported Othello, but the two Selims by English Selim are both described as bright bay horses. In the English stud-book, is a Selim by Bajazet out of Miss Thigh, 1760, but I cannot find that he was ever imported to America, although he is included in the stud- book attached to Mason's Farrier, no authority given. The Granby in question, I presume to have been a bay horse, 15 hands 1 inch in height, foaled in 1762, by the imported Belsize Arabian, dam by old Shock, grand-dam imported mare by Cade, out of the Hartley mare, who covered in Philadelphia, in the year following the race, 1768. If not this horse — who must, if it be he, have run a five-year- old against Selim aged — it must have been Wildman's Granby, by Blank, Old Crab, Cyprus Arab, Commoner, Makeless, Brim- mer, Dickey Pierson, Dodsworth Barb, Burton Barb Mare — who was foaled in 1759, and would have consequently been eight years old in the year of this race. I presume, however, it is the horse first named who ran in 1667, as the English Granby one would have expected to run better, unless he were sadly degenerate from his illustrious ancestry. The imported horse Selim is said, by Edgar, to be out of the beautiful dark chestnut mare imported from England, and called Selim — Selima ? — who brought him to America in her belly, and 134 THE HORSE. foaled him in 1753 ; which mare was by the Godolphin Ara- bian, oi.it of the large Hartley mare, foaled about 1736. There is evidently much confusion and difficulty in all this matter. First, it appears that but one mare named Selima has been imported to America. She, got by the Godolphin Arab, was imported into Maryland by Col. Tasker about 1750, and, as I have al- ready recorded, was a celebrated winner in 1752. Therefore she could not have been imported in 1752, with Selim in her belly ; nor have foaled him in 1753. Again, Col. Tasker's Selima is not described, usually, as out of the large Hartley mare, who was so distinguished a pro- genitrix that such a pedigree would never have been overlooked if it could have been made good ; nor, lastly, does it appear from the English stud-book, which contains no filly Selima of this date, that the large Hartley mare ever bore a chestnnt filly to the Godolphin Arabian ; certainly not in 1736, when she brought Hartley's roan stallion to Hip ; nor any chestnut filly at all in any year ; nor any filly to the Godolphin, except a bay one in 1646. Furthermore, in the stock of the Godolj)hin, re- corded at length in White's History of the British Turf, there is no chestnut filly recorded by him out of any mare, nor any filly out of either of the Hartley mares, except that named above, and Merlin's dam, out of the little Hartley, in 1739. I conclude, therefore, that there is some bad blunder in this pedigree somewhere — the rather, that after stating in the first line that he was a dark bay, foaled in 1753, imported in his mother's bell}^, it states below that he was imported in 1752, the V6jy year in which Selima beat Tryall, and Jenny Cameron, and that he was a capital racer, and died at twenty-seven years of age. It seems to me, taking every thing into consideration, that the odds are that all the four horses in this remarkable race were imported ; though if it be so, it is certainly not a little remarkable that Mr. Duvall, in his letter quoted above, should dwell on the fact that the beaten horses were imported, and make no comment on the winner, and the third best runner. By the account of the race given above, one is led to sup- pose that in this year, 1767, there were regular meetings at Philadelphia ; as the term, " the Gentlemen's Stakes," of one ANTE-REVOLUTION AKY CKACKS. 135 hundred Guineas, with a standard of weights, undouhtedly savors of established proceedings and a well supported race course ; of latter years there has been no course for running horses in the State of Pennsylvania, though the Hunting Park Course has been long famous for its trotting ; and while there have never, I believe, been any distinguished racing stables in that State, its inhabitants have always been ardent supporters of trotting, and purchasers, for the last quarter of a centur}^, of most of the cracks which have established their characters on other courses. To return to the Southern States, therefore, in which, as I have observed, racing first took a firm root among the agricul- tural gentry, who, in whatever climate or country, are always more addicted to manly and exhilarating exercises, to field sports, and to the encouragement of objects not merely utili- tarian, than the dwellers of cities, who are apt to regard money as the only true and legitimate pursuit ; we find that, in the States named above — of Virginia, Maryland, and South Caro- lina — many racing stables were established, either previous or immediately subsequent to the Revolution, not a few of which are kept up by the descendants of the original founders to the present day, with equal spirit and success. In Virginia, Col. Jolm Tayloe, Messrs. Hoomes, Selden, and Johnson ; in Maryland, Governors Ogle, Eidgely, Wright, Lloyd, and Sprigg, who, as it has been remarked, seemed by their practice to acknowledge that the keeping up of a racing stud was a portion of their gubernatorial duty ; and in South Carolina, Messrs. Hampton, Washington, McPherson, Alston, and Singleton, were as early, and have continued to be as con- sistent and undeviating patrons of the American turf, as have the Queensburys, Eutlands, Wyndhams,Bentincks, Fitzwilliams, and other equally renowned turf names, been supporters of this noble sport on the old English greensward. From so early a date as that of the ante-revolutiunary cracks and champions, such as Celer, Traveller, Yorick, Tryall, Ariel, Partnei-, Marc Antony, Eegulus, Flag of Truce, Goode's Brim- mer, Butler's Virginia Nell, Bel Air, Calypso, Gray Diomed, Cincinnatus, Virago, Shark, Black Maria, by Shark, Leviathan, Gallatin, Fairy, Cup-bearer, Collector, Amanda, Ball's Florizel, 13G THE HOliSli. Post Boj, Oscar, Hickory, Maid of the Oaks, Bond's First Con- sul, Sir Archy, Potomac, Pacolet, Duroc, Hampton, Tuckalioe, and others, the names of which alone would fill a volume, we can easily bring down in these States — and the others colonized from them, both with men and horses, sucli as Kentucky, Ten- nessee, and more recently Alabama — one uninterrupted and stainless succession of noble racers, to the day when the de- scendants of Sir Archy, that veritable Godolphin Arabian of the tnrf of America, began to show upon the course ; and when the renown of American Eclipse began to call the attention of the whole world, and of the mother country, most of all, whence was derived that transcendent stock, which in all other coun- tries has degenerated, but in this has continued to rival the honors of its remotest ancestry by the performance of American race-horses. The English sires most renowned in post-revolutionary days, until we come down to the present day of the Leviathans, Sar- pedons, Trustees, Priams, and Glencoes, have been — Ist. Medley — Imported into Virginia in 1783, by Gimcrack, dam Arminda by Snap, out of Miss Cleveland by Eegulus ; g. gr. dam Midge, by a son of Bay Bolton ; g. g. gr. dam, by Bartlett's Childers ; g. g. g. gr. dam, by Honey wood's Arabian ; g. g. g. g. gr. dam, the dam of the two True Blues. Gimcrack was by Cripple, out of Miss Elliott, by Grisewood's Partner, gr. dam Celia by Partner, g. gr. dam by Bloody Buttocks, g. g. gr. dam by Greyhound, g. g. g. gr. dam Brocklesby Betty. Cripple was by the Godolphin Arabian, out of Blossom by Crab, gr. dam by Childers, out of Miss Belvoir, by Grantham. Medley was one of the best sires ever imported into Amer- ica. He got Atalanta, Bel Air, Boxer, Calypso, Gray Diomed, Gray Medley, Lamplighter, the Opossum Filly, Pandora, Quick- silver, Virginia, and others — racers in a high form, and them- selves the getters of racers. 2nd, Shark — Foaled in 1771, and imported into Virginia, l)y Marske, out of the Snap mare, gr. dam Wag's dam, by Marl- borougli, out of a natural Barb mare. Marske, sire of Eclipse, was by Squirt, dam by Foxcub, gr. dam by Coneyskins, g. gr. dam by Hutton's Gray Barb. Squirt was by Bartlett's Childers, dam by Snake, gr. dam DIOMED AND HIS GET. 137 Hautboy. Marlborough was by the Godolphin Arabian, dam large Hartley mare. Shark's most distinguished progeny are ; Americus, Annette, Black ]\Iaria, dam of Lady Lightfoot, Opossum, Shark, Yirago, and many others. 3d. DioMED — Foaled in 1777. Imported into Virginia 1798. He was by Florizel, dam by Spectator, gr. dam by Blank, g. gr. dam by Childers, g, g. gr. dam Miss Belvoir, by Grantham. Florizel was by Herod, dam by Cygnet, gr. dam Cartouch, g. gr. dam Ebony, by Childers, g. g. gr. dam old Ebony Basto mare. Herod was by Tartar, out of Cypron, by Blaze, out of Se- lima, &c., (fee. — See table of Genealogy, No. 2. Diomed is probably the greatest sire of the greatest winner- getters ever brought into this country. Had he got none but Sir Archy, out of imported Castianira — who brought him to America in her belly — that renown alone would have been more than enough ; for scarce a recent horse in England, unless it be PotSo's, has so distinguished himself as a progenitor. He begot ; Bolivar, Diana, Dinwiddie, Duroc, Florizel, Gal- latin, Gracchus, Hamlintoniau, Hampton, Hornet, King Herod, Lady Chesterfield, Madison, Marske, Nettle-top, Peace-maker, Potomac, Primrose, Sir Archy, Top-gallant, Truxton, Yirginius, "Wonder, and many others. Most of the horses named above were the greatest runners of their day, and the getters of the greatest racers and sires to the present time. Boston, probably the very best horse that ever ran on American soil, was by Timoleon, grandson of Sir Archy, the best son of Diomed ; while Fashion, the very, best mare that ever ran on this side the water, by her dam. Bonnets of Blue, daughter of Reality, was great-granddaughter of that same noble stallion ; and by her grandsire Sir Charles, sire of Bonnets and son of Sir Archy, was also his great-granddaughter, a second time, in the mater- nal line. 4th, Gabbeiel — Foaled 1790, imported into Virginia, was got by Dorimant, dam Snap mare, gr. dam by Shepherd's Crab, g. gr. dam Miss Meredith by Cade, g. g. gr. dam Little Hartley mare. Dorimant was by Otho, dam Babraham mare, gr. dam Chiddy, 138 THK HORSK. by Hampton Court Arabian, out of tlie Duke of Somerset's Bald Charlotte. Otho was by Moses, clam Miss Yernon by Cade, gr. dam by Partner, g. gr. dam Bay Bloody Buttocks, g. g. gr. dam by Greyhound, g. g. g. gr. dam by Makeless, g. g. g. g. gr. dam by Brimmer, g. g. g. g. g. gr. dam by Place's White Turk, g. g. g. g. g. g. gr. dam by Dodsworth, g. g. g. g. g. g. g. gi'- dam Layton's violet Barb mare. Moses was by the Cliedworth Foxhnnter, dam by the Port- land Arabian, gr. dam, the dam of the Duke of Bridgewater's Star, she by Eichard's Arabian. Gabriel was brought into Virginia, and became, like the preceding horses, very famous for the splendor of his get and their great performances. He got Oscar, Post Boy, and others. The former of whom, dam by imp. Medley, bred by General Tayloe, is his most cele- brated son. He was a good runner, and his blood tells in many of our best modern stallions and mares, especially in the South- ern States. 5th. Bedford — Foaled in 1792, imported into Virginia. He was got by Dungannon, dam Fairy, by Highflyer, gr. dam Fairy Queen by Young Cade, g. gr. dam Eouth's Black Eyes by Crab, g. g. gr. dam the Warlock Galloway, by the Bald Galloway, g. g. g. gr. dim by the Byerly Turk. Dungannon was by Eclipse out of Asj^asia, by Herod, gr. dam Doris by Blank, g. gr. dam Helen by Spectator, g. g. gr. dam Daphne by the Godolphin Arabian, g. g. g. gr. dam by Fox, g. g. g. g. gr. dam by Childers, g. g. g. g. g. gr. dam by Makeless, g. g. g. g. g. g. gr. dam. Sister to Honeycomb Punch, by the Taffolet Barb. The year of Bedford's importation is not exactly known. He was a great stallion, and there is hardly a family of liorses in the Southern States which do not in some degree, more or less, partake of his blood. He was a singularly formed horse — a rich bay — with a peculiar elevation on his rump, amounting in appearance to an unsiglitliness, if not to an absolute deform- ity. This mark, known as the Bedford Hump, he has transmit- ted to his posterity, and, whatever may have been the original opinion as to its beauty, it has been worn by so many celebrated BEDFORD AND HIS GET. 339 winners, that it has come of late to be regarded as a fore- shadowing of excellence, rather than a deforinitj. It has been worn bj- Eclipse, Black Maria, her brother, Shark, Boston, Ar- gyle, and many other horses of great note. Bedford got ; vEolus, Cup-Bearer, Fairy, Lady Bedford, Lot- tery, Nancy Air, Shylock, and others not inferior in repute. On the first settlement of Tennessee, previous to its admission as a State into the Union, the early settlers began taking with them excellent stock from Yirginia and Maryland, and the blood of Janus, Jolly Eoger, Morton's Traveller, Pacolet, and other worthies of the olden times, still percolates in rich luxuriance through the veins of their noble steeds. It has been always a gallant and a sporting State ; and I feel proud and happy — the rather that the history of the blood stock of Tennessee and of the neighboring State of Kentucky is nearly identical — to be allowed the opportunity of presenting to my readers a most valuable memoir of the blood of its best equine families, con- siderately and kindly compiled for me from his own memoranda of old times, and from personal recollection of events, even before General Jackson and his contemporaries were on the turf, by a veteran turfman and a hereditary breeder, Mr. Wil- liam Williams — to whom I take this occasion of tendering my most grateful and respectful thanks. [^) THE UOR8K. HISTORY OF THE BLOOD-UORSE IN TENNESSEE. Poplar Grove, near Nashville, Tenn. ) March 20th, 1856. ) Sir ; — I had written to General Harding, in answer to his, enclosing your circular ; and in answer to yours to me, refer to my old memoranda, and make some additions. The first settlers brought here soine of their best stock from Virginia and the Carolinas ; and Maclin had, as I am informed, some Mexican mares, of the Spanish or Barb breed. The early stallions, here, of the Janus family, were — Jupitei*, said to be a son, — Cross's ; Comet, Lewis's, son of Harry Hill's Janus, and said to have a Marc Antony and Jolly Roger cross ; Sterne, Blakemore's ; and Bowie's horse, who took his owner's name, pronounced Biu-ey. His colts are said to have been un- equalled as quarter-hoi-ses. Bompard, by Obscurity, imported, dam by Baylor's Fearnought ; Phoenix, by Yenetian, imp. dam Zenobia by Don Carlos, from Maryland. Of the Fearnought family — Eclipse, by Virginia Eclipse, presumed Harris's — B. Bosley ; AVildair, son of Symme's Wildair — "Weakley's, out of a Fearnought ; and Bucephalus of a later j)eriod — Col. E. Ward. Of the Medley family — Fitz Medley, who covered for a season or two, and died in 1803-4 at I. Hooper's. Thus far from such information as I credited. About 1800, Gray Medley was in Sumner, Dr. Barry's — bred by Gov. Williams, North Carolina — reputed high-bred, and was very game in appearance. He lived to old age, and did good service ; Cook's Bel Air, by Tayloe's TKNNKSSEEAK BLOOD-HORSKS. 14,1 Bel Air, dam by Hickman's Independence ; and Halcot's Bay. Of the Celer family — McKinney's Roan, as I am informed, at R. C. Foster's, about 1805 ; and Celer, J. Thompson's, out of a Bel Air and Wildair, 1806. Coeur-de-Lion and Royalist, of the most approved English breeds, were here, and did good service ; the first died, ours, autumn 1809 — the last, spring 1814, Hal. Cook's. He was imported to Kew York, sold to Kentucky, brought here by Weakley & Co., probably sent South a season or two, and brought back by Cook. Truxton, one of imp. Diomed's best, was raised here by Gen. Jackson, then covered many seasons, and sent South, 1808. Wonder — Wilkes' — an- other of Diomed's best, here, alternately in Sumner and Wil- liamson. He got Oscar, a capital racer and very good stallion, and died on the road, of colic, February 1815. Oscar was bred by Parson H. Saunders, out of Rosy Clark, by Saltram ; brought on the turf by Dr. Lappington, beat all competitors wit.li ease, put to covering several seasons, sold to Oen. Desha, and died, Ms, I^ovember 1825. Dungannon in Sumner, and Yolunteer in Rutherford, said to be imported when colts. I can't fix the date. The first got some good stock. Brian O'Linn, 1811-12, at J. Shute's. He was very pretty — got Stump the Dealer. Dragon, of great celebrity in England, at Foster's, 1811-12, and died, as I was informed, of a thigh broken by a kick ; got some good stock. Tup, also at Foster's — whether before or after, I can't say. He was by Javelin, and of good action, but blind, and not much patronized. Collector, a season or two, and tliough old, left some stock, and died of a fall on the ice, winter 1814, He was by Mark Antony out of Ladj^-legs, a most capi- tal racer, and got Snap-Dragon. Boaster, imp., two or three seasons — ^fine coat and good form — and died 1819, 1 think, at J. Harding's. Pacolet — a gray, and very beautiful — got by Citi- zen, imp., out of Epp's mare, dam of Wonder, was brought here to beat Maria — Hayne's. He did not do that, nor would any other horse, brought here, have done it, for she had beaten, with ease, all rivals, and was by Diomed, imp. ; her dam a very high-formed mare by Bel Air. He was then advertised by J. Jackson and T. Childers, and under the immediate supervision of J. W. Clay, after some years, sent South ; where his sons, Brushy-mountain, out of a Wonder, and Cumberland, out of 142 TilK IIORSE. Jackson's Daredevil mare, distinguished themselves. Col. Elliott brought him back to Sumner, where he stood until his death, Oct()l)or, 1825. He got also — Murphy's Pacolet, out of a Coeur- de-Lion, Jerry, and tlie very distinguished Morgiana, out of Black Sophia, by Top-gallant, son of Gallatin, Williamson's Pacolet, Massena, out of a Eagland Diomed, and the brothers, Messiein-s Tonson, Sir Richard, Henry, and Champion, out of the line of Boswell Johnson's mare, Yirginia-bred, and stated by him to be full-bred. Tonson beat ever}' thing here of his day, and afterward beat, at Boydton, the celebrated Sally Walker, against all Col. W. R. Johnson's skill and management. Richard was the most beautiful horse that could be led on a show ground, and a good racer at light weight, and very game, but rather delicate. The two last were colts of form and substance, but not so good or so fortunate as their elder brothers. Pacolet died at Col. Elliott's stables, October, 1825. SuAvarrow, from Kentucky, with, or a little before, Pacolet — pretty and high- bred — and Barksdale's Gray Diomed, in very good form ; Sec- ond Diomed, also fine ; Ragland's Diomed, Constitution and Diomedon, and another Wonder — Hix's — in Williamson, and others of less note. Contemj)orary with these, was Bagdad, sold by the Minister to England from Tripoli to George Bar- clay ; exported to New York, and brought here in 1823, with a certificate, in the French language, asserting his pnre Arabian blood ; died February, 1836, and left some good stock, more remarkable for speed than bottom. Contemporary with him, of the Sir Archy stock, stood, at Sumner's, Gray Archy, Timo- leon, and Pacific ; at Col. Elliott's, ITapoleon ; and at Parson Cryer's, Stockholder and Crnsader ; Rattler in Rutherford; Contention in Williamson ; Sir William and Arab I saw, in Nashville, but have no memoranda to show where they were stationed ; and Carolinian, one season at Nashville, with others of less distinction. Stockholder and Pacific were, I think, the favorites. The first got Betsy Malone, and others I can't name ; the last got Red-doe, Pactolus, &c., for Sumner ; and he got, for Gen. Harding, the very distinguished mare Gamma, in very high form, and her brother, Epsilon, thought to be better ; but meeting with an accident in a private trial, he was put to cover- ing, and is producing good runners. Indeed, in him the beauty THE TONSON FAMILY. 143 of Richard and the strength of Pacitic are combined in an emi- nent degree. The Sir Archy's bring me down to the hiter im- portations, and as Gen. Harding is more conversant with them, I will close with the remark, that Leviathan, imp. by J. Jack- son, has got more first-rate racers than any other horse since Sir Archy ; that Glencoe, not often, but sometimes, when the cross hits, gets a capital racer, especially at long distances, and that Priam, of Merritt & Co.'s importation, was the most superb large horse I ever saw. Citizen, imp. to !N^orth Carolina by Gen Carney, had more accurate proportions and higher finish — a more game Arabian look and carriage, than any native or imported that I ever had the pleasure to look upon. Pacolet had the Arabian air, but wanted something of his sire's finish in the shoulder. Yet his proud and lofty bearing sustained him in competition with the best English horses here of his day— viz ; Boaster, fine ; Eagle, 1821-2, large and grand — and the very best Yirginia-breds. He imparted symmetry, and finish, and game, and fine temper to his stock. Pacific, got also John Dawson, his dam by Gray Archy, gr. dam sister to Brushy Mountain. He was a superb, large horse, and a good runner, and splendid on parade. N. Swiss was one season at Sumner's with Pacific, and O'Kelly was in Il^ashville, about 1835. Most probably there were others, not found in this communication, that have been here or in adjoining counties, that have had some influence. Conqueror, fine and well-bred, here and in Williamson, ought not to be omitted, though I can't fix the time. Bluster, im- ported, here 1826, in "Williamson 1827-8, and died there after the season. Yours, &c., "Will. "Williams. Poplar Grove, near Nashville, Tenn. ) March 25, 1856. J SiE ; — On reading over the above, I observe that what I have said seems to assert the Tonson family were out of Boswell Johnson's Yirginia-bred, when I meant they were traced to her. The pedigree — b. c. Sir John, got by Pacolet, dam b. by Top- gallant, gr. dam ch. ro., or gray, by Gray Medley out of John- son's Yirginia-bred, stated by him to be a full-bred mare. Bos- well, if I mistake not the name, was brother to Chapman 144: THE HORSE. Johnson, and a man of intelligence ana respectability. Elliott used to say the Gray Medley mare was a sort of milk and cider color. Cryer bought either her or the Top filly at Johnson's sale. Foxall, an Englishman, and, I am inclined to think, a Yorkshireman, married Cryer's widow, and brought Sir John Kichard on the turf, with the aid of Elliott and "Williams. "When Sir John became a winner, his name was changed to Monsieur Tonson, and his dam took the name of Madame Ton- son. Top-gallant was a verj' fine horse, bred in Georgia. His pedigree runs — Got by Gallatin, dam by Wildair, Black and all Black. By Wildair we of the South and South-west mean the son of Fearnought out of Kitty Fisher, Col. Symmes' horse, and not the Maryland "Wildair, Sims' horse, son of Delancy's imp. Wildair. By Black and all Black, was probably meant Skip wi til's horse, son of imp. Brunswick. As to Brimmer, my father bought Eclipse, about the close of the Revolution, of Col. Harris, and he stated that Eclipse was the sire of Col. Goode's Brimmer, confirmed by a circumstantial statement in one vol- ume of the American Turf Register, though it is briefly stated, in another volume, that Brimmer was by Yaliant. Having thus rectified and explained — I have learned from Dr. Robert- son that his father, the old General, brought here the first thoroughbred — he Ihinks called Why-not — from Maryland; my note says — by Fearnought, dam by Othello, about 1788. He says his father and others, then and afterward, had many Spanish mares. Add to my preceding list, about 1815-16 — Highlander imp., a finely formed white, small, but except a bad ear, well-finished ; and Childers, a gray, imp. — neither much patronized- -and Doublehead, b. by Diomed, his dam, Major Park said, was a Fearnought and Janus. Park bought the Bel Air mare, dam of Hayne's Maria, to breed to him, and I sold him the Wildair mare, dam of Orion by Stirling, for the same purpose. After all, I may liave forgotten, or never known, some good stallions in middle Tennessee. If your object be a general stud-book and sporting maga- zine, then permit me to say, that Jolly Roger — Roger of the Yale, in England, imp. to Yii-ginia in 1748 — according to the opinion of men conversant in such matters, was distinguished among the early importations ; that Janus, ch. by Janus, Old DISTINGUISHED STALLKJNS. 145 Fox, Bald Gallowaj, produced the fleetest, then and since known, as quarter-horses — quarter-mile racers. In my early boy- hood, I saw, at Col. John Dawson's, Fabricius, a brown, by old Janus, dam by Partner, Jolly Roger, Mary Gray — very fine. A little later, I saw old Mark Antony in the stable of Peter Morgan, sheriff of Halifax County, N. C. He was very dark brown, almost a black, the bay color visible on the muzzle and flank. I do not know that I ever saw a horse in higher form, except, perhaps. Citizen. Mark greatly improved the stock. And old Fearnought and his sons, and Mark Antony, brought the turf horse to a high state of perfection. Brimmer and Col- lector, with as good training, Avere, perhaps, equal to the good ones of the present day. Shark and Medley then came along, both capital, and both produced game stock. About 1790 to 1794, I frequently saw Celer, by Janus, dam Mead's Aristotle mare. He was highly finished, and gave both speed and bot- tom. Bel Air and Gray Diomed,*! saw early in the present century ; both very fine, and left good stock. Then old ch. Diomed, who had no equal, nor any thing like a parallel, for the number and excellence of his sons, since Fearnought. Con- temporary and Bedford got good stock at light weights, espe- cially Gallatin, &c. And Spread Eagle, good, especially at high weights, got Maid of the Oaks, &c. Then Citizen, im- ported 1803, about 18 yrs. old — as elastic and lively as a colt, and apjDroaching perfection nearer than any horse I ever saw — did good service, and his descendants, especially Pacolet and his stock, were, and yet are, held in high estimation for beauty, finish, and game. Sir Archy was foaled in 1805, and died, as I have understood, 27 yrs. old ; some make him equal to his sire, and other sportsmen and breeders give him the preference. Of the modern importations, I will only say ; Leviathan stands next to Sir Archy ; that Glencoe gets some very superior racers, especially at long distances ; and that Priam M\as a prince among the chiefest. Of the trotters I say nothing. Of the rackers I say that Thomas E. Tuinner, of Warren, N. C, about 1790, imported from Karragansett Bay, a light ch. in color and form, called Free and Easy, and as was his name so was his pace. His like I have not since seen. His owner, in a ride from Halifax to Vol. I.— 10 146 THE HORSE. Warrenton, after the season, permitted him to go too freely, and he died in consequence. Afterward Ranger, dark ch., and of good substance, was brought from the same district of country, by Sam. Williams, I think, of Warren. Here I sliall name only old Copper-bottom ; he was a ch. ro., brought hither, old, from Kentucky, stood three seasons, and died about 18-16. His sire or grand-sire is said to have been a Canadian, and his dam well- bred. They, his colts, commanded high prices for the saddle. Pedigrees in the South, prior to the issuing of the Turf Kegister, depended on manuscripts or memory, and thence fol- lowed transpositions and sometimes errors. Timoleon, one of Sir Archy's best, was a horse of great size, correct proportions and finish, good even to the hoofs, without apparent adulter- ation — dam by Saltram, imp. ; Wildair, Symmes' ; Fallow, imp, ; Driver ; Yampire, imp. There are many Drivers, and we are not informed which ; and as to Fallow, he has been said to have been a cart-horse, imported* to South Carolina. According to Lawrence, no three parts bred, was ever known to go the dis- tance •, and, as I believe with him, that full-blood, at least, is necessary to enable a horse to go the distance in competition with those purely bred, therefore, I have supposed Fallow to be a misprint, for Fellow, by Cade, foaled in 1757, and said to have been imported ; Yampire, foaled the same year. Of Stockhold- er's pedigree, we have had several versions ; the last edition says — got by Sir Archy, dam by Citizen, imp. ; Stirling, imp. ; Mousetrap — said to be English Jack Rap, imp. ; Eclipse ; Fear- nought, imp. ; Apollo ; Jcinus, imp. ; Partner — Moore's — imp. , Silver Eye, imp. ; Jolly Roger, imp., out of Mary Gray, imp. It may be true to Fearnought, and it is probable tliat Partner, was not Moore's, but the son of Traveller out of Selima, or Janus, or Silver E^-e, or possibly two of those may stand before Jolly Roger in the pedigree, and close with Mary Gray. She is said to have been foaled 17-42-4 by Roundhead out of Ring- bone, and to have brought several fillies to Jolly Roger. Moore's Partner was probably bred between 1825 and 1830. Grizewood's in 1831. As to Silver Eye, I can neither find him in Weatherby nor Pick. I think, in the American Turf Regis- ter, he is said to be by the Cullen Arabian. OBITUAKY OF STALLIONS. 147 OBITUARIES. Ch. Janus, imp., died about . Fearnought, b., imp., died about Eclipse, native, b., died about Celer, native, ch. " Mark Antony, br., " Shark, imp., br., " Medley, gr., imp., " Spread Eagle, b., " Gray Diomed " Messenger, gr., imp., died about Ch. Diomed, imp., died about Cceur-de-Lion, imp., died . Dragon, ch., of a kick, . Wonder, ch., February, on the road, of colic, Boaster, b., imp., autumn, Pacolet, gr., October, of colic, Oscar, br., November, of colic, Eagle, b., imp., . Constitution, summer, . Bluster, imp., autumn, Buzzard, ch., imp.. Sir Archy, about 1780, Va., 1776, Va., 1790, Va., 1802, N. C. 1793^, N. C. 1796, Va., 1799, 1805, 1806, 1808, Va.. Ky., N. C, N. Y., 1807-8, Va., 1809, 1812, Tenn., 1815, Tenn., 1819, Tenn., 1825, Tenn., 1826, Tenn., 1827, Ky., 1827, Tenn., 1828, Tenn., 1811, Ky., 1832-3, N. C, Trs. o 33. 26. 20. 28. 32-3. 25. 23. 13. 20. 28. 30-1. 20. 25. 15. 24. 17. 11. 30. 22. 20. 24. 27-8. I liave had the above on such authority as I credited at the time, and think them correct, or nearly so. Obituary lists are not only a matter of curiosity, but serve to detect forgeries in some cases. Citizen, and Mark Antony, and Celer, and Bel Air, and Gray Diomed, and Pacolet, were, in point of fact, nearer the Arabian, and approximated nearer the heau ideal, than any of the importations at the close of the last or ccmmencement of the present century. They are, to my taste, Turk. The Dio- meds, the Archy s, the Leviathans, were remarkable for size and stride ; but if among them you found a beauty, you had to look to the dam, viz. ; Wonder, dam by Tippoo Saib, son of Lindsay's Arabian ; Second Diomed, gray, dam by Clockfast ; Barksdale's Gray Diomed, who, through Brimmer and Polly Flaxen, united the Godolphin and Darley Arabians ; John Dawson, a bay — a superb, large horse, got by Pacific — had by his dam a Gray Medley, a Pacolet, and two Tippoo Saib crosses. He was a good one on the turf under bad management, and 148 THE HORSE took a premium at an agricultural show ; and had he been trained by Williams, and kept and sustained by Elliott, as a stallion, he would, in all probability, have distinguished himself in both capacities. I do not know what became of him ; but I do know he might have stood by Eagle and Dragon, and not suffered by the comparison. Will. Williaais. HISTOKT OF THE BLOOD HORSE IN NEW YORK. Henry W. Herbert, Esq. Dear Si)' / — A short time since, I received a letter from a much esteemed friend — the Hon. John A. King — covering one from yon to him, making inquiries in relation to blood-horses and course-racing, which he seemed to think I could answer better than himself. Although my pursuits may have caused me to examine more critically, and think more deeply on the sub- jects of inquiry, yet my ability to place on paper suitably facts and ideas is so innneasnrably inferior to his, that though I may possibly communicate more information, it will probably be much less interesting than if furnished by his more ready and gifted pen. Be this, however, as it may be, I will endeavor to give such information as best I can; first premising that, although particularly interested in the blood-horse, and having witnessed most of the important races in this vicinity for more than half a century, I have few records, except those which are common to the whole country — the sporting periodicals of the last thirty years. Indeed, so indefatigable have been the edi- tors of those journals, that I presume the name and character of every distinguished horse of the whole country may be found within these pages. From these and other sources, you will obtain information of many of which I know little, while I will endeavor to name those, which formerly gave cliaracter to the stock of the North. 150 THE nOESE. It is well known th.at, at a very early day in mir history, frequent importations of horses were made, but, it is believed, without any particular reference to blood. For some time, however, previous to the Revolution, a spirit of emulation ex- isted in these colonies, and the thoroughbred horse became an object of interest. Among the earliest of our importations, which laid a foundation, broad and deep, of the racing stock of the North, were Wild air and the Cub mare, in 1763, by Mr. Delancy. Soon after came Sloven, in 1765 ; Figure, in 1766 ; Lath, in 1768, and Whirligig in 1773. All these contributed more or less to our racing-stock ; but to Bashaw the produce of Wildair and the Cub mare, foaled shortly after their arrival in this country, and to Figure are we mainly indebted for placing us on an equality, at least, with earlier and much more exten- sive breeders at the South. In the latter part of the last century, and the very beginning of this, a number of superior stallions were imported, which, standing at moderate prices, greatly im- proved the general stock of the country. Among these may be mentioned, Slender, in 1785 ; Messenger, in 1792 ; Bajazet and Highlander, in 1794 ; Light Infantry and Sourcrout, about the same time ; Baronet, in 1795 ; Alexander, in 1797 ; and Expedition, in 1802. All of these made a favorable change in the racing and road-stock of the Korth. But immeasurably superior to all others was Messenger, and take him all in all, unquestion- ably the best horse ever brought to America. He not only produced race-horses of the first order, both at long and short distances, but as roadsters his get was unequalled. Well do I remember him when standing at the stable of Townsend Cock, in this county. His large bony head, rather short straight neck, with windpipe and nostrils nearly twice as large as ordinary, with his low withers, and shoulders somewhat upright, but deep, close, and strong. But behind these lay the perfection and power of the machine. His barrel, loin, hips, and quarters were incomparably superior to all others. His hocks and knees' were unusually large ; below them his limbs were of medium size, but flat, strong and remarkably clean, and, either in stand- ing or in action, their position was perfect. Baronet, too, left his mark on our stock ; of all the importa- tions, none equalled him in elegance and finish. And at a later COURSE-KACIXG AT THE NORTH. 151 period, when his get and tliat of Messenger mingled, it was the abiding hope of the breeder to obtain the fine forehand, rich color, and perfect symmetry of a Baronet, with the speed, power, and will of a Messenger. Light Infantry and Expedition were horses of similar character, possessing great beauty of form and elegance of action. Both contributed essentially to the general improvement, and in several instances their get obtained dis- tinction on the turf. Of later importations — Phoenix, in 1803 ; Bussorah, in 1819 ; Eoman, in 1823 ; Barefoot, in 1827 ; Hedgeford and Autocrat, in 1833 ; Trustee, in 1835 — several have produced at least one of great excellence — ^Trustee, the wonder. Fashion ; Roman, a Treasurer ; Barefoot, a Clara Howard ; and Hedgeford, a Duane — but their many failures under favorable circumstances, at least suggest the inquiry, whether the dam has not quite as much, if not more to do in the production of these isolated cases of superior excellence, as the sire. Of Bussorah and other Arabians which have been imported, although evidently great pains have been bestowed on their selection, it is admitted that none have added essentially to the value of our stock. Bnssorah possessed great beauty, was of approved pedigree, and free from any particular defects of form, consequently great hopes were entertained of his usefulness; but, after experimenting for a great lengtli of time with him and others, the conclusion has become irresistible that a horse, to insure superiority either in performance or production, must not only be perfect in pedigree, and passably good in his shapes, but possess that high and commanding form which gives ex- ceeding power, while at the same time it insures ease of action. With regard to the commencement of course-racing at the North, I am not particularly informed. But previous to the Eevolution there existed, near the centre of the county, a pub- lic course, called I^ewmarket ; and also one at Jamaica, called Beaver Pond ; at both of which trials of speed frequently took place, but whether at regular intervals is not known. As early as 1800, courses existed at Albany, Poughkeepsie, and Harlem, in this State, on which purses, from one to four-mile heats, were contended for. It is believed, however, that until 1804, no reg- ularly organized club existed here. In this year an associa- 152 THE IIOKSE. tiou, principally of Long Island agriculturists, was formed for five years ; the old Newmarket Course was remodelled, and purses given, in May and October of each year, for four, three, and two-mile heats. At the expiration of the five years, find- ing it difficult to raise sufficient funds, or enforce regulations on an unenclosed course, the same gentlemen reorganized the so- ciety, and established an enclosed course, giving it the same name, about a mile north of the former. It is worthy of re- mark, that on these courses, at an early day, some of those horses, whose efforts and characters are still most distinguished in our State and country, made their first entry. On the former, Tippoo Sultan, Hambletonian, Briglit Phcebus, Miller's Dam- sel, and Empress, obtained their first laurels, to be variously worn in this and another field of usefulness. Sultan, after a continued series of victories on the turf, went into the breeding- stud with his flag flying at the piimacle, there to droop, and finally trail in the dust. Hambletonian, with varied success as a racer, as a stallion became distinguished for the elegance and finish, as well as speed and endurance of his get, for the saddle, harness, and trotting-course. Phcebus, though a good one, failed to repose on the elevated platform Avliich his pedigree, fine appearance, and early performance induced his friends to erect. The wreath so deservedly bestowed on the two most magnificent fillies that ever graced the Northern turf, now faded and now bloomed, until the performances of Eclipse, the son of one, and of Ariel, the grand-daughter of the other, added roses whose enduring perfume, while it incites to future struggles for victory, will ever tend to temper the ardor of exultation or soothe the anguish of defeat. As evidence that .the renown obtained on this course was fairly won, it is only necessary to state that Messrs. Bond and Hughs, of Philadelphia — whose liberality, judgment, and skill in procuring, training, and managing their horses, was scarcely second to that of Colonel Johnson and Tayloe — regularly at- tended here, with their stable, at the head of which was First Consul, then confessedly among the very best of the South. On the latter course. Cock of the Rock and Eclipse first gave evidence of those powers whicli conducted the one to THE " UNION COURSE." 153 eminence ; the other, by an unbroken succession of victories, to his last glorious triumph. While racing continued with regularity at Newmarket, the course at Harlem was also kept up ; and for a short period, one was established at Powle's Hook, in Kew Jersey, opposite New York city. But not until 1819 did the citizens of New York manifest a just appreciation of the exciting and healthful amuse- ment. In this year an association was formed, principally of citizens, and a course established at Bath, in the county of Kings, on Long Island, and races held there for two seasons. The location, however, not proving satisfactory, in 1821 the same association purchased a plot of ground in Queens County, eight miles from Brooklyn, enclosed it, and under the title of the " Union Course," largely encreased the amount of purses, and placed racing on a more elevated and permanent footing than heretofore. In 1828, an association of gentlemen estab- lished a course in Dutchess County, near Poughkeepsie, gave liberal purses, and had well-conducted and good racing for several years. In 1838, individual enterprise established the Beacon Coarse at Hoboken, New Jersey, opposite New York city. Great expense was incurred in grading and making suit- able erections. Large purses were given, and for a time its easy access from the city rendered it exceedingly popular. The foregoing are believed to be all the courses, of any con- siderable note, that have existed in this State or adjacent ; and it is somewhat remarkable, that within the last ten or fifteen years, all have been abandoned except in Queens County, L. I., and here principally kept up by the trotting fraternity, with occasional exhibitions of the noblest amusement that ever stirred the blood or engaged the mind of man. Indeed the people seem to be instinctively drawn to a county which has ever been the focus of racing, as well as the field of successful breeding. Many of the very best racers, as well as trotters, have been reared within her limited borders, and scarcely a stallion of any eminent standing at the North, but has held his court within her precincts. Evincing, also, the spirit and liberality of her ])eople, and not irrelevant to the subject of this discursive com- nmnication, is the fact that about the year 1798 or '99, a hunting- club was formed by gentlemen of the Island ; a pack of hounds 154 THE 110K8E. obtained, and located about four miles east of Jamaica, and as l^articularly indicative of the spirit and emulation which char- acterized its members, six of their number agreed to send to England and imj^ort each a horse expressly for the saddle. Among the most successful of these was Eichard Smith, Esq., of Suffolk County, who in old " Eoyal George," obtained the very heau ideal of a hunter. Many amusing anecdotes were related by this liberal, high-toned, but facetious gentleman, of indulging his amateur friends from the city with a ride on his favorite, who was perfectly docile and quiet by the side of the cover ; but the moment the game was roused and the pack gave tongue, no ordinary arm could restrain, nor fence nor furze ap- parently impede him, until he had arrived in their midst, where he was satisfied quietly to continue. I am unwilling, my dear sir, to close this communication without the endeavor to place on record in juxtaposition, the names and characters of unquestionably the best three race- horses ever bred in this State. They were on the turf at differ- ent periods, but each in his day was as confessedly superior to all others at the North, as in intellectual endowments was Web- ster in Massachusetts, Clay in Kentucky, and Calhoun in Caro- lina. I allude to Mr. Van Ranst's Potomac, Tij^poo Sultan, and American Eclipse. The first a son, the other two grandsons, of Messenger. Potomac foaled in 1796, Sultan in 1800, Eclipse in 1814. Each ran about an equal number of races, and neither was ever beaten. Of Potomac's races several were short, but never from choice ; his friends being confident he was the fast- est, but perfectly certain he was the gamest horse then on the turf, whenever an opponent offered, exerted themselves to ex- tend the distance and increase the stake, but in every case closed with the best proposition they could obtain. The result invariably proved the correctness of their judgment. Often have I listened to the discussions of Mr. Yan Ranst and my late father, Major William Jones — of whom it may be said, that fi-om early manhood up to more than fourscore years of age, he was never Avithout a race-horse in his stable — relative to the respective merits of the two horses for whom they enter- tained so great a geographical as Avell as pecuniary interest. Neither could resist the conclusion that Eclipse was the supe- TIPPOO SULTAN. 155 rior, but both agreed that Potomac had the most speed, and in the endeavor to lix the point in a four-mile heat, where Eclipse would pass him, they confessed themselves at fault, for in all his trials, and in all his races, he was never known to falter. Sultan triumphed over all his rivals except Damsel ; owing to various causes they never met. Had they done so, both in condition, the contest would have been severe and the result doubtful. But this could scarcely have happened, for Damsel was so constitutionally timid and excitable, that the moment she was brought near a public course or stable, she would refuse her feed, and consequently was rarely if ever in order. All these three horses were of similar form and character- istics, and all of large size — Sultan highest on the leg, and of at least twelve inches more stride. Their great superiority arose from their exceeding power over the loin and in the hind quar- ters, combined with a deep and capacious chest, allowing free play to the lungs, and a windpipe and nostril which enabled them to inhale and consume with ease a much larger quantity of air than most others. I have thus, my dear sir, answered your several inquiries to the best of my ability ; and I sincerely regret that a lack of memoranda and record prevents my giving more detailed and specific information on a subject which will always possess for me the deepest interest. Please acknowledge the receipt of this at your convenience, addressing me at Cold Sjiring Harbor, L. I. I remain, dear sir. Yours with much respect, David "VV. Jones. April 3d, 1856. PEDIGEEES, PERFORMANCES, AND ANECDOTES, OF FAMOUS AMERICAN RACERS OF THE MODERN DAY. The letter, above given, of an eminent and distinguished turf- man, whose title to that honorable appellation is hereditary, and known as widely in America as is the name of the American Turf, brings down, it will be seen, the history of that Turf to what may be called its palmiest days — the latter portion of the first, and commencement of the second quarter of the present century. Previous to the Eevolution, as we have seen, racing, as an established, organized institution, was nearly, if not absolutely, confined to tlie States of Maryland, Virginia, and South Caro- lina, which were then emphatically the Racehorse Region of the United States of America. Up to this period, with but few exceptions, all the distin- guished blood mares and stallions had been imported into those States, and in them, only, did a distinct and very noble strain of thorough blood exist, which, although, of course, tracing directly to English ancestry on both sides, may be, with some propriety, termed Virginian ; since, as a general rule, whether accidentally or from choice, the pedigrees of nearly all the im- portations run back, through but three or four families, to the same noted progenitors ; tlie most renowned of which, perhaps, are the Godolphin Arabian, the Byerly Turk, Spanker, Grey- HORSE-RACING IN NEW YORK. 157 hound, the Wliite Tnrk, Dodswovth, and Layton's Yiolet Barb mare. It is undeniable that a vast number of the early Virginian pedigrees are not susceptible of proof, owing to reasons amply enumerated above ; and there is as little doubt that very many have been fabricated, and are the merest of forgeries ; still, it is clearly in evidence that many animals, and those the most fashionable and successful foal-getters in the Southern racing States, were of the unequalled stock above indicated. Where, as compared with England, the number of families was few, the choice of stallions limited, and, more than all, the original number of imported thoroughbred mares, as progeni- trixes, yet more limited, it is evident that the horses of this era must have been very much in-bred ; and it is worthy of remark, that the old Virginia pedigrees, owing to the early infusion of Godolphin Arabian and Croft's Partner blood, run through fewer generations to Oriental parentage on both sides, than the generality of English horses of the same date. It is said, also, by those who remember the strain before it was intermixed with the more recent English blood, that the horses of ante-revolu- tionary, and early post-revolutionary fame, retained in a great degree the Arab and Barb or Turk characteristics in height, figure, and qualities ; and possessed far more of what our ances- tors intended to convey by the words a Kacer in a high form, than of what we should esteem perfection in the modern fashion- able race-horse. It will be observed, in the communication to which I have referred, that it was not until the year 1819, that the citizens of New York began fully to appreciate the utility and practical excellence of horse-racing, or to give it such encouragement as it had always received in Virginia and Maryland ; where the majority in numbers, and the whole, one might say, in wealth, enterprise and education, of the white population, were coun- try gentlemen of athletic habits, out-of-door tastes, liberal hands and open hearts, which belong every where, and belong, it seems to me, alone, to rural aristocracies. And, again, it was not until ten years later, in the autumn of 1829, that any regular publication was set on foot, for the avowed purpose of recovering as much as was possible of the 158 Tire HORSE. lost early pedigrees of the magnates of the American Turf, and for the preservation of authentic records for the time to come. This work, Skinner's American Turf Register and Sporting Magazine, continued for ten years to do good service for the cause of the Turf, and, with Edgar's stud-book, which unfor- tunately never was completed, constitutes the first and only au- thority, presented to the public, on which reliance can be placed as to the blood of animals asserted to be thoroughbred. In the year 1839, the magazine passed into the hands of that most able editor and admirable turf-writer, Mr. William T. Por- ter, of New York, than whom the Turf of America has had no more consistent advocate, or more strenuous defender. In the close of 1844, the Magazine was, it is greatly to be regretted, discontinued, the encouragement not being found adequate to the support of both the monthly periodical and the weekly Spirit of the Times, both issued from the same office, and made up in some part of the same materials. This cessation it is hardly possible too greatly to deplore ; for, although Mr. Richards continues to prepare and publish a yearly Turf-Eegister, from the old office, containing a full and accurate record of races and racing events, and a register of the winning horses of the year, there is, of course, no space for such discussion of pedigrees, disputed or not fully established, or such debate on intricate questions of breeding, running, time, weights, riders and the like, in its pages, as were so valuable in those of the famous old magazine ; inadequate as even it was to fill the place of that great desideratum of the American horse world, a complete and careful annual American stud-book. These thoughts may seem in some sort superfluous ; but, without having introduced them, I should find it somewhat dif- ficult to explain what I mean to convey, when I state that I consider the commencement of authentic American horse- racing to be about coeval with the commencement of the sec- ond quarter of the present century, or, at the most, a few years earlier. I, by no means, intend or desire by this expression to under- estimate the genuineness of the blood, to deny the excellence, speed, stoutness, or authenticity of performance of the cele- brated worthies of ante-revolutionary, or early post-revolution- OBSCUEITY OF PEDIGKEES. 159 ary days, any more than I undervalue or doubt the pedigree or merits of the great forefathers of the English Turf, in the days of Queen Anne, and of the first monarchs of the House of Hanover. Much, in fact, as I regard the fame of Buck- Hunter, Spanker, Childers, Cartouch, Bald Charlotte, Matchem, and a hundred others one might name, do I esteem that of the Fear- nought, Janus, Celer, Tryall, Yorick, Traveller, and the mares Seliraa, Kitty Fisher, Jenny Cameron, Jenny Dismal, and many others, of American immortality. Tlie pedigrees of many of them run into the obscurity of time, and one must write down, at last, unknown, for either dam or sire, as is the case with more than one of the admitted great English progenitors. For instance — the sire of Eockwood is unknown ; the dams • of Coneyskins, Clumsy, Gray Grantham, and Whynot — the grand-dams of Bay Bolton, Snake, Jigg, and a score of others, from whom it is held glory enough to be descended, are all un- hnown ; but not, for that, are they to be held of impure or cold blood. In like sort, I hold it indisputable that the dams of many of the noblest and most perfect — and, to judge from all analogy, the most pure-blooded — of the progenitors and progenitrixes of the American Turf, are unknown. The dain of Tasker's Selima is, I hold it, unknown ; for of three dams assigned to her, I can- not find that she has any claim to one. Snap-dragon by Snap, out of whom she is said to have been got, was not foaled until her sire, Godolphin, was dead. The large Hartley mare, to whom that capital turf-writer. Observer, assigns her, as sister to Babrakcmi, had, according to the stud-book, no chestnut filly by Godolphin, nor any, that answers to the date of Selima, of any color. And the Fox mare, whose dam was by Childers, and who was herself dam to "Weasel and Daphne by Godolphin, had no other foals to that horse, nor any foal earlier than 1750-51, in which year Selima is said to have been imported. Tliis last is Skinner's pedigree of this famous mare. Tlie dam of Jenny Cameron is not stated. The dam of Kitty Fisher is said to have been out of Bald Charlotte, by the Cullen Arabian, but there is no show of proof that this thrice famous mare ever bore a filly to that Arab. And again, the dam of Jenny Dismal 160 TllK IIOKSK. is recorded to have been a "VViiitefoot mare, while of live White- foot mares in the stud-book not one appears to have borne a foal to Dismal, the son of Godolphin. These statements I do not make invidiously, or with the intent to disparage the purity of the blood of these animals — of which I have no doubt ; but simply to show that the same want of absolute authenticity is apparent, wlien -sve go beyond a certain date in both England and America, that date being more recent in the latter country, owing to the later introduction of authentic registries. Nor does this want of authenticity attach to pedigrees, only ; or even in the greatest degree ; for it is much more apparent in the traditional report of performances. The absurd myth of Flying Childers having run a mile in a minute, still obtains — not among sportsmen, for of course there is not a man, who knows \vhat a race-horse is, either in Eng- land or America, at this day, who does not scoff at the palpa- ble impossibility of the thing — but generally among the vulgar ; although it has been made sufficiently clear that, in the only recorded race of this horse, he did not exceed that of West Australian in England, or of Lexington or Lecompte in this country. As progenitors, all these horses, in both countries, may be considered, then, in my view, as entities, or, if the reader prefer it, facts — as performers, in view of any thing which M^e know positively, or can ascertain, of their performances, I must hold them myths. Thus, on the English Turf, while I do not dispute or doubt the excellence of Flying Childers, Eegulus, Matchem, Marske, O'Kelly's Eclipse, and other such — for they must have been un- deniably good horses to do that, which we know they did do — beat, namely, all the best horses of their respective times, at all w^eights and distances — I give no credence whatsoever con- cerning any particular or special performance of any one of them ; and I distinctly assert my opinion, that there is nothing whatever, beyond the idlest and emptiest rumor, on which to found any comparison between them and the horses of to-day. On the English Turf, I esteem nothing positively authentic, in the shape of performances — apart, I mean, from pedigrees — yu'evious to the institution of the St. Leger stakes, first won by THE A^IEEICAJST TUEF. 161 Lord Eockingham's Sampson fillj, in 1776 ; of the Oaks, first won hy Lord Derby's Bridget, in 1779, and of the Derby, first won by Sir Charles Bimbury's Diomed — sire of our Sir Archy — in 1780. So on the American Turf I hold nothing, as on record, prior to the races of American Eclipse and his competitors. To draw a parallel, as nearly as I can draw one, I regard the old Yirginian 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 ; and I consider that the era of the importation and covering of Diomed and Messenger in the United States as parallel to that of O'Kelly's wonderful stallion in the old country. Erom the day when the sons and daughters of these noble animals began to run upon the turfs of England and the tracks of America, all is plain and on record, so that who runs may read. The first great excellence of what I consider the authentic recorded race-horse of America, I ascribe to what I call the first grand post-revolutionary cross of English with the old Yirginian blood, produced by the importation of the two horses above named ; of, almost simultaneously, Bedford, Medley, Gabriel ; and of Shark, a few years earlier. The get of these horses are collateral here, with the Hiii-h- flyers, Florizels, King Ferguses, Whalebones, Waxys, PotSos and Beningbroughs across the water, and their posterity hold similar relations and relative positions. The palmy time, then, of the Turf in America, I should state to have lain between the years 1815 and 1845, the former date being little earlier than its dawn, the latter a little later than the first symptoms of its decline. For without asserting that the quality of the American thoroughbred horse has as yet begun to fall off, or its character to deteriorate, I do maintain that the racing spirit has received a severe check ; one, which must ultimately, if it continue, se- riously aftect, if not destroy, in toto, the American Race horse, in spite of all his glories, all his excellencies, and all the incom- parable benefits he has conferred on the stock of the country at large — not least on what is now the rage of the North Vol. I.— 11 162 THE HOKSE. and West, the Trotting Horse, although it is now the game and cant of the day to deny the influence of blood in this class of animals. The wholesome and amicable rivalry of the Northern and Southern stables, with their — in a greater or lesser degree — dis- tinctive families, was an unquestionable stimulus to breeders, and told its tale in the high form of the racers which we used to see contending in the good days of the 30's — under the auspices of such men as Messrs. Johnson and Tayloe, Van Mater, Wade Hampton, Bingaman, Stevens, Livingston, Stock- ton, Tillotson, Jones, Gibbons, and many more, as good as they, from all sections of the country. Of those palmy days it is with pleasure that I can say quaeque ipse celerrima vidi Et quorum pars parva fui. The great race of races, it is true, was one of the things bye- gone when I iirst trod the soil of America ; but the first Amer- ican race-horse on whom I set eyes, in the first year of my no- vitiate, was the champion. Eclipse ; and the next, his gallant competitor. Sir Henry. Ariel, the most successful and enduring, perhaps, of all the progeny of the great northern conqueror, was withdrawn from the scene of her glories, already ; but it was my fortune to witness, as my entering to the turf of Long Island, the splendid twenty-mile mare-race, the prize of which was borne off by that magnificent and honest animal. Black Maria ; who, singularly enough, combines all the imported blood which I have named, together with the old Virginian strains of Clockfast, Fearnought, Yorick, and the rest, having, through her sire, American Eclipse, Diomed, Messenger, Bed- ford and Medley crosses, and by her dam. Lady Lightfoot, Sir Archy and Shark crc From that time one constant and continued succession of good, nay ! great horses on the turf, and meeting after meeting, year after year, spring and fall, from Long Island to New Orleans, there was one constant promise, and that promise made good, of fine sport for sportsmen. Tliose were the days of such mares as Trifle, Bonnets of Blue, Fasliion, Peytona, Reel, and many more sec- MINGO CLARK )N POSTBOY. 163 ond, if second, to none but the best of these ; and these, all except one or two, not long enough withdrawn to have transmit- ted their honors, likely to perpetuate them to the most remote posterity — of such horses as Medoc — by Eclipse ; his dam, Maid of the Oaks, by imp. Expedition ; g. dam, old Maid of tlie Oaks, by Spread Eagle ; g. g. dam — the dam of Nancy Air — by Sliark, g. g. g. dam by Kockingham, g. g. g. dam by Gal- lant, g. g. g. g. dam by True Whig, g. g. g. g. g. dam by imp. Keguhis, g. g. g. g. g. g. dam by imp. Diamond — an animal of singular beauty, and one who was withdrawn from the turf in the prime of his performances, and cut off by an unfortunate accident, ere he had half fulfilled his promise as a stallion. Mingo, by American Eclipse ; his dam, Bay Bett, by Thorn- ton's Rattler — ^he by Sir Archy — g. dam, Cliffden mare, by impd. Cliffden, g. g. dam by Hall's Spot — he by Hall's imp. Eclipse out of imp. mare — g. g. g. dam by Hyder Aly, he by Lindsay's Arabian, dam by Othello, &c., — to my own mind, for shape, figure, stride and action, the race-horse in the highest form, that I have ever seen, be the other who he may, since I have been in America. He was as big as he was beautiful, and as good as he was big. It always appeared to me that this magnificent animal never had half a fair chance, on our little one-mile-round courses ; which, it must be admitted, are as much against a long-striding, lengthy, raking galloper, as they are in favor of a short, active, quick-gathering, compact animal. He was a good winner and good performer, after all, though he was often most indifferently ridden. I once saw him come in a winner, in a four-mile heat, with his head pulled half round, the snaffie drawn wholly through his mouth to the left, and the rein acting as a bit. Clarion, by Monmouth Eclipse, dam by Oscar, as beautiful and gallant a horse as a man need look upon. Postboy — by Sir Henry, his dam Garland by Old Duroc, g. d. Young Damsel by Hamiltonian, g. g. d. Miller's Damsel by Imported Messenger, g. g. g. d. by PotSos, g. g. g. g. d. by Gim- crack, &c, — a good horse, and supposed for a short time to be a wonder, but clearly overrated, and in the end admitted to be so. He was not, by a long shot, so good a horse as Mingo, of whom it is asserted that he was never beaten, when in con- 164 tup: horse. dition — an assertion, perhaps, in this case, true, but in all cases easy to make, and impossible to disprove — and was beaten by- John Bascombe, who, though, also, for a time, esteemed pro- digious, was only a good, and not an extra good, race-horse. John Bascombe by Bertrand ; he by Sir Archy out of Eliza, by Bedford ; dam Gray Goose by Pacolet ; he by imp. Citizen g. dam Sally Sneed by imp. Buzzard, g. g. dam Jane Hunt by Gen. Hampton's Paragon, g. g. g. dam by imp. Figure, g. g. g. g. (lam Miss Slamerkin by imp. Wildair, g. g. g. g. g. dam Delan- cy's imp. Cub mare. This is as good an American pedigree as can easily be pro- duced. He was a large, tall, rather leggy and decidedly light-, bodied horse ; but had fine action and was an easy go'er ; his points were for speed, not for staying the distance, or carry- ing weight. He beat the best horses of his year — Argyle and Postboy ; but the year was not a crack one, and like many other horses, who have been held cracks of the minute, he has settled down into his proper i:>lace. It has been calculated that Boston and Fashion, in their great race, would have beat Bas- combe in his Postboy race by 240 yards. "Wagner and Gray Eagle, I shall not here refer to more at large, leaving their pedigrees and descriptions to be noted here- after, as I have those of Eclipse and Henry, Ariel and Flirtilla, Black Maria, and the other animals whose performances and great races I have judged it desirable to record at length, from the accounts of the best and most brilliant contemporary au- thorities. Peytona — by imp. Glencoe, dam Giantess by imp. Leviathan, g. dam by Sir Archy, g. g. dam Virginia by Dare Devil, g. g. g. dam Lady Bolingbroke by imp. Pantaloon, g. g. g. g. dam Cades by Wormley's King Herod, g. g. g. g. g. dam Primrose by Dove, g- g- g- g- g- g- ^'^^^ S^cl^'^ ^y Othello, g. g. g. g. g. g. g. dam Tasker's Selima by the Godolphin Arabian. She was an enormous dark-red chestnut mare, standing full sixteen hands and three inches in height ; she was deep made in her heart-place, and had powerful, loug-let-down hocks ; her barrel was so large that standing directly in front of her — P.or- ter says — one could see her ribs on either side. Her stride was enormous, said to cover twenty-seven feet. PEYTONA AXD FASniON. 165 She certainly made good running on several occasions, and was a good winner ; and a most successful animal to lier owners, for whom she had won upward of $42,000 before her match with Fashion, hj which she netted them $10,000 more. She had previously beaten Blue Dick with some ease, who was any thing but a contemptible adversary ; and she won, in her match with Fashion, laurels which, like those of Bascombe, whom I last considered, were for a moment thought to be peren- nial, though the}'- were soon faded, and trailed comparatively in the dust. The two heats were done in 7.39 3-4, 7.45 1-4. " Her immense stride and strength," says Porter, in one of his telling descriptions of a race, which no man who wields a pen can de- scribe as he can, when he is in the vein — " and her ' nice ideal of perpetual motion ' did the business. It is a matter of doubt with some, whether Fashion ever saw the day when she could beat Peytona. Certainly Peytona not only outfooted her but outlasted her. In our opinion condition won the race. It is very remarkable that after so fast a first heat, there should have been so little falling oif as five seconds in the second heat." I saw this race myself, and I unquestionably was not one of those who doubted whether Fashion ever saw the day, &c. — so far from it that I stood my small stake, very confidently, on the return match at Camden a fortnight later, when on that far heavier and slower course Fashion — who had been kept con- stantly at hard work, never missing a gallop since the day of her defeat, while her conqueress, if one may coin a word for the occasion, had sufi'ered so severely by victory that she had hardly been able to take one — fairly reversed the tables, and won, in two heats, without ever being put to her speed, in 7.48, 7.59. There is no doubt. Fashion's rider having, by order, pulled her up, and passed the winning-post at a hand gallop, that, if he had chosen, he could have distanced Peytona. After this race she was withdrawn from the turf, a fine animal, and a good and honest mare, able to go the pace and stay the distance ; but, it must out — "Impar congressus Achilli." Blue Dick by imported Margrave, dam by Lance, &c., a blue roan horse, and a fair good one, though not what one could fairly call a successful horse or a good winner — for he was continually over-matched. With Kegister of his own years, it was a tougli 166 THK HORSE. matcli, thougli Dick was the better liorse. With such an ani- mal as Pcytona, he was clearly and indisputably over-matched, and with Fashion, he had not a show for it. But racers such as Fashion and her immortal rival Boston, are not met with every day ; and it might even be said of those who ran against them, Contendissc juvat, or, in other words, as a distinguished Statesman is reported to have said, " it is honor enough to have run a bad second to Andrew Jackson ! " And so it would have been, if one had ever run a bad second ! One cannot, however, help thinking, in that contingency of Horace's " Non Jovi quicquid simile aut secun- dum,^'' — and so one may say, without much fear of contradiction, at the present day, even although their time has been beaten hollow, with infinitely reduced weights, and over an immeasur- ably faster track. Could such a thing be possible as to recall the days that are fled, and to put Fashion, Boston, Lecomte, Lexington, and Pryor, if you please, all on the Union course together, in the heyday of their blood, and their most blooming condition, at any age from three years old to aged, with northern weight for age ; I, for one, would be willing to risk my shot, in the first place, upon old Whitenose, and the Jersey mare ; and, in the next place, against any such time, as that made over the New Orleans courses. During this same period, there were other horses almost in- numerable, worthy of mention, among whom it will not be in- vidious to name Duane, better perliaps than some, whom I have mentioned ; Argyle, and the mares. Miss Foote, Trifle, Gipsey, and the famous Keel, by imported Glencoe, her dam imported Gallopade by Catton, herself doubly famous as a distinguished winner in her own person, and as the dam of the cracks ^ar excellence of the day. During the period I have here specified, occurred all the great and time-honored races of America, with the exception of two or three recent events, which are to be ascribed to a differ- ent strain of blood, to a new school of breeding, whether for better or worse, in the long run, perhaps it yet remains to be seen, and of which I shall S2)eak, in their place hereafter. THE FOUR GREAT RACES. 167 Those great races, which I esteem as worthy of immortality as ever was the match of Hambletonian and Diamond, or any other match race, if there ever were any other, of yet greater fame, are those of American Eclipse and Sir Hemy ; of Ariel, daughter of Eclipse, and Flirtilla ; of Black Maria, and the three mares, known as the twenty-mile race : of Wagner and Gray Eagle, at the Oaklands course, Lexington ; and of Boston and Fashion, on the Union course. Long Island. Those, as the old Marshal Trivulciano said, who had fought in thirty-six pitched battles, yet had never seen a stricken field until he fought at Marignano, those were combats of giants, all the rest were child's play. Of those, the great events, of the great turf campaigns of this country, I have been so fortunate as to procure accurate de- scriptions by the pens of eye-witnesses, who will, by all true turfmen be admitted, the most competent to form accurate opinions and draw sound conclusions on all matters concerning this nobler sport than'the Olympic games of old, and whose pen paintings of such scenes have, long ago, been pronounced first and best by mouths of wisest censure. The first of these, the great race of Eclipse and Sir Henry, the time of which was so long tlie hest, so long believed to be not only unapproached, but unapproachable — together with the memoirs, pedigrees, j^erformances and description of the rival racers, is from the pen of one, whom it is enough to name, "The Old Turfman," Cadwalader C. Golden, Esq., indisputably the best authority of his day, in this or, perhaps, in any other country, on all matters connected with the horse of pure blood. From the same distinguished source is the memoir and pedi- gree of Ariel, the list of her performances, and her almost un- equalled race with Flirtilla, The twenty-mile race of Black Maria, with her memoir and performances, selected from the columns of the Spirit of the Times, is understood to be from the pen of the brother of her late distinguished owner — that celebrated breeder, j^romoter and benefactor of the agricultural interests of this continent, the late Mr. Charles Henry Hall, to whose family I take this op- portunit}^ of recording my manifold obligations, and of return- ing my most sincere thanks, for the facilities afforded to me of 168 TUE HOKSE. books, MS. documents and pictures, without which this work would have fallen, indeed, far short of the present short-comings of the author. The races of Wagner and Gray Eagle, taken from the pages of the American Turf Register and Sporting Magazine, are by the pen — perhaps, are the chef d'ceuvre of the pen — of my esteemed friend William T. Porter. I well remember, at the time, when this brilliant and graphic narrative and picture of events made its api^earance, the general admiration with which it was hailed. By the editor of that well known and world-re- nowned journal, " Bell's Life in London," it was immediately pronounced tlie perfection of turf-writing, combining the abso- lute of strong horse-language and imagery, with tlie entire ab- sence of slang. If, critically speaking, I possess any judgment in regard to style and the artificial in composition, I should pro- nounce the Wagner and Gray Eagle contest, to be the best description of a race ever penned in any country, or in any language. It seems to me to be ne ])lus ultra. The Fashion and Boston match on the Union course, from the columns of the Spirit of the Times, is from the same hand also ; and the same clear narrative, quick observation and ac- curate decision are discernible in every line. This great event, and grand struggle — in which the Northern stables renewed the laurels, which they had won in the conquest of the Southern champion Sir Henry by the Great Eclipse ; and doubly renewed them, by outdoing that hitherto unequalled feat — brings me almost to the close of the period, which I have determined on as the palmy days of American racing ; brings me completely to the decadence and downtiill of the turf in the Northern States. For what reasons it fell, it would not be easy to state. Per- haps, this would not be, for some reasons, the place in which to state it, if it were so. It is sufficient that, at the same moment, or nearly so, all the most liberal and energetic patrons of the turf withdi-ew from it their support, closed their stables, disposed of their studs, and ceased, vastly to the loss of the agricultural community, and of the country at large, to breed, to keep, or to import blood stock. At the same time an unthinking, senseless, declamatory s]>irit of fa:;aticism, den 1786 Lais, } 1787 Brother to do. ) 1787 Brother to do. , ) 1789 B. f. out of Temperance, . 1788 Foreigner, . ) 1790 Laurentina, .... 1794 Sister to do. (Snug's dam) ■ 1793 B. c. out of Tulip, 1794 At twenty-two years old, Diomed was imported into Vir- ginia by tlie late Col. John Hoonies, of the Bowling Green. The most distinguished of his get in Virginia — I write from memory, and if wrong, ask for correction — were, Sir Archy, dam by Rockingham, bred by Col. Tayloe, after- wards owned and run by W. R. Johnson, Esq.* foaled 1805 Florizel, dam by Shark — in 1805, beat Peace Maker, the celebrated match, four-mile heats — Major Ball, Potomac, ran and won at Petersburg, two miles in 3m. 43s. ; the quickest race to this day in America — Mr, Wilkes, Peace Maker, bred by Col. Hoomes, afterwards owned and run by Col. Tayloe, Top Gallant, dam by Shark— Mr. Clayton; after wards owned and run by Col. Tayloe, . liamlintonian, dam by Shark — Mr. Hamlin ; after wards owned and run by Col. Tayloe, Yingtun, dam by Clockfast— sold in 1803 for $2760- Gen. Wade Hampton and Gov. Ed. Lloyd, . Stump the Dealer, dam by Clockfast— W. R. Johnson and Ralph Wormeley, Esq., Duroc, dam by Gray Diomed — Wade Mosby, Esq. W. M. and Mr. Badger, 1802 1801 1801 1801 1801 1801 1801 1806 * It has been stated, but I believe on no good ground, that the imported Gabriel by Dorimant— a very distinguished horse and sire of those excellent horses, Post Bo-. Oscar and Harlequin — was also sire of Sir Archy. GET OF DIOMED. 177 Hampton, dam by Gray Diomed — Gen. Hampton — Mr. J. Y. Bond, foaled 1806 Cora. Truxton, — Gen. Andrew Jackson, . . 1806 The dam of Henry, 1806 And the dam of Eliza White, .... 1806 Gray Diomed, sire of Amanda, was by the imported Med- ley ; his dam by Sloe ; grandam by Yampire, &c. — was foaled, May, 1786. Of his races previons to 1793, when purchased of Mr. Kichard Brooke by Col. Tayloe for $800, 1 am not informed. In August, 1793, he won a match, 4 miles, beating Mr. Page's famous Isabella at the Bowling Green. In October, he won there a jockey club purse. In JSTovember he won a jockey club purse at Petersburg. In September, 1794, he won the jockey club purse, four-mile heats, at the Bowling Green. In October he won the jockey club purse, four-mile heats, at Chestertown, Md., beating Gen. Ridgely's famous Cincinnatus, then four years old. During the same month he won the jockey club purse at Annapolis, beating Cincinnatus, the equally famed Yirginia Nell, Nantoaki, and others — on which occasion there were two striking evidences of bottom ; through mistake, after winning the heat, another mile was run, terminating in a dead heat, between him and Cincinnatus. In the next heat, soon after starting, in endeavoring to pass on the inner side, he cut within the pole, had to return, and barely saved his distance ; running the whole heat at his utmost speed ; yet was winner of the race. In December, when winning at Alexandria, he fell over a dog, by which accident he lost the race. He started but once more, for a sweepstakes at Leeds, against Mr. Wash- ington's horse, and Mr. Butler's mare, but being lame he lost, beating the latter. Sold by Col. Tayloe in 1798 to Mr. J. Blick for $2200. —American Txtrf Register^ vol. i., 1829. Vol. I.— 12 I^IEMOIR OF AMERICAN ECLIPSE. The portrait, accompanying this memoir, of the celebrated racer, " American Eclipse," was engraved by Messrs. Capewell and Kimmell, of this city, from the original painting, made by Mr. Fisher, of Boston, for the late Charles Henry Hall, Esq., of New York, and is acknowledged by all good judges to be an excellent likeness. This horse is now fifteen years old, chestnut, with a star, and the near hind foot white ; is fifteen hands one inch high, and possesses a large share of bone and muscle. Eclipse was foaled at Dosoris, Queens county, Long Island, on the 25th May, 1814, and was reared by the late Gen. Nathaniel Coles, the breeder, in whose possession he remained till the loth March, 1819, when he became the property of Mr, Yan Ranst. His sire was Duroc ; his dam. Miller's Damsel, by- Messenger ; his grandam the English PotSos mare, imported at three years old, in 1795, by William Constable, Esq., of New York. Pot8os sired by the celebrated English Eclipse ; his great grandam by Gimcrack ; Gimcrack by Cripple ; and Crip- ple by the Godolphin Arabian. From a memorandum in the handwriting of Gen. Nathaniel Coles, the breeder, it appears that he was reared in the follow- ing manner. The colt was weaned on the lOtli of November. At the commencement of winter, fed with four quarts of shorts, which was increased during the winter to eight quarts per day ; hay, clover dampened. Second year, in the spring, turned to grass with no grain. November 10th, put up — ^fed with eight quarts shorts per day ; during winter, shorts increased to ten quarts — hay, the same as first winter. Third year, turned to grass, with four quarts shorts per day. September 1st, commenced breaking — feed, eight quarts oats — A3IEEICAN ECLIPSE. 179 through the winter, hay as formerly — grain, ground corn and (Tats, equal to eleven quarts oats. March Ist, commenced and trained for nine weeks, then gave a trial of two miles, and found the colt very superior. Fourth year, in summer turned to grass — fed with ground oats and corn, equal to nine quarts oats — in winter, hay as for- merly, with nine quarts oats per day, till the first March, 1818, when commenced training ; feed, oats and cracked corn, equal to twelve quarts oats. Fifth year, late in May, 1818, ran the three-mile heats at ]N"ewmarket, on Long Island, and won the first day's purse with ease, beating Blaek-eyed Susan, and Sea Gull, then called the best three-mile horse of the day ; turned to grass first June, with about six quarts of oats a day ; in winter, fed with hay as before, with ground corn and oats. March 15th, 1819, sold Eclipse to Mr. Yan Eanst. At five 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." While a colt he was not confined, but during the winter season turned out every fair day. He was first shod in the spring, when three years old. In June, 1819, he won the Jockey Club's purse of $500, run- ning the four-mile heats over the Bath course, beating Mr. Purdy's horse. Little John, by the Virginia Potomac; Mr. Bond's horse Eclipse, by First Consul ; and Mr. Potter's horse, James Fitz James, by Sir Archy. In October, 1819, he again ran the four-mile heats at Bath, winning the purse of $500, beating Mr. Purdy's horse, Little John ; Mr. Schenck's horse. Fearnought ; and Mr. Bond's colt ; the two latter beiug withdrawn the second heat. The Bath course measured fifteen links over a mile ; the first heat of this race was run in eight minutes and thirteen seconds, and the second in eight minutes and eight seconds. In the spring of 1820, Eclipse stood to mares on Long Island, at $12 50 the season. In the spring of 1821, he again covered ~ as a common stallion, at $12 50 the season, and covered eighty- seven mares ; nor was it contemplated to bring him again upon the turf; but the legislature of the State of :N"ew York having 180 THE HOKSE. new modelled the law respecting racing, and a society being re-organized sj^ecially for the improvement of our breed oi horses, Mr. Van Ranst was induced again to put Eclipse in training for the four-mile heats to be run over the New Union course, eight-miles from Brooklyn, and near the Jamaica Turn- pike, in October of that year. From an opinion, long entertained by sportsmen, that cover- ing renders a horse unfit for the race, the friends of Eclipse questioned the policy of again running him ; but the event proved that, so far as he was concerned, the opinion was un- founded. The races commenced the 15th of October, 1821, when four horses started for the purse of $500, to run the four-mile heats ; viz. American Eclipse ; Mr. Sleeper's brown mare. Lady Liglit- foot, by Sir Archy ; Mr. Schenck's horse. Flag of Truce, by Sir Solomon ; and Mr. Schomp's horse, Heart of Oak. The two last named horses were drawn after the first heat, and Lady Lightfoot was distanced in the second, being nine years old — she had run upwards of twenty races — some very severe ones ; and was out of order. The bets at starting were two to one on the mare. The mare led until the last quarter of the first heat, when Eclipse passed her, coming in two lengths ahead. In the second heat Eclipse passed her in running the third mile, and from that time left her alone. The time was, first heat, eight minutes and four seconds ; the second heat, eight minutes and two seconds, and the course measured thirty feet over a mile. In the following week, Eclipse was exhibited at the annual exhibition of the New York county Agricultural Society, and received the society's first premium, $50, for the best stallion. In May, 1822, Eclipse won the purse of $700 for four-mile heats at tlie Union course, beating Mr. Badger's five-year-old horse. Sir Walter, by Hickory. A bet of considerable amount was made by the owners of the two horses on the first heat, which, with the second heat, was won by Eclipse. Time, first heat, seven minutes and fifty-four seconds ; second heat, eight minutes. In October, 1822, he again ran the four-mile heats at the Union course, for the $1000 purse, which he won, beating a AMEKICAN ECLIPSE. 181 second time, Mr. Badger's liorse, Sir Walter ; Mr. Sleeper's bay- mare, Duchess of Marlborough, by Sir Archy ; and Mr. Jack- sou's mare. Slow and Easy, by Duroc. The first heat was run in seven minutes and fifty-eight seconds, when the two mares were withdrawn, and Sir Walter stopping short in the second heat, Eclipse came in at his leisure. A day or two previous to this race, a challenge appeared in the New York papers by Mr. James J. Harrison, of Brunswick, Ya., in which he offered to " run Sir Charles against the American Eclipse, over the Washington course, four-mile heats, agreeably to the rules of the course, for five or ten thousand dollars." This challenge was promptly accepted bj Mr. Yan Ranst, who, as two sums were named by Mr. Harrison, chose the greatest, that the object of the contest might correspond with the fame of the horses. The forfeit money, $5000 each, having been deposited, the time for running was fixed for the 20th of November. At the hour of starting, both horses were brought out and the riders mounted ; but instead of running agreeably to the challenge, Mr. Harrison gave notice that as his horse had met with an accident, he would pay the forfeit. He at the same time pro- posed to run a single four-mile heat, for $1500 each, which being instantly agreed to, the horses started. Eclipse taking the lead. On tlie last round. Sir Charles broke down. The two first rounds were run in one minute and fifty-five seconds each, and the heat in eight minutes and four seconds. In this race. Sir Charles carried 120 lbs.. Eclipse 126 lbs. In the evening of the same day, William R. Johnson, Esq., of Petersburg, Ya., offered to produce a horse, on the last Tues- day in May, 1823, to run the four-mile heats against Eclipse, over the Union course on Long Island, agreeably to the rules of that course, for $20,000 a side, $3000 forfeit. This challenge was immediately accepted by Mr. John C. Stephens ; in consequence of which Col. Johnson, on the day mentioned, appeared on the race mth a four-year-old chestnut colt, called Henry — John Richards, intended for the race, hav- ing been lamed — about fifteen hands one inch high, which had been bred by Mr. Lemuel Long, near Halifax, North Carolina. Henry was sired by Sir Archy ; his dam by Diomed ; her dam by Bell Air ; hers by Pilgrim ; hers by Yaliant ; hers by Janus ; 182 THE IIOKSE. hers by Jolly Roger — imported horses. About half past 12 o'clock, both horses started. Eclipse was rode by "Wm. Crafts ; Henry by a young lad. Henry took the lead, and maintained it through the heat. They came in together, Henry beating Eclipse by half a length, but apparently " hard in hand." — Bets on the second heat, three to one on Henry. During the second heat, Eclipse was rode by Mr. Purdy. Henry again took the lead, and kept it until the last quarter of the third mile, when Pardy made a push, and Eclipse passed his rival at the commencement of the fourth mile. An attempt was made by Henry's rider to recover his ground, but in vain. He was beat by about thirty feet. Henry reined in on passing the distance pole, the loss of the heat being evident. AVhen the horses were brought out for the third heat, the great trainer, Arthur Taylor, mounted Henry, instead of the boy who rode him the two first heats. On starting, Eclipse took the lead, which he kept to the end of the race, coming in about three lengths ahead of Henry, both at their utmost speed — Henry in this heat having been reserved for the last quarter. The time of running the three heats, as given by the judges, Gen. Ridgely, of Baltimore ; Captain Cox, of Washington ; and John Allen, Esq., of Philadelphia, was as follows : First heat, 7 min. 37 see. — second heat, 7 min. 49 sec. — third heat, 8 min. 24 sec. Twelve miles in 23 minutes and 50 seconds. The weights carried were — Eclipse, 126 lbs. — Henry, 108. Weights, according to racing calculations, are so nicely regu- lated to correspond with age, that no advantage was given to Henry, as has been said ; on the contrary, according to the long established usage of weights on the Southern courses, now introduced at Kew York, Eclipse had an advantage of 8 lbs. — more than a distance — 7 lbs. = 240 yards. On the day previous to the race, a number of gentlemen visited the course with a surveyor, and finding it thirty feet over a mile, reduced it as nearly to a mile as could conveniently be done, leaving it still eighteen inches over. It is said, how- ever, from the difference in the nature of the ground, to be four or five seconds quicker than the Tree Hill course. Immediately after the race, Col. AV. R. Johnson challenged AMERICAN ECLIPSE. 183 J. C. Stevens, Esq., and the friends of Eclipse, to run Henry against Eclipse the ensuing fall, over the Washington course, for any sum from twenty to fifty thousand dollars — forfeit, ten thousand dollars. The challenge was declined, and the resolu- tion then announced has been adhered to, " never, on any con- sideration, to risk Ihe life and 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-fading renown." Eclipse was accordingly withdrawn from the turf and put to covering. He stood one season, at Boydton, in Yirginia, at $75, and $100 to insure — and one or two short seasons at Baltimore, at $50 — and since then, we believe, in New York. THE GEEAT MATCH KACE BETWEEN ECLIPSE AND SIR HEKRY. DESCRIBED BY AN OLD TURFMAN, C. C. GOLDEN, ESQ. From the Am. Sporting Magazine, Vol. ii, No. 1, p. 3. New York, July 3, 1830. Mr. Editor ; As I have never seen in print a full, correct, and impartial account of the following great race, and having, at the time, committed my observations to paper, I now transmit them. As many of your readers may not have witnessed this far-famed performance, to such this relation may be interesting ; should you, therefore, deem it worth a place in your entertaining pub- lication, you are at liberty to insert it. Great Match Race between American Eclipse and Sir Henry, over the Union Course, Long Island, May 27th, 1823. Heats four miles, for $20,000. The Southern gentlemen to he allowed to name their horse at the starting post. Doubts were entertained, by some of the New York sports- men, to the last moment, whether this great match would be contested by the Yirginia gentlemen. They, it was perfectly understood, had left Yirginia, with five horses, selected from the best racers which North Carolina and Yirginia could boast 184 THE HOKSE. of, and proceeded to the estate of Mr. Bel a Badger, adjacent to Bristol, in Pennsylvania, distant from the Union course, about ninety miles, where, having a fine course upon which to exer- cise and try their horses, they had made a halt. Tlie horses selected for this great occasion, as also to contend for the three purse races to be run for, on the three days subsequent to the match, heats 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 Mr. William R. Johnson to run the match. Of these, at the time he left home, John Richards was his fa- vorite ; his next choice was Sir Henry, and thirdly, the mare ; altliough some of the Southern gentlemen — and amongst others General Wynn — 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 favorite, John Rich- ards, in a trial race, while at Mr, Badger's, met with an accident, by receiving a cut in the heel or frog of one of his fore feet, which rendered it necessary to throw him out of train ; Wash- ington 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 Yirginians, 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 Mr. Johnson, the principal on their part, upon whose management and attention their success in a great mea- sure depended, was seized with indisposition, so sudden and violent, as to confine him not only to his room, but to his bed, which he was unable to leave on the day of the race. Thus the Southrons, deprived of their leader, whose skill and judg- ment, whether in the way of stable preparation, or generalship in the field, could be supplied by none otlier, had to face their opponents under circumstances thus far disadvantageous and discouraging. Notwithstanding these unexpected and untoward DESCRIPTION OF SIR HENKY, 185 events, they met the coming contest manfully, having full and imimpaired confidence in their two remaining horses. Sir Henry and Betsey Eichards, and backed their opinion to the moment of starting. 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 Harry Curtis in their walk, were both plated, treated alike, and both in readiness for the approaching contest. It was yet unknown to the Northern sportsmen which was to be their competitor. The road from New York to the course, a distance of eight miles, was covered by horsemen, and a triple line of carriages, in an unbroken chain, from the dawn of day until one o'clock, the appointed hour of starting. The stands on the ground, for the reception of spectators, 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 horsemen, and the throng of pedestrians surpassed all be- lief — not less than sixty thousand spectators were com/puted to he in the field. About half-past twelve o'clock Sir Henry made his appear- ance on the course, as the champion of the South, and was soon confronted by his antagonist. I shall now endeavor to give a brief description 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 has been rep- resented as being fifteen hands and one inch high, but having taken his measure, his exact height is only fourteen hands three and a half inches. His form is compact, bordering upon what is termed pony-built, with a good shoulder, fine clean head, and all those points which constitute a fine forehand ; his barrel is strong, and well ribbed up towards the hip ; waist rather short ; chine bone strong, rising or 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 186 THE HOUSE. croup ; tliiglis full and muscular, ^Yithout being fleshy ; Iiocks, or houghs, strong, wide, and pretty "vvell let down ; legs remark- ably fine, with a full projwrtion 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 symmetry of his form indicates uncommon strength and hardihood. He was bred by Mr. Le- muel Long, near Halifax, in the State of Kortli Carolina, and foaled on the 17th day of June, 1819. 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 Valiaut, g. g. g. g. dam by Janus, g. g. g. g. g. dam by Jolly Hoger ; which four last named are imported horses, and are to be found in the English Stud Book. Eclipse is a dark f sorrel horse, with a star, the near hind foot w^hite, said to be fifteen hands three inches in height, but in fact measures, by the standard, only fifteen hands and two Indies. He possesses great power and substance, being well spread and full made throughout his whole frame, his general mould being much heavier than M'hat is commonly met with in the thoroughbred blood-horse ; he is, however, right in the cardinal points, very deei> in the girth, with a good length of waist ; loin wide and strong ; shoulder by no means fine, being somewhat thick and heav^y, yet strong and deep ; breast wide, and apjjarently 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 has not an equal ; with long and full muscular thighs, let down almost to the houghs, which are * Son of imported Diomed. f We should not call him a dark chestnut. PKDIGRKE OF ECIJPSK. 187 also particularly long, and well let down npon the cannon 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 extraordi- nary 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 gal- lops ; if he have a fault, it is that of falling a little too heavy on his fore feet, and dwelling 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. He was sired by Duroc, a Virginia horse, bred by Wade Moseby, Esq., and got by imported chestnut Diomed, out of Amanda, by Gray Diomed, a son of old Medley. His — Eclipse's ■ — dam was the noted gray mare Miller's Damsel, got by imported Messenger. His grandam, an English mare, imported when three years old, in 1795, by William Constable, Esq., of New York, bred by Lord Grosvenor, and sired by PotSos, son of English Eclipse. His g. g. dam by Gimcrack, Gimcrack by Cripple, and Cripple by the Godolphin Arabian. He was bred by General ]N"atlianiel Coles, of Queens County, Long Island, and foaled on the 25th of May, 1814. All horses date their age from the 1st of May. Thus a horse foaled any time in the year 1819, would be considered four years old on the 1st 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 cany the regulated weight — agreeably to the then rules of the course — for a four-year-old, viz. 108 lbs. Eclipse, being nine years old, carried weight for an aged horse, 126 lbs. At length the appointed hour arrived, the word was given to saddle, and immediately afterward 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 liand 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 188 THK HORSE. straight line for the lead. The preconcerted 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 liand- somely 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 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 variation, 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 j)art 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 iVom his bridle, making free use of his whip ; when they had swept about three-fourths of the way round the turn, and had ad- vanced within twenty-five rods of ray station, I clearly saw that Crafts was 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 — who I kept stationed by my side, observed, " Eclipse is done." When they passed me about the commencement of the stretch, seventy to eighty rods from home, the space between them was about sixteen feet, or a full length THE FIRST HEAT. . 189 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 maintained a hard and steady pull, under which his horse appeared accustomed to run. Crafts continued to make free use of the whip ; his right hand in so doing Avas 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 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 belaboring 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 Y min. 37^ sec. Many watches, and mine — which was held by a gentleman on the stand — among others, made it 7 min. 40 sec. ; and this time the Southern gentlemen reported — see Mr. Johnson's letter of the 28th of May, ad- dressed to Mr. Crawford, editor of the Yirginia Times. I pushed immediately up to the winning j)ost, in order to view the situation of the respective horses, after this very try- ing 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 annoyed, and unnecessarily distressed him ; the cause of his throwing out his tail, and flirting it up and down, as already observed, was now apparent ; 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 trick- ling down the inside of his hind legs, appeared conspicuously 190 THK HORSE. upon the white hind foot, and gave a more doleful appearance to the discouraging scene of a lost heat. Tlie incapacity of Crafts to manage Eclipse — who required much urging, and at the same time to be pulled hard — was ap- parent to all ; he being a slender made lad, in body weight about 100 lbs. 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, npon which long faces grew shorter, and Northern hope revived.— Six to four Avas, nevertheless, oifered on the Southern horse, but no takers. Second Heat. — ^The horses, after a lapse of 30 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 per- fectly at home, and self-coniident. The signal being again given, he went off rapidly from the start ; Sir Henry being now entitled 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 ad- versary, up to the top of his rate, without giving 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 towards the conclusion of the thii-d mile they had arrived nearly opposite the four-mile distance post. Here Mr. Purdy made his run, and when they had ad- vanced forty rods further, which brought 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 Buck- THE SECOND HEAT. 191 ley, the jockey, who kept close to me during the whole race. We i^ushed out into the centre, or open space of the ground, in order to obtain a more distinct view of the struggle, wdiich we saw making, for the lead ; every thing 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 of Henry ; I felt alarmed for the consequence, satisfied that he had thus hazarded all ; I feared that Walden would take advantage of his position, 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 were entering 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 persuaders, 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 handker- chiefs, 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, understanding 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 hj 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 192 THE HORSE. Mr. Purdj ran up and took the inside track from Lis adversary. The circumstance was in the months of hundreds. In corrobo- ration of wliich, I will quote a passage from the New York Evening Post, of May 28th, 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 favora- ble moment that presented, when appearing to aim at the out- side, he might gain the inside, made a dash at him accordingly, and 2?assed him on the lefty Here, then, the observations of many, independent of my friend Mr. M. Buckley, or myself, added to the instantaneous and striking remark of B., which did not fail to rivet my pecu- liar attention, form a wonderful coincidence. Thus circum- stanced, and long conversant with turf 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 notwithstanding. 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 thirty 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, ap- plying 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 sj)eed and strength, without keeping any thing in reserve for the run in. Sir Henry continued to trail, apparently under a pull, never attempting to come up, until they had both ftiirly entered the straight run towards the termi- nation of the last mile, and had advanced within about sixty rods from home. Here Sir Henry being about five yards be- hind, 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 ap- pearance of going past ; he made a severe struggle for about THE SECOND CHALLENGE. 193 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 110 lbs., being two 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 min- utes, 50f seconds, or an average of Y minutes, 57 seconds each heat ; or 1 minute, 59 seconds per mile. Notwithstanding this defeat, the Southern sportsmen contin- ued to be inspired with so much confidence in tlieir 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. To John C. Stevens, Esq. Long Island, May 28, 1823. Sir — I will ran 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 dol- lars ; forfeit ten thousand dollars. The forfeit and stake to be deposited in the Branch Bank of the United States at Washing- ton, at any nameable time, to be appointed by you. Although this is addressed to you individually, it is intended for all the betters on Eclipse, and if agreeable to you and them, you may have the liberty of substituting at the starting post, in the place of Eclipse, any horse, mare, or gelding, foaled and owned on the northern and eastern side of the JSTorth River, pro- vided, 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 run- ning at Washington city, the rules of that Jockey Club must govern of course. I am respectfully, yours, William R. Johnson. Vol. I.— 13 194: THE UOIiSE. ANSWEK. Dear Sir — The bet just decided was made under circum- stances of excitement, which might in some measure apologize for its rashness, but would scarcely justify it as an example ; and I trust the part I took in it, will not be considered as a proof of my intention to become a patron of sporting on so ex- tensive a scale. For myself, then, I must decline the oflfer. 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 fleetuess, directed by consummate skill, has hitherto failed to accom- plish. For Mr. Van Ranst I answer, that he owes it to the associa- tion who have so confidently supported him, to the State at large, who have felt and expressed so much interest in his suc- cess, and to himself as a man, not totally divested of feeling, 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. Wm. E.. Johnson, Esq. As Mr. -Van Eanst, in a little work issued from the press, at his instance, entitled, " The History of American Eclipse," has touched upon the comparative powers of the English race- horses, of the past and present day, before I take leave of the subject, I propose, hereafter, to offer a few remarks in reply. An Old Tukfmajs'. PEDIGEEE AND PERFORMANCES OF ARIEL. Fifty-seven race»— forty-two times a winner, andof seventeen four-mile heats — having run 345 miles — travelled near 3,000 — and won about $25,000. Of all the descendants of American Eclipse, none have held, and held deservedly, a higher place than this noble mare. Her pedigree is undeniable ; her performances, in regard to stoutness more particularly, almost miraculous. I well remember, long before my arrival in this country, long, indeed, before I entertained any indea of making it my home, reading of her performances in the English newspapers, at a time when matters of local interest in America, sejdora found a j^lace in the European prints, and to be mentioned in them was, in itself, a proof of real celebrity. She was a beautiful gray, about fifteen hands high, of good proportions, strong make, and, in action, said to have been strik- ingly handsome. The following account is from the American Turf Register of Sept., 1834. Ariel certainly ranks with the best race-horses of any age or clime. To adopt the language of a valued correspondent, " we doubt whether any horse of any ' region ' ever did more good running, attended with such extensive and constant travel." From reference to English works and to our own pages, we find no account of any horse that has either run or won as many races. In her last campaign in " the race-horse region," she ran and won thirty-six miles in fifteen days : the first race, four-mile 196 THE HORSE. heals at Norfolk, beating horses of high reputation, and winning the second lieat in Tm. 43s, ; the next a race of three-mile heats, at Broad Rock, where at four heats, the last in 5m. 47s., she beat the " crack nags " of Virginia ; and the third, another race of four-mile heats, severely contested, again won in four heats, and in extraordinary time. On the eighth day thereafter she was beaten, the four-mile heats, by a very superior three-year- old ; an excellent race ; yet, in the two consecutive weeks, im- mediately succeeding, she won two more races. Tlie English "patriarchs" Childers, Eclipse, and Highflyer, probably had more sj^eed ; and our Timoleon,* Gallatin, Sally Walker, and Henry, have run one, two, three, and four miles, something quicker than Ariel, but neither of them exhibited the same degree of bottom and durability ; few were put to the same test, nor do we believe as much money has been staked on either. Others, in England, equally or more distinguished in some respects, were not as much so in others. If it were her fate sometimes to encounter a superior, she was never beaten by that one in a second camioa'iyn ; when Monsieur Tonson and Sally Walker were her victors, during the short period of their glorious triumphs, she may not have been in equal condition. Recovering readily from the effects of a hard race, she started every season, at every meeting within her reach, wearing down all opponents ; she was never known to be lame, even to the close of her long and brilliant career. When beat by Flirtilla in their great match, so admirably described by "An Old Turfman," she yielded to a noble foe, who had borne off every laurel that season, and, the next, con- tinued her triumphs, until she broke down with the wreath of victoryf almost within her grasp. " It was considered marvel- lous, that a three-year-old should make such a contest witJi such an adversary ;" especially as she must have been " huri-ied in her work," to have changed her condition in the brief interval from her other match. * One, two, three and four miles have been run by them in Im. 478., 3m. 43s., 5m. 42s., and "Zm. 38s. \ Flirtilla, in the Jockey Club race, four-mile heats, at Xewmarket, having won the first heat, severely contested by Shakspcare, broke down in the second ; and the race was won by Gohanna, who had merely saved his distance the first heat. PEDIGREE OF ARIEL. 197 In the aggregate^ taking into view speed, bottom, and dura- bility ; amount of running, travel, and of sums " lost and won" on her, we think Ariel stands unrivalled. Her time, from one to four miles and more, is scarce second, at any distance, to any on authentic record. At three years old, she ran a mile on the Union Course, winning several lengths, well in hand, in Im. 48s. ; a few weeks after she won a three-mile heat, running the two last miles in 3m. 47s. ; at eight years old, on the same course, she was beat about two lengths by Arietta, in two miles, run in 3m. 44s. ; at five years old, she ran a second heat of three miles, beat about a length, by Sally Walker, in 5m. 42s. ; and at six years old, won readily a second heat of four miles in 7m. 43s. Such stoutness was never exemplified, as in her sixteen-mile race at Newmarket ; where, after winning the second heat of four miles, she closely contested the third., run in Im. 57s., and won the fourth four-mile heat in 8m. 4«. .■' — the best third and fourth heats ever run. Of the ffty-seven races she has run, she has he&n. fo7'ty-two times a winner, having actually won seventeen Jockey Cluh purses, of four-7nile heats, and run in public more than 345 miles. For five years, from the spring she was three, to the autumn of eight years old, she was the ornament and dread of the turf, from IN'ew York to Georgia. She must have travelled at least 3,000 miles — perhaps more. In her matches, and Jockey Club purses, she has " lost and won" about $50,000. Ariel's pedigree is worthy of her performances. Her own brothers — Lance, a year older than herself, a distinguished runner that beat the famous Trouble, a great match — O'Kelly, that beat Flying Dutchman, Mary Randolph, and others, with such eclat as to bring $5,000 — and St. Leger in the great sweepstake in Baltimore, where he was so unaccountably beaten, but has since beat Terror — ^her own sister Angeline, and half brother Splendid, by Duroc, that was beat at three years old, in a produce match, by Col. Johnson's Medley — are all well known to fame. Her grandam gray mare Empress, has also been regarded one of the most renowned race nags and brood mares of the North. Octo- ber, 1804, at four years old, she very unexpectedly beat the 198 iiiK iroKSK. famous First Consul, I'or the Jockey Club purse, four-mile heats, at Harlem, N. Y. The first race he lost. Besides combining the three valued crosses of Ilerod, Matchem, and Eclipse, it will be observed Ariel's pedigree is "richly imbued with the best English blood ; " to which she traces almost directly from Childers, Partner, Crab, Snap, Cade, Spark, Othello, Gimcrack, Mambrino^ Medley, PotSos, Messenger Baronet, Diomed, &c. ; besides deriving her descent from the best early importations. No other stock probably partakes as much of the Messenger blood — ^no less than four crosses ; with two, not very remote, from English Eclipse, two from Gimcrack, two from imported Pacolet, and three from imjjorted Spark. Her color sustains her valuable origin — running so much into the Arabian blood. To correct what may seem trifling errors in the pedigree of Ariel, before published, we now furnish it in full ; as collated with all the information to be obtained, from the most authentic sources — especially Edgar's "American Stud Book." From the certificates published in the second volume of the American Turf Kegister, page 566, it appears Ariel was bred in 1822, by Mr. Gerrit Yanderveer, of Flatbush, on Long Island, Kings county, New York ; and that she was got by American Eclipse ; her dam by Financier \ grandam Empress, by imported Baronet ; great grandam, by imp. Messenger ; her dam by Snap out of Jenny Duter, by True Briton ; her dam Quaker Lass by imported Juniper, out of the imported Molly Pacolet, by imp. Pacolet ; Molly Pacolet's dam by imported Spark, out of Queen Mab, also imported, by Musgrove's gray Arabian — Hampton Court Childers — chestnut Arabian — Leed's — Barb mare, Slugey, dam of Croft's famous Greyliound, imported into England by Mr. Marshall, master of the horse, in the reign of William and Mary, of course anterior to 1694. American Eclipse, bred by Gen. Coles of L. L, foaled 1814 ; was got by Duroc, his dam the famed race mare Miller's Damsel, by imported Messenger, out of the imjjortcd PotSos mare ; her dam by Gimcrack. Duroc, bred by Wade Mosely, Esq., of Powhatan county, Yirginia, foaled 1809 : was got by imported Diomed, out of Mr. Mosely's " extraordinaiy race mare Amanda," by Col. Tayloe's famed gray Diomed, son of imp. Ariel's ancestry. 199 Medley. Thus far Eclipse's pedigree is unquestioned ; for the balance, see American Turf Kegister, p. 50, vol. 4. Of Sir Charles Bunbury's Diomed, imported into Yirginia 1799, having " filled the measure of his glory," nothing more need be said. Messenger, foaled 1788, imported about 1800 into Pennsylvania, was also a race-horse of repute at Newmarket ; he won some good races, and lost but few.* He was a gray, of great sub- stance ; was got by Mambrino, a very superior stallion, his dam by Turf, son of Matchem, Eegulus — Starling — Snap's dam. See English Stud Book, and American EclijDse's pedigree in full, American Turf Register, p. 51, vol. 4. Financier was got by Tippoo Saib ; dam by imp. Messenger, grandam by Bashaw ; great-grandam by Young Bulle Eock — the famed Selim — Hopper's imported Pacolet. Tippoo Saib, a capital racer by imported Messenger, his dam imported, by Northumberland — Snap — Gypsey by Bay-Bolton — Duke of Newcastle's Turk — Byerly Turk. Tippoo Saib was sire to the famous Tippoo Sultan, that beat First Consul, 1807, and chal- lenged Miller's Damsel ; and was out of Financier's grandam by Bashaw, own brother to the famous race mare Slammerkin ; the ancestor to Ratler, Sumter, Childers, Flirtilla, Polly Hopkins, Lady Relief, Jackson, &c., the son of imported Wildair, by Cade, out of " the imported Cub mare." Young Bulle Rock, by Bulle Rock, son of imported Spark ; dam by imp. Bulle Rock, imported 1730 into Yirginia — imp. Dabster — imported mare, out of the famed Britannia, own sister to True Briton, by imp. Othello ; her dam Gant's imported Milley. Imp. Bulle Rock, by the Darley Arabian — Lister Turk — ^Natural Arabian mare. Lnported Dabster by Hobgoblin — Spanker — Hautboy. Selim, foaled in Maryland, 1759, was got by the famed imp. Othello, out Col. Tasker's famous brood mare, imported Selima, by the Godolphin Arabian — said to be sister to Babraham, out of the large Hartley mare. Selim, the best race-horse of his day, was purchased of Col. Tasker, at one year old, for £1000, by Sam'l Galloway, Esq., who beat with him all competitors, in the best time, until after nine years old. See American Turf Register, vol. 1, pp. 17, 62, and 480. * It has been erroneously stated that imported Messenger never was beat. He lost several races in 1785. See English Racing Calendar. 200 THE HORSE. Financier, a famous racer, was owned and probably bred by Isaac Duckett, Esq., of Prince George's county, tlie land of his maternal ancestry. — J. V. Bond, of Pennsylvania, also ran with success, 1812-13, a chestnut horse called Financier. Baronet, bay, sixteen hands high, foaled 1785, bred by Sir W. Vavasour, owned and run by the Prince of Wales — George lY. — was imported into N ew York. He was got by Yertumnus, out of Penultima, by Snap — Cade — Crab — Childers — Confede- rate filly by gray Grantham — Duke of Rutland's Black Barb. Yertumnus by Eclipse, dam by Sweeper — son of Sloe — out of the Tartar mare. Mercury's dam. Baronet, a capital racer, won for the Prince of Wales — winner, on the occasion, of 17,000 guineas — the great Oatland stakes at Ascot, 1791-2, 100 subscribers, 100 guineas each, beating the best horses of England, a handicap, for all ages. Snap — Gen. Heard's — was got by imp. Figure, out of " Heard's thoroughbred mare Nettle.''* Hamilton's imp. Figure, ran with great celebrity in Maryland, 1768 ; he beat the famous Selim, four-mile heats ; was imp. in Maryland, 1765, he was got by Figure — son of Standard — out of Mary Ann, by Croft's Part- ner — Bald Galloway. He ran with celebrity in Maryland. True Briton by imported Othello, out of Gant's imported Milley. Othello — ^imported 1757, by Gov. Sharpe, of Mary- land — ^by Crab, out of Miss Slammerldn, by Young True Blue. T]-ue Briton was a racer of celebrity ; he ran a great match, dis- tancing Old England at Harlem, 'New York ; and another near Philadeli^hia, in 1765-6, in great time, considering weight, but was beat by the famous Selim, for 500 pistoles. Juniper, imported into Yirginia, 1761, was got by Babra- ham, out of Aura, by Stamford Turk ; grandam, sister to Con- queror, by Fox; g. grandam, by Childers, — the dam of Crab, Snip, Blacklegs, &c. — Basto — Curwen's Bay Barb — Curwen's Spot — Lowther Barb — Yintner mare. Juniper, a celebrated racer, won fourteen out of eighteen races, running second in the four he lost. Hopper's imported Pacolet, was got by Spark, — afterward * 1112 Delancy'a Nettle, by imported Granby, probably the same as Heard's, beat Selim, thirteen years old, and other famed horses, the four-mile heats, at An- napolis, vol. 1. p. 97. AEIEL S PERFOKMANCES. 201 imiDorted, out of Queen Mab, also imported as above. It would appear Molly Pacolet was got by Pacolet— son of Spark— out of his own sister by imp. Spark, son of Honeycomb Punch, out of Wilkes' Old Hautboy mare, " he was a present to Gov. Ogle, of Maryland, from Lord Baltimore,* to whom he had been pre- sented by His Eoyal Highness, Frederic Prince of Wales "— father to George III. Further detail is wholly unnecessary, in regard to the residue of Ariel's pedigree, which rmis to the early horses of England — Arabians and Barbs. PERFORMANCES. Ariel having passed through many hands while on the turf; and, at a period, until her last year of racing, when there was no general "Eegister"to record her achievements ; we have made this compilation from several creditable sources, for which we owe obligation ; especially to " ISTumidian," for the account of her career in the South ; and to Godolphin, for that of one of her splendid achievements at the I^orth. The Old Turfman, to whom we must be satisfied now to refer, has already received our thanks, and those of a grateful community. 1. 1825, April. Ariel, three years old, won a race of one hundred rods, against an Eclipse filly— Flying Dutchman's dam — and a horse by Duroc. 2. A fortnight after, she again won a race of one hundred rods, beating Fox by Duroc, Flying Dutchman's dam, and a Duroc colt. Fox, a gelding yet on the turf, was for many years the crack mile horse of the JSTorth— almost invincible in a single mile— at which he beat the famous Kentucky mile horse Snow Ball, by half a length, at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in Im. 49s. for $1000. Snow Ball, a few weeks before, had beaten the famed Arietta — a match one thousand yards, for $1000. 3. Shortly after she won, mile heats, for a set of silver spoons, beating Fox, Mr. Van Eanst's Eclipse colt. Flying Dutchman's dam, and Agnes, by Sir Solomon. Fox being drawn, Ariel distanced the field the second heat. * Lord Baltimore was about this period the leader of the Prince's— the opposi- tion— party in Parliament.— See Walpole's letters. The present of a horse so famed as Spark, was to be regarded as a special favor. 202 THE HORSE. 4. Immediately after, she won a match against Mr, John Stevens' Flagellator, then considered the fastest mile horse at the North. 5. May. Ariel won with great ease, for H. Lynch, Esq., a match against a Bussorah colt — $1000 each — two miles. 6. October. The ensuing autumn, at the same course, Mr. Lynch won, with her, a match, $5000 a side, against Col. W. R. Johnson's Lafayette, also three-year-old, by Virginian — mile heats. A " Spectator " differs from the Old Turfman's account, — in American Turf Register, vol. 2. p, 555 — and thinks Ariel won with ease, by four lengths, each heat. Time, Im. 48s. — Im. 52s. 7. October. Three weeks thereafter, on the Union Course, backed by other Northern gentlemen, in union with Messrs. Lynch and Yerplanck, she ran a match* for $20,000 a side, three-mile heats, against Gen. Wynn's Flirtilla, then five years old, and deemed in the South to be superior to any nag in the country — also backed by Col. Johnson and other Virginia gentlemen. A severe contest — and won in three heats. Less than six inches decided the second heat, and the issue of as much as $50,000. Time, 5m. 54s. — two last miles, 3m. 47s. — 5m. 54s. — 5m. 54s. ARIEL AND FLIRTILLA RAGE. By the Old Turfman — ^D. C. Golden, Esq. October 31st. Match for $20,000, heats. Gen. Wm. Wynn's b. m. Flirtilla, by Sir Archy ; dam by Robin Redbreast ; five years old ; 113 lbs. Mr. Henry Lynch's gr. f. Ariel, by Eclipse; dam by Finan- cier,f three years old ; 87 lbs. This match grew out of a very extraordinary challenge, * The match grew out of an extraordinary challenge to run Ariel four-mile heats, against any nag to be named, for $1000 on each turn, — four to a mile, — and $10,000, the main race. But for the mode of running the first heat, and accident in the second, the time would have been better. f For the full pedigrees of Ariel, Financier, and dam of Tippoo Saib, see the preceding pages. ARIEL'S CONDITIOX. 203 given by the owner of Ariel, at the dinner table in the club room, on the 4 th inst., to run Ariel four-mile heats ^ against any nag to he nanied^ for $1,000 on each turn or qua/rter pole, four turns to the mile^ and $10,000 on the main race. This was not taken. On the daj following, he gave a second challenge, to run Ariel four-mile heats, against any horse, mare or gelding that might then le named., that day six weeks, for $20,000, which was accepted by Dr. Wyche, of Korth Carolina, who najned Flirtilla, and oiFered to increase the bet to $50,000, which was not acceded to. A gentleman present, confederate with the owner of Ariel, a few minutes afterward, made two other bets with Dr. Wyche, of $5,000 each ; thus the match, although nominally for $20,000, was, in point of effect, for $30,000. By a subsequent arrangement, the distance was al- tered from four to three-mile heats, ^nd the 31st of that month — October — agreed upon as the day of trial. The gray filly, which had been trained for the race, between her and Lafayette, by Mr. Eichard Jackson, — who, I must in justice say, brought her to the post in tip-top order, — was taken out of his hands, and her future management, or preparation, confided to Mr. Samuel Laird, a trainer of some experience, whose recent success had rendered him popular ; and Flirtilla, who had heretofore been trained by Gen. Wynn's black servant Charles, under the General's superintendence, was now put under the direction of Mr. William R. Johnson. Ariel also changed her rider ; and, in place of Black Hany, who had ridden her ad- mirably against Lafayette, Mr. Laird's nephew, Madison Laird, was chosen as her jockey. Bob Wooden rode Flirtilla. After the termination of the regular purse races, on the 6th inst., business called me to the North ; I did not return until the 30th, consequently, had viewed neither of the horses during this latter part of their train. Some of my friends who had taken a pretty deep interest, were desirous that I would examine their condition and give my opinion. Li pursuance of which, I re- paired to the stables, on the afternoon immediately preceding the day of the race, and was politely permitted, by the owners of the respective horses, to take a view. I found Ariel by no means in the order to be desired ; her coat was harsh, and her skin clapped down tight, exhibiting infallible signs of her having 204 TIIK HOKSE. been overmarked, or having had her pores collapsed ; and I, without hesitation, told a friend who had backed her, that she was wrong ; that whether she won or lost, she would not relieve herself by perspiring freely, either while running or after the heat ; that nothing but an accident or a miracle could give her the race, and advised him to get his money off. On the other hand, the coat of Flirtilla had a satin like-gloss ; the skin when taken hold of, showed nothing like adhesion to the body, and handled like a rich, pliable, yet elastic velvet. She was drawn completely into muscle, yet fresh upon her legs ; while her ani- mated countenance gave assurance that her spirits were un- broken. Betting went on briskly — no odds asked or given. At length the long and anxiously looked-for day arrived; and, with the excej)tiou of the great match between Eclipse and Henry, the course was never more thronged. Numbers arrived from the South, and the Northern sportsmen were on the ground to a man. Betting went on merrily, and some individuals had from $7,000 to $15,000 at stake. The hour of 1 was now at hand, and the bugle sounded the call ; the summons was obeyed. ISText were heard the orders, " saddle," " mount," '' come up." The signal tap next re- sounded, and off they flew. Each presently took a hard pull, with intent to wait upon his adversary ; but the light weight was unable to restrain the impetuosity of the gray filly, and necessity compelled him to lead. The bay mare now trailed close in her rear, and thus they proceeded, at a mode- rate rate, to the end of the first round or mile ; run in slow time, 2m. 128. Here stood Mr. Johnson, upon whom the lively Bob Wooden, as he advanced, fixed an eye, which quickly caught the signal to make play. He dashed forward, and as by a single bound, was three lengths ahead, before young Laird, taken by surj^rise, could call out the filly. Away they went, at a killing pace ; and, as they passed round to the termi- nation of the second mile, the bay mare still leading, the cry was, " Hold her steady, and let her go." The stride was ex- cessive, the gather quick, the stroke regular; no floundering, no laboring, no dwelling, no clambering, nothing abroad ; the ARIEL AND FLIRTILLA. 205 rate was tremendous ; thus tliey went along, until they arrived at the middle of the back part of the course, in the third or last round ; the gray filly trailing full twenty yards. Here she let out, and, as if with magic speed, came up, challenged, and took the lead ; all in a run of forty rods, and before she arrived at the half-mile pole of this last round. Flirtilla, however, fol- lowed in a determined and spirited manner ; but Ariel kept up her rate, and although she dropped a little, coming up the stretch, came in from three to four lengths ahead. Time of running the 1st mile in this heat, - - 2m. 12s. Time of running the two last miles, - - - - 3m. 47s. Time of running the heat, 5m. 59s. I took a view of the horses, as soon as they were stripped and led off to their rubbing places. Ariel appeared a little swollen about the loins, what is termed filleted ; did not per- spire freely, or relieve herself as she ought. Flirtilla showed also some symptoms of distress ; but nothing which indicated being overmarked. The race I now considered — barring acci- dents — insured to Flirtilla. Second Heat. — Flirtilla went to work in earnest ; she chal- lenged at the start, passed ahead, and kept up a telling pace ; Ariel following with all her power, but each round dropping farther and farther behind. In the second mile it was evident that her chance was out. Toward the termination of the last mile, when Flirtilla entered upon the quarter stretch, she had beaten the gray filly full 100 yards, and thus far in advance was she when she passed the four-mile distance, 40 rods from home ; but as she neared the crowd, and had arrived within 20 or 25 rods of the winning post, became sulky or restive, refused to run, actually braced herself, and it was with the greatest dif- ficulty that her rider prevented her from coming to a full stop. Young Laird, having given up all idea of winning the heat, and intending barely to drop within the distance post, seeing that something was the matter, clapped whip and spur to the filly, and brought her up at a rattling pace ; but it was too late, the distance, yet to be measured, too short; one more stride would 206 THE HORSE. have given liim the heat. It was a hair-breadth business ; — ad- judged to Flirtilla by only six inches. Time, 5m. 54^s. Two to one on Flu-tilla. Third Heat. — It was now evident that Flirtilla had the field at command, and that nothing, save her restiveness, left any chance to Ariel. At the summons they both took their stations, and the signal being given, went off at a rattling pace ; Flir- tilla taking the lead, and keeping on at a life or death -like pace, apparently determined neither to give nor receive quarter. Bob Wooden had orders to keep her steadily on, and he did so ; gradually dropping the filly, who in the second round, was dead beat. She, however, kept up a hopeless struggle to the last, falling in the rear full 100 yards. Thus terminated a match, twice lost to the Northern sports- men, which proper preparation, or good management, would have given them. So much for changing a successful trainer and rider. The epitaph, " I was well and wished to be better — took physic, and here I am," was never more fully verified than in this case. An Old Turfjian. Mk. Editor ; "An Old Turfman" is mistaken in supposing that Ariel beat Flirtilla the first heat, in their match, more than a neck. Both of them came in under whip and spur. The crowd prevented my seeing, when Ariel obtained the lead in the last round, but I did not see her more than half a length ahead. Between the distance and the winning stand Flirtilla gained from the girth to the shoulders.* Ariel was on the outside on coming in — a strong proof that she had not cleared Flirtilla, on getting the lead. Had Flirtilla run from the start, or made her run a little sooner, she would have taken the heat ; and it is believed would have won the match that day, even though the race had been two-mile heats instead of three. Ariel on no occasion showed * Com. Ridgely was in the winning stand at the race, and will no doubt confirm mv vccollections. HER FOUR-YEAR-OLD RACES. 207 more speed, if slie was in other respects amiss. Had " An Old Turfman" examined the condition of Vanity in her match with Count Piper, he would have discovered she was in worse order, and that was not ascribable to her trainer. It is to be hoped this correction may not be unacceptable to " An Old Turfman," but that he will continue his valuable com- mimications. Should there be mistakes, the correction may be made. Good racing deserves good descriptions, such as his. One of the Judges. She was now purchased by gentlemen of the South, and placed in Gen. Wynn's stable. 8. 1826. April. At Belfield, Yirginia, she was beaten by Col. Johnson's Shakspeare, four years old, by Yirginian, for the Jockey Club purse, $400, three-mile heats. Was probably too high. 9. May. At N'ewmarket, she won the post stake $400, three- mile heats, beating Mr. Field's Mark Time, four years old, by Gallatin — a very superior three-mile horse — in fine style and time ; but we are unable to furnish particulars. iNext week Mark Time won the three-mile heat in the best time known at Tree Hill. 10. At Tree Hill, the next week, she won with ease the Jockey Club purse, $1000, beating Mr. Field's Gohanna— the first race he lost — Col. Johnson's Betsey Eichards, and Mr. Har- rison's Frantic. Time, 8m. Ys.— 8m. 2s. The preceding week at Kewmarket, Gohanna and Betsey Richards had been winners, both running severe races, of twelve miles, beating Flirtilla, Shakspeare, Janet, and others. 11. At Nottoway, the following week, she won the Jockey Club purse, $400, four-mile heats, beating Gohanna again, with others. 12. September. At Nottoway, she won with ease, in one heat, the Jockey Club purse, $400, four-mile heats, beating Col. Johnson's Shakspeare. 13. At Broad Rock, she won with great ease, the Jockey Club purse, $500, three-mile heats. 14. October. At Newmarket, the next week, she won clev- erly the Jockey Club purse, $600, four-mile heats, beating Mr. 208 THE HOKSE. Botts's Phillis — own sister to Golianna — and Col. Jolinson's Betsey Arclier. 15. At Tree Hill, the week following, she ran second to the famous Monsieur Tonson, four years old, by Pacolet, for tlie Jockey Club purse, won cleverly in two heats. Mr. Botts's Go- lianna distanced. Monsieur Tonson trailed Ariel, the first heat, until the last quarter, when in passing, the saddle of Ariel hav- ing slipped, she had to give up the contest ; the second heat was run in the same way, and Monsieur Tonson, to general astonishment, won by more than a clear length. Time, 8m. 48. — 7m. 57s. — the best time at Tree Hill, excepting the second heat, won the preceding year, by Phillis, in 7m. 56s., closely contested by Betsey Pobinson, winner of the race, and the second heat, also in 7m. 56s., won by Yirginia Lafayette beating Flirtilla and Marion. 16. At Belfield, the succeeding fortnight, she was again beaten by Monsieur Tonson, in a Jockey Club race, three-mile heats, an extremely interesting race of three heats — Sally Walker won the first heat — Lafayette also in the race — said to have been well-contested and run in fine time ; but we regret being unable to gwQ f mother particulars. 17. IS'ovember. At Halifax, IST. C, the next week, she was beaten by Monsieur Tonson, for the Jockey Club purse, $400, three-mile heats. Two weeks after at Boydton, was run the memorable race between Monsieur Tonson and Sally Walker, " the best four-mile race," all things considered, ever run in America — won cleverly by the former — his last race but one — in 7m. 55s. and 7m. 54s. 18. 1827. January. Ariel was next travelled to Augusta, Georgia, where she won easily the Jockey Club pui-se, $500, four-mile heats. 19. February. She travelled thence to Charleston, S. C, where she received tlie amount of the Jockey Club purse, $600, being withdrawn in favor of Ked Gauntlet, the ostensible win- ner. 20. Next day she won the $400 purse, three-mile heats. 21. Two days after, the handicap purse, $400, three-mile heats. Thus running as a four-year old, fifteen races — two in one FTVE-TEAE-OLD RACES. 209 week — of wliich she won eleven and lost but four — three to the famous Monsieur Tonson, and one to Shakspeare, whom she af- terward beat. 22. May. At Kewmarket, Ariel, now five years old, won the Jockey Club purse, $600, four-mile heats, beating with ease, Maid of Lodi, Atalanta and Phillis. Time, 7m. 58s. — 8m. 8s. After this race, $2000 was given by Mr. Wyche for six weeks' use of Ariel. 23. At Tree Hill, the next week, she won the Jockey Club purse, $1000, with a post stake $500, each four subscribers, mak- ing the sum of $3000, four-mile heats, beating with ease Mr. Botts's Gohanna, the famed Sally McGee, and Maid of Lodi. — Monsieur Tonson, calculated upon in the race, had broken down, and Sally Walker had gone to the Union Course, where, in three four-mile heats, she beat Lance — own brother to Ariel — and Janet, own sister to Sir Charles. Track excessively heavy — at places near knee-deep with mud and water. 24. At Broad Rock, the week following, she won the Jockey Club purse, $500, beating Lafayette and others. 25. At Norfolk, the next week, she won the Jockey Club purse, $500, four-mile heats, beating Gohanna and the cele- brated Sally Hope, four years old, by Sir Archy — track also very deep. The defeat of the latter has been ascribed to the state of the course. See her memoir, American Turf Register. 26. June. At Nottoway, shortly thereafter, she won the Jockey Club purse, $400, three-mile heats, beating Gohanna, Sally McGee, Red Gauntlet and others. A capital race. Go- hanna ran in reserve the first heat, won in 5m. 50s., and closely contested the next, an uncommonly severe heat, won in 5m. 46s. Thus Ariel, in one campaign, won all her five Jockey Club races, three of them four-mile heats ; beating most of the best horses — without taking into consideration the three races, won a few months before in Georgia and South Carolina. Having previously passed through several hands, the veteran Wynn be- ing dead, Ariel was now bought for $1600, by his nephew. Col. "Wm. "Wynn. 2Y. September. At Broad Rock, for the Jockey Club purse, $500, three-mile heats, Ariel was beaten, in a severely con- tested race, by Sally Walker, five years old, by Timoleon ; but Vol. L— 14 210 THE HORSE. beat, in both heats, Lafayette and another. Sally Walker was comparatively fresh, having run but one race in the spring, which she won with ease — though in three heats — and was then declared to be the best nag from the South, that had ever been introduced on the Union Course. Ariel was not in condi- tion — too high ; nor did she get exactly " in fix " during the campaign. The time of this race is the best on our records, 5m. 44-s. — 5m. 42s. 28. At ISTewmarket, the next week, she was beaten easily, by Sally Walker, for the Jockey Club purse, $600, four-mile heats. 29. October. At Tree Hill, the following week, she won the post stakes, $450, a single four miles, beating Col. John- son's famed Trumpator, four years old, by Sir Solomon, and others. 30. At l!^ottoway, the next week, she won with ease the Jockey Club purse, $400, three-mile heats, beating Col. John- son's famed Medley, three years old, by Sir Hal, in one heat. 31. At Belfield, the week following, she was beaten by Sally Walker, for the Jockey Club purse, $400, three-mile heats. An uncommonly severe race — scarce a shade of difier- ence between them. Time, 5m. 46s. — 5m. 48s. 32. November. At Halifax, N. C, she was again beaten, the succeeding week, by Sally Walker, for the Jockey Club purse, $400, four-mile heats. 33. At Scotland Neck, a few weeks after, she won the Jockey Club purse. 34. 1828. January. She was then travelled to Augusta, Georgia, where she won the Jockey Club purse, $500, four- mile heats, beating Col. Myers' Lady Deerpond and others. 35. February. Thence to Charleston, S. C, where she was beaten for the Jockey Club purse, $600,— and a bet of $1000, — four-mile heats, by Mr. Singleton's Crusader, four years old, by Sir Archy. A good race — lost the second heat by scarce two feet. Time not known. 36. A few days thereafter, she won the handicap purse, $400, beating Crusader, who broke down in the first heat, and another. SIX-YEAR-OLD RACES. 211 Thus, as a five-year-old, Ariel ran again fifteen races in one year, of which she lost only five. 37. April. At Belfield, she won the Proprietor's purse, $200, two-mile heats, beating Peggy Madee, by Sir Hal, a famed two-mile nag. See American Turf Register, pp. 98, 204, 252, 514, and 560, vol. 2. — Ariel, now appearing amiss, Col. Wynn was induced to sell her for $2,000, giving a certifi- cate that, while owned by him, " under a continuation of one training, she ran the astonishing distance of ninety-nine miles, mostly under whip and spur — having been vanquished, in several contests, perhaps from want of condition rather than talents." See American Turf Register, vol. 4, p. 495. 38. May. At JSTewmarket, she was beaten, for the Pro- prietor's purse, $300, three-mile heats — well contested — ^by Col. Johnson's Medley, four years old. Each heat ran in 6m. 49s. 39. At Tree Hill, the next week, she won the Jockey Club purse, $1000, four-mile heats, beating Red Murdoch — who had beat Medley, the three-year-old sweepstakes at Newmarket — and Sally McGee. Medley, expected to have run in this race, had fallen lame and never ran again. 40. At Broad Rock, the following week, she won with ease the Jockey Club purse, $500, three mile heats. 41. At Norfolk, the next week, she won the Jockey Club purse, $600, four mile heats. 42. Same meeting, she won a handicap race, for $300, " best three out of five " — mile heats — " won in three or four heats, particulars not recollected." 43. June. At Boydton, the fortnight after, she won the Proprietor's purse, $200, two-mile heats. 44. September. At Norfolk, she won the Jockey Club purse, $500, four-mile heats — a good race, beating cleverly Col. Johnson's Trumpator, and another. — 8m. 2s. — 7m. 43s. — ^the second heat. 45. At Broad Rock, the next week, she won in four heats, the Jockey Club purse, $500, three-mile heats ; beating Trum- pator, Lafayette and others — a good race and in good time — \h& fourth heat in 5m. 47s. ! 46. October. At Newmarket, the week succeeding, she 212 THE ilORSK. won the Jockey Club purse, 8600, four-mile heats, heating in four heats Trumpator, Eed Murdoch and Hypona. Time, 8m. 22s. — 8m. 13s. — 7m. 5Ts. — 8m. 4s. " Red Murdoch won the first heat, in 8m. 22s. ; Ariel and Trumpator both in reserve. Ai-iel took the second heat, with great ease, in 8m. 13s. Intense interest was excited at the prospect of a severe sti'uggle for the third heat—that to an ob- servant eye seemed inevitable. Trumpator, who in many a well disputed field had earned distinguished honor, and more than once excited the apprehensions of his formidable adversary, had yet made no eftbrt in the race ; and was in the hands of a most skilful, deliberate, and experienced turfite. It was ob- vious he alone attracted the notice of his fair adversary, and that the tug of war could no longer be postponed. Never were anticipations more fully realized ; never was reputation more nobly sustained. From tlie onset both pressed forward, with a desperate rush, and maintained a severe and ceaseless press throughout the entire heat. For the four miles, the whip nor spur were idle ; for three and a half it was impossible to con- jecture the result — when Trumpator gained a slight, but preca- rious ascendency, which, with great difficulty, he maintained to the close, coming in a few feet ahead — winning mie of the best heats ever done at Newmarket, and perhaps the vei'y best third heat ever run in this hemisphere, or any where else. Time, Tm. 5Ts. " The readiness with which both recovered and ' cooled off,' surprised those most familiar with the turf. In a short while both were prepared for the decisive engagement. At the sound of the trumpet the ardent competitors appeared, for the fourth time, at the goal — eager for the conflict. At the word they pressed forward with desperate efforts — both conscious that the slightest advantage must prove decisive, in a contest of such equal powers. For a mile and a half their prospects were alike ; Ariel now gained some advantage — ^Trumpator strained every nerve — they are again locked, and all as doubtful as ever. On they fly — urged by every persuasive — ever and anon fiercely called upon, and at every call found worthy of almost bound- less confidence. In the third round, victory inclined to Trum- pator — he gradually cleared his opponent — light appeared be- CONTEST WITH TRUMP ATOE. 213 tween them. But the spirit of Ariel was unsubdued, and her efforts unabated. She firmly maintained the arduous struggle — half a mile more, they were again ' side by side ' — not con- tent, she still pressed forward and regained her lost place. On closing the mile she had gained the track and swept around the turn ' nose and tail.' Up the back stretch continued a tremen- dous struggle — Ariel still maintaining the lead — ^but, in making the sweep of the last tui^n, the prospects of Trumpator seemed to brighten — ^he closed in and entered the quarter stretch ' nose and nose,' Intense interest was at its height — when the for- tunes of Ai-iel decided the conflict — having the track and the firmest ground, Ariel beat him down the stretch, at her utmost speed, by only a few feet — closing the race, and bearing off her well earned laurels, in 8m. 4s. — after one of the most arduous contests ever kno-svu, — amid the acclamations of the multitude. — ' I saw Hemy * do the first heat, with Betsey Richards on his haunches, in 7m. 54s., and repeated it in 7m. oSs. — the best four-mile heats ever run at !N^ewmarket." We regret our limits have compelled us to abridge the account furnished by om* valued correspondent " Numidiajj^^." Kumidian might also have said, that the last heat was the best fourth heat " ever run," in any quarter of the world — 8m. 4s. ! — 20s. better than Eclipse's third heat with Henry, when both were at their utmost speed ; but the rate of their first and second heat " toldy 47. At Tree Hill, the next week, for the Jockey Club purse, SljOOO, four-mile heats, all her older competitors being beaten off or broke down, Kate Kearney and Star, two extra- ordinary three-years-old, only entered the lists with her — it was "gold to copper" on Ariel, notwithstanding her severe race of sixteen miles the preceding week. She led off, in good style, trailed by the others. Star, dm-ing the first three miles, made unavailing efforts for the lead, and then fell back far in the rear — Kate Kearney still trailing — until, on entering the quarter stretch, with an unexpected burst, she went ahead and won the heat in 7m. 59s. Notwithstanding the loss of a heat, * This performance being compared with Henry's on the same course, when run at his best speed, in the very zenith of his fame, leaves scarce a doubt that Ariel was fully equal to him or Eclipse, in their best days. 214 THK HORSE. Ariel was still the favorite ; and led gallantly in the second heat, as before — but near its close was passed by both her competitors, Kate Kearney again winning in fine style ; the others near at hand. A capital race. The second heat — only two seconds more than the first — 8m. Is. — the two heats two seconds quicker than Monsieur Tonson's fine race at Tree Hill — and excellent time, for the course. Kate Kearney — since so celebrated — the preceding week, at Newmarket, had won a great sweepstakes, in good time, beating Slender and another; and two days before her race with Ariel, had won another, two-mile heats, in the best time at Tree Hill, 3m, 57s. and 3m. 50s. — the second heat — beating Slender, Waxy and another. Slender, the next day after her sweepstakes, won the Proprietor's purse, two-mile heats, beat- ing Lafayette, Caswell, Susan Robinson, Sally Drake and an- other, in 3m. 56s., and 3m. 52s. Star, a few weeks before, at Norfolk, had run a severe second heat of two miles, with Polly Hopkins, in 3m. 4:2s. — the best time over that course, twenty- nine yards short of a mile. 48. At Belfield, the week after her Tree Hill race, Ariel won the Proprietor's purse, $200, two-mile heats ; Polly Hop- kins, three years old, won the Jockey Club purse, $400, three- mile lieats, the preceding day, and the next week at New Hope, the Proprietor's purse, $250. 49. November. At New Hope, Halifax county, N. C, Ariel closed her career in the " race-horse region," by winning Ihc Jockey Club purse, $400, three-mile heats. March, 1829, she was purchased of David Branch, Esq., and passed into the hands of Hamilton Wilkes, Esq., who travelled her the entire distance to New York by land, about 400 miles, and renewed her exploits in the land of her birth — leaving the late scenes of her glory to her successors in fame — Kate Kearney, Polly Hopkins, Slender and Star. Of the twelve races she ran as a six-year-old, Ariel won ten; and waS' obviously out of condition in the two she lost, won by Medley and Kate Kearney. 50. May 12. At the Union Course, Long Island, N. Y., the first spring meeting, Ariel, now seven years old, was beat by the famed gr. m. Betsey Eansom, five years old, by Yir- A RTRT. Ai^D BETSEY KANSOM. 215 ginian, in a well contested race, for the Jockey Club purse, four-mile heats. Time, Tm. 57s. — 8m. 7s. 51. May 26. At the same place, at the second meeting, a fortnight after, she was in like manner again beaten by Betsey Eansom, for the Jockey Club purse, fom--mile heats. Time, 7m. 52s.— 8m. Is. 52. June. At Poughkeepsie, N. Y., the next week, Ariel beat Betsey Eansom, for the Jockey Club purse, $500, four- mile heats, in 7m. 52s.— 8m. Is.— but of the third heat, the time is wanting. "We are happy to annex the following ani- mated account of this interesting race, from the pen of a valued correspondent, who both writes and runs his horses, " con am ore." " Since the contest between Eclipse and Henry, in 1823, no race — at the ISTorth — has excited so intense an interest in the spectators, as the one run by Ariel and Betsey Eansom, on the Dutchess Course, on Tuesday last. In two prior trials at Long Island, on the 12th and 26th of May, Betsey Eansom — conti-ary to the expectations of many — ^had proved victorious. The friends of Ariel, though somewhat consoled by her gallant per- formance on the 26th, had been again disappointed. — ^Mem. Saw her entered for this last encounter, with reluctance, from feeling how little chance there was of regaining her lost laurels. The earnest solicitation of a friend, joined to an anxious wish to gratify the inhabitants of his own country, decided her owner to start her, on this occasion. " When they were led upon the ground, the appearance of the two differed as widely as their prospects — the firm, elastic reaching step, the fiery eye and lofty bearing of Betsey, gave assurance of condition, and showed her conscious of her powers and confident of victory — while the short and stiffened gait, the quiet and determined countenance of Ariel — reversing the quondam appearance, together with the fate of herself and Flirtilla — seemed plainly to say, ' I have lost my station as first among the fieet ones of my race, but I will regain it or die.' They started — Betsey Eansom went off on the lead, at a mode- rate pace, appearing resolved to do no more than was necessary — when, at the end of the two miles she broke away, as from mere whim, at such a gait and at such a stride, as would have 216 THE HORSE. rendered useless to Ariel the wings of her gallant namesake. Her ultimate exertions could only bring her within three or four lengths of this kill-devil, at the winning post. Tlie heat was run in 7m. 52s. , the last two miles in 3m. 52s. " The loss of the heat rendered the prospects of Ariel still more gloomy, and the chance of winning so desperate, that it was determined to withdraw her — this was on the point of be- ing announced, when, as the groom was leading up Betsey to receive the award of victory, the experienced eye of Ariel's trainer, detected in Betsey Eansom some indication of sorrow — there were three or four minutes to spare — he hastily threw on his saddle, and started her. Betsey again took the lead, at a pace so rapid, that it gave lier long and silvery tail the appear- ance of a meteor streaming in the wind ; for three miles she kept frolicking on — sometimes breaking away and making a gap, that seemed to say, ' I will punish you, dainty spirit of the air, for your presumption, by leaving you without the dis- tance ' — and again waiting for her, as if repenting so harsh a purpose. In the mean time, Ariel went steadily on, at a gait that did not vary, except once in the second mile — when in changing her feet she threw her rider forward and lost eight or ten yards, by the falter ; at the end of three miles and a quar- ter, Betsey found Ariel within a yard of her — in another instant alongside — now came a struggle for the track, desperate and determined. It created an interest so deep, and a silence so profound, that one might almost hear the hearts of the multi- tude beat — it could not last long — at the end of a straight quar- ter, Ariel has the track. ' Ariel is ahead,' was thundered out with a shout that would have waked the soundest sleeper of the seven. There was a half a mile yet to go. Ariel keeps the track — no time to lose — one short half mile, one short minute more, Ariel may pluck a laurel from her wreath, that she must regain, or unbind her brows. They turned down the straight side of the last quarter, Ariel half her length ahead — neither rider had a whijD, from an idea of its useless- ness — they are at the distance post, side by side — what would not have been given for a whip — a whip — a whip — the result upon a whip — a single stroke might decide upon it. Betsey's BETSEY RANSOM. 21Y rider uses liis hand, but it will not do — Ariel wins the heat by half a neck, in 8m. Is., amidst the cheers of thousands. "In half an hour they again started to determine the third and last heat. Betsey had lost her taste for frolicking, and went steadily but rapidly on, with Ariel only a length behind, for three miles and a quarter; here Ariel made a run and j)assed her — taking and keeping the lead by two or three lengths, to the winning post — thus regaining her lost laurels, and proving herself to tliis ' out and outer,' what the best judge in the Union pronounced her — ' a truly formidable race- horse.' * GODOLPHIN." Gray filly Betsey Eansom, by Yirginian, October, 1827, on the Union Course, at three yeai'S old, won the Jockey Club purse, four-mile heats, distancing Sir Lovell, Count Piper, Lady riirt,t and Valentine — Stevens' Janet drawn after the first heat — in a most extraordinary manner, the second heat. 'Next week she won the four-mile heats purse, near Baltimore, with great ease ; and tlie week succeeding the same at I^orfolk, at three heats, contending for each, that were won in 7m. 50s. — 7m. 45s. and 7m. 50s. — 25s. better than the Eclipse match, but with a difierence of the course — twenty-nine yards short of a mile. She gathered laurels in Yirginia, the Carolinas, Georgia, Maryland and ISTew York — but never won a race after her de- feat by Ariel — she ran but once more, the succeeding spring, in the sweepstakes won by Col. Johnson's Slender, four miles, beating also Black Maria — $1,000 each. Tlie next day Ariel's half brother, gray horse Splendid, won with ease the three-mile heats, beating Lady Hunter and an- other in 5m. 58a. and 6m. 2s. At three years old. Splendid had been beat in a match by Col. Johnson's Medley. It is somewhat surprising that at this era so many of the first-rate horses should have been gray, and that they should have so frequently contended exclusively with each other, as Ariel, Betsey Eansom, Medley, Splendid, Mark Time, Peggy Madee, and others- also in the south and west. * The time, in three contests with Betsey Eansom, on courses better adapted to speed than those at the South, shows that Ariel was "below her mark" — probably considerably " off her foot." f Lady Flirt won the first heat, contested by Janet and Count Piper. 218 THE HOESE. 53. October. At Ponglikeepsie, Ariel won with ease the Jockey Chib purse, $500, four-mile heats, beating Light In- fantry. 54. At the Union Course, the next week, she won the Jockey Club purse, $500, four-mile heats, beating her only competitor Lady Flirt, with such ease the first heat, that slie was drawn. Lady Flirt had won the three-mile heats, with eclat, at Poughkeepsie, where she subsequently beat Black Maria and others, thj-ee-mile heats. 55. 1830. May 8. Ariel, now eight years old, had been matched by the gentlemen of the ]S"ortli, to run on the Union Course, against Col. Johnson's Arietta, four years old, by Yir- ginian, backed by him and others of tlie South — Artel to carry 100 lbs. against 87 lbs. two miles, for $5000 aside — and was beat by Arietta, rather more than a length — a good race — sixty yards more would j)robably have given it to Ariel. The first mile was run in Im. 4:7s. — the two in 3m. 44s. See " Old Turf- man," p. 45, vol. 3, American Turf Eegister. 56. May 12. Ariel was beat the three-mile heats, by Sir Lovel, six years old, by Duroc, a good race, in which she was second — beating Bachelor and Yankee Maid. Time, 5m. 47s. — 6m. 53s. 57. May 18. In less than a week, Ariel again entered the lists with Sir Lovel, at Poughkeepsie, destined to replace tlie laurels she loses on the Union Course. This was in other re- spects a second edition of her race with Betsey Eansom on the same course. Sir Lovell the favorite, at one hundred to thirty, led off in gallant style, and took the first heat in 7m. 54s. There was now scarce a doubt as to the result. In the second heat, he took the lead as before — Ariel pressing him more close- ly on every mile, the first run in Im. 57s. — the second in Ira. 59s. — the tliird in Im. 54s. — the three miles in 5m. 50s. — in a half mile more, Ariel is ahead as in the former race — but Sir Lovell gives up. and Ariel wins it, at her ease, in 8m. Sir Lov- ell being then drawn, Ariel again took the purse. This was Ariel's last race, and with the fame that Sir Lov- ell subsequently acquired, was of itself suflicient to establish . her fame. Two days thereafter, he won the two-mile heats, beating Maryland Ech'pse and Lady Hunter, in 3m. 50s. and HER LAST APPEAKANCE. 219 3m. 46s. — a severely contested race. The next week, on the Union Course, lie beat Arietta, a match, $5,000 a side, two-mile heats, in 3m. 45s. and 3m. 48s. In the autumn Ariel was in training, and brought to the Pouglikeepsie Course ; but it does not appear why she did not run — probably she was in the stable with Black Maria, Celeste and others — the former now running her brilliant career, won the four-mile heats at this meeting, in 7m. 56s. — 7m. 53s. " The veteran Ariel was led on the com-se for the last time, on her withdrawal from the turf." " She appeared the picture, the beau ideal of a race-horse, and hundreds of amateurs thronged around her to take a parting look at an old and de- served favorite. When stripped and saddled by her trainer, she exhibited all the fire of youth, with the vigor of maturity, manifesting the most animated impatience, till a lad mounted and galloped her around the course, for the gratification of the admiring crowd. She brushed up the last quarter with that inevitable fairy stride, which we have so often viewed with de- light — then taking leave of the arena of her triumphs, she went leisurely into a retirement, from which no friend could wish to recall her, covered with imperishable laurels — the prize of many a hard-fought field." Thus it appeals Ai-iel has run more than 345 7n{l€S in 57 races^ of which she has won 42,* 17 of them four-mile heats. She has run every distance, in nearly the best time of the pres- ent century, and we believe the very best third and fourth heat that has ever heen run. She has vanquished almost every horse of fame from ISTew York to Georgia, during the f five years she was on the turf, never laying by nor lame ; and when beat, al- ways making good races, conquered only by the best horses and at their respective distances ; all of whom she beat on a second trial, excepting only Monsieur Tonson, Sally Walker, riirtilla, Kate Kearney, and Arietta — the three last she ran with but once — and whenev^er beaten, it may be questionable whether she was run in proper condition. Excepting her match * "Imported Citizen won 19 races in England — 14 of them four-mile heats — 6 of them at three heats." f See Turf Reg. vol. 1, pp. 159, 219, 283, 485, 486, 489, 491, 518, 519, 520, 530 to 536, 566, 588. Vol. 2, pp. 555-6. Vol. 3, pp. 42, 46, 335-6, 378. 220 THE HORSE. at three years old, of three-mile heats, with the very best race- horse then known on the turf, she has never lost a race in which she won a heat. She lias won in matches and Jockey Club purses, exclusive of bets, $25,000 for her several owners ; who, with scarce an exception, if any, have all derived profit from her generous exertions. Her winnings — in number of races and distances — greatly surpass any of which we have any account, either in England or America. Rockingham, who heads the list of English win- ners — Am. Turf Heg. vol. 3, p. 390 — was winner 33 times ; her ancestor PotSos, 31 times ; another ancestor Gimcrack — ■ the severest runner ever known in England — 28 times out of 37 races ; Woodpecker 28, and imported Buzzard 28 ; Eleanor * — grandam of Luzborough — winner of the Derby and Oaks — consecutive days — a feat performed by no other — comes nearer to Ariel in her performances than any besides, having won 28 out of 48 races ; Peggy, the mare of most fame ever imported into America — and g. g. grandam of Tychicus, and of the famed Yespa, winner last year of the Oaks, and this of King's plates, and other distinguished races in England. — See New Sporting Magazine, for May and June, 1834 — won 22 out of 35 races — see American Turf Register, vol. 4, p. 557 — imported Shark 19 ; Sir Peter Teazle 17 ; Florizel 16 ; Highflyer 14 ; Orville — one of the severest and best runners of modern days — won about 14 races, but lost as many ; Dick Andrews — also grandsire to Luzborough — won 20 out of 27 ; Diomed 12 ; Eclipse 11 ; Matchem 10 ; Herod 10 ; Trumpator 10 ; Childers 6 or 8 ; &c.. &c. Of our horses of most celebrity few of them have won many races ; Sir Charles won 20 — sometimes shame- fully beaten — distanced both by Sir William and Eclipse — Timoleon won 6 ; Virginian 10 ; Am. Eclipse, so famed at the North, ran only eight races, from four to nine years old, inclu- sive, and made but one very good race — having beaten second- rate competitors, or tliose that had been worn or broken down, until he encountered Henry ; whose defeat may be ascribable to mismanagement — and other distinguished horses, Virago, * Imported Luzborougli won 2-i out of 32 races, but never ran four miles. He was five years on the turf. HER UNRIYALLED HONESTY. 221 Gallatin, Sir Arcliy, Florizel, Pacolet, Bertrand, Monsieur Ton- son, Sally Walker, Mercmy, &c., &c., have run about tlie same number. We have no recollection of any other — besides the famed gelding Leviathan, Black Maria, winner at twenty miles, and whose achievements have subsequently been so splendid — yet on the turf — her dam Lady Lightfoot — -perhaps her grandam Black Maria, by Shark— Polly Hopkins, Sally Hope, and Col- lier — that in the excellence and extent of their running, can bear any comparison to Ariel — certainly their superior in the latter respect. Of Lady Lightfoot the memoir is incomplete — she won three races in one week at Charleston, S. C. — beat the best horses in excellent time — was on the turf from three to eleven years old ; but a great portion of the time running with second- rate or broken-down horses — she may have won thirty races ; Polly Hopkins, from three to six years old, won 23 out of 30 races ; winning all her seven races the fall she was three years old, and beating tlie best horses, in the best time ; Sally Hope, from three to seven, won 22 out of 27 races ; 18 or 19 of them in succession, to the close of her career, beating the best horses, also in the best time. See Am. Turf Reg. vol. 3, p. 452. In taking leave of the famed Ariel, with this exposition, we conceive ourselves justified in admitting her claims to an illus- trious lineage, and to our admiration, for performances that we think 'unjyaralleled on the pages of racing annals. — American Turf Register^ vol. vi., j^o. 1. PEDIGREE, CHARACTERISTICS AND PERFORMANCES OF BLACK MARIA. The distinguished subject of this memoir was bred bj Charles Henry Hall, Esq., of Harlem, N. Y., and was foaled on the 15th of June, 1826. At the age of seventeen months she was pur- chased by John C. Stevens, Esq., of this city, for $1,000, and remained in his hands during the whole of her long and brilliant racing career. She was got by American EcliiJse, out of Lady Lightfoot, by Sir Archy — grand dam Black Maria by Imp. Shark — g. g. dam — the dam of Yingt'un — a celebrated race mare by Imp. Clockfast, a half-brother to Medley, by Gimcrack — g- g. g. dam Burwell's Maria by Regulus, etc. Did our limits allow, we would gladly devote a few columns to the history of the illustrious ancestry of the subject of this memoir, but with the intention of making it the theme of ano- ther article at no distant day, we proceed to the discussion of the matter before us. We will remark, however, en passant^ that Lady Lightfoot, the dam of Black Maria, was the most distinguished racer of her day, having won between twenty and thirty races, the majority at four-mile heats, and never having been beaten but once, except in her old age — her eleventh year — and then by Eclipse, on the Union Course. She was bred by the late Colonel John Tayloe, of Va., and was foaled at Mr. Ogle's seat, Bel- Air, Pr. George's county, Md., in June, 1812. She was purchased by Mr. Hall in 1824, of Major Wm. Jones, of Oyster Bay, Long Island, and the late Dr. Alexander Hosack, of this city, for $1,500, with a bay filly at her foot. This filly, LADY LIGHTFOOt's STOCK. 223 called Camilla, died January 5, 1825. Lady Lightfoot subse- quently produced, 1825— Bl. c. Eclipse Lightfoot, by Am. EcUpse ; sold at 4 yrs. old for $1,500, to a Co. in N. J. 1826— Bl. f. Black Maria, by Eclipse, the subject of this memoir; sold at 12 yrs. old for §4,000. 1821 — Missed to Eclipse. 1828— Ch. f. Screamer, by Henry ; sold at 17 months old to W. Livingston, Esq., for $500. 1829— Br. c. Terror, by Eclipse ; sold at 7 months old to the same gentleman for $1,000. 1830— Bl. c. Shark, by Eclipse ; sold while on the turf to J. C. Craig, Esq., for $17,500. 183l_B. f. Bay Maria, by Echpse ; sold at 4 yrs. old to Colonel W. Hampton, of S. C, for $5,000. 1832 — Missed to Imp. Serab. 1833— Bl. f. Harlem Lass, by Shark, her brother, ) Still owned by Mr. Hall ; 1834 — B. f. Young Lady Lightfoot, by Eclipse, ) the first has never been trained. Lady Lightfoot died from the effects of a violent cold, two days after the last named filly was foaled. Of the sire of Black Maria — Eclipse — or of the sire of her dam— Sir Archy — ^nothing need be said, the latter standing unrivalled, as he does, as the sire of a host of winners, while Eclipse is equally unrivalled as a winner himself. The grand dam of black Maria, another prodigy, was, if possi- ble, still more remarkable ; she united not only a great turn of speed to unflinching game, but she ran to her fourteenth year. She was herself out of a celebrated race mare by Imported Shark, one of the best racers and stallions England ever pro- duced. She was first known as "Selden's Maria," and in her 3 yr. old form was sold to Mr. Alexander, for $2,000, an im- mense price in those days. In the same year, 1799, she was purchased jointly by the late Col. John Tayloe, of Virginia, and the late Gen.Wade Hampton, of South Carolina, to match Shark, and went into the stable of the latter, under the name of " Black Maria." Gen. H. soon after purchased Col. T.'s interest in her, and not only won his match, but carried off eveiy purse for which he entered her. Subsequently she passed into the hands of Col. W. Alston, of S. C, who after running her a few seasons, sold her back again to Col. Tayloe, at 14 years of age, for $2,500, then the highest price ever '^aid for a brood mare. 224 THE HORSE. The produce of no mare in America has ever realized for their owners, probably, so large an amount as Lady Lightfoot. Though the subject of this memoir was, beyond question, the best of her produce, the jierformances of either Shark or Bay Maria would alone entitle her to high consideration. Eclipse Lightfoot had a remarkable turn of speed, but being taken with the distemper, was thrown out of training, and soon afterwards sold to be i)ut into the stud. Screamer, Terror, and Young Lady Lightfoot never j)articularly distinguished themselves, and the two last for very manifest reasons ; the first fell when 3 yrs. old, and received an injury in his thigh, of which he never entirely recovered, and the last from running with shoes on for two years, had her feet ruined ; we saw her not a week since, at her breed- er's stable, and on examining them, found them not only small and mis-shapen, but the frog on both fore feet was entirely gone ! Harlem Lass was specially bred for a brood mare, and never trained. Our portrait of Black Maria is pronounced on all hands to be a most striking and remarkable likeness. It was painted in 1834, near the close of her racing career, and at the termination of a severe campaign, when she was very low in flesh. Troye was unusually successful with his picture, and our clever en- gravers have been equally felicitous, as we are assured by Mr. Stevens, Mr. Hall, and several other gentlemen who were familiar with the subject of it. As "the old Black Mare" entertained some " vulgar prejudice " against " sitting for her portrait," Troye directed Bill Patrick, her faithful groom, to ride her out into a paddock in front of his window ; this pro- ceeding might be all very well for the painter and for the mare, Bill thought, but as for him, he was inclined to "' sulk," after two hours' promenading ; so whipping off his saddle, he incon- tinently determined to hitch the mare and " bolt," for which disregard of orders and his lukewarmness in facilitating the progress of the Fine Arts, Xi'c>ye chipped him into his picture in the very act of connnitting so grave an offence in the eye of a turfman or an artist, as hitching a race-horse to a tree! Of course he will now go doMm through all time as the boy who was guilty of so unpardonable a sin, but for fear his punishment would be greater than he could bear, Troye, through urgent in- BLACK MARIA. 225 tercession, was finally induced to remit a portion of tlie punish- ment he had intended, by concealing his face. Black Maria's name indicates her color ; her coat is a glossy jet, without a white mark, and her measurement, under the standard, is fifteen hands three inches. She " favors " Lady Lightfoot in the shape of her head, which is lighter than most of the get of Eclipse, tapering considerably towards the mouth ; she has very fine expressive eyes, and her ears are remarkably pretty ; her neck is delicate, well-shaped, and rather long, but not out of proportion to the length of her head, which is very well set on ; her neck comes out exceedingly well from her shoulders, which are broad and beautifully clean, though not quite oblique enough to our taste ; on this point, however, " doctors difier." She rises very high in her withers ; her arms are long, and immensely powei'ful, with short and very flat cannon bones ; she has good knees, neat pasterns, and per- fectly shaped feet ; the great depth of her chest allows free res- piration, her bi'isket falling down much in the style of old Eclipse ; taken altogether, forehanded, she is almost faultless, combining the best points of both her dam and sire. When we saw her last — now a year since — she was greatly filled out, with well rounded fore and back ribs, and a better proportioned barrel than she generally exhibited in training ; she was wont to be rather light, and considerably tucked up in the flank, though now and then she was in this respect a perfect model ; the principal objection to her was ever her great length of car- cass. Her conj)ling does not indicate that ability to take up her weight and go a distance, which her performances have so signally demonstrated — another proof that horses run in all forms. She has arched loins, with good but rather drooping quarters — very muscular thighs, and gaskins of prodigious strength, and clean hocks, coming well down to the ground. Tlie only two points about her that might justly be found fault with, consist of the unsightly " Bedford hump " between her hips, and her barrel, which is too long and too light. It has been urged that the peculiar conformation of most of the Eclipse and Lady Lightfoot stock induces curbs ; however it may have been with the others, the two Marias exhibit as beautifully formed limbs as ever supported a high-mettled racer. Black Vol. L— 15 226 THE IICKSE. Maria's style of going was remarkably strong and steady, and her stride was tremendous ; in brushing, she covered twenty- four feet at a stroke. That she united unflinching game, and a remarkable turn of speed, to that particularly fine idea of " per- petual motion " which characterized her illustrious ancestry, the subjoined record of her performances will abundantly de- monstrate. Baxter, who brought Dosoris and Fordham to the post for their maiden races in such superb condition, was her first trainer, and Alfred Conover, tlie present capital trainer of Mr. Robert L. Stevens, had the honor of first throwing his leg over her back. She won her first four-mile race in the hands of Frederick, " the yellow man," and subsequently was trained by John Buckley, David Palmer, and Flintofi", though Buckley trained her for most of her great races. 1829. Union Course, Long Island, Saturday, Oct. 8— Produce Match, $5,000 each, h. ft., Two-mile heats. John C. Stevens' bl. f. Black Maria, by Eclipse, out of Lady Lightfoot by Sir Archy, 3 yrs. STlbs 11 Col. Wm. E. Johnson's br. c. Brilliant, by Sir Archy, out of Bet Bonnce— Arab's dam— by imp. Sir Harry, 3 yrs. 90 lbs 2 2 Time, 4.01—3.58. Track heavy. This match was made on blood, before either animal was foaled, and naturally excited a good deal of interest. It was ISTorth versus South again. It being the first appearance of both performers, little or nothing was known, even by " men of business," of the speed or endurance oi either. Maria looked like " a good 'un," but then Brilliant was bi-ought to the post by that first-rate judge and crack trainer. Col. Johnson, who showed he knew a " hawk from a handsaw," by ofi'ering to pay $1750 to be oft"; but this was " no go " — t'other party " know'd Bum'ut " too, and wouldn't bite. The Colonel knew the black lady to be well-born and well-bred ; but thinking she might turn out, as many others with the same advantages have done, no better than she should be, he determined, rather than pay the $2,500, to start Brilliant, and so " threw the helve after the hatchet." The pace for the first mile was " as slow as foot could fall," and for three-quarters of the second it was any thing but a racing one. At the quarter stake Brilliant let loose, and gained two or three lengths by the rush. This awoke the boy BLACK MARIA AND BRILLIANT. 5327 upon Maria, and lie waked up the fillv with six or eight such first-rate " eye openers," as brought her, at a slapping pace, three or four lengths ahead, at the ending post. Time, 4.01. The filly's taking the string to win the heat in such bad time, led the backers of Brilliant to believe that his " good fix " would tell in the next heat, and so they were " all alive and kicking." In going otf the second heat, the " persuaders " were applied to Brilliant from the score, and continued " ever and anon." The pace for the first mile was respectable ; but it was evident the mare was going too much at her ease to bode any good to the horse. She was kept well together, and ready at any moment for a rally. The boy on Brilliant tried what cutting would do, but it was of no service. Tliis diamond, though of the Yirgiuia water, shone none the brighter for it. In the last half mile, the horse knocked up, from being overworked in the first, and the " Coal Black Rose " won without a struggle in 3.58. After the race, Col. Johnson was persuaded, by a gentle- man from Quebec, to throw this pearl away for a thousand dol- lars ; he has since been a winner in Canada. Within a few months he has been purchased by James M. Beall, Esq., of Rus- sell ville, Ky., for $2,000, and will stand at that place next season. The betting, when the horses were stripped, was gen- erally about equal, the Southern horse being rather the favorite with a limited party. The track was very heavy. 1829. Same course, Oct. 8— Jockey Club Purse, $400, free for all ages, 3 yr. olds carrying 90 lbs.— 4, 104—5, 114 — 6, 121—7 and upwards, 126 lbs. ; mares, fillies and geldings allowed 8 lbs. Three- mile heats. John C. Stevens' bl. f. Black Maria, by Eclipse, out of Lady Lightfoot, 3 yrs. . . .11 Maj. Wm. Jones's ch. m. Lady Flirt, by Hickory, dam by Duroc, 6 yrs 2 2 Smith Freeman's ch. h. Sir Charles, by Duroc, out of Maria Slamerkin, by Bond's First Consul, 5 yrs 3 dist. Time, 5.59—6.12. Black Maria took the lead from the start, was never headed, and won in a canter. Lady Flirt is still in Major Jones's breed- ing stud on Long Island, and is the dam of his Andrew filly Fidget, and some other young things. 1830. Same course, Monday, May 10 — Sweepstakes for all ages, weights as before. Three sub- scribers at one thousand dollars each, P. P. Four miles. Col. Wm. E. Johnson's b. m. Slender, by Sir Charles, out of Reality, by Sir Archy, 5 yrs. . . 1 John 0. Stevens' bl. f. Black Maria, by Eclipse, out of Lady Lightfoot, 4 yrs 2 Walter Livingston's gr. m. Betsey Ransom, by Virginian, out of Favorite, by Bel- Air, 6 yrs. . * Time, 7.58. * Broke down. 228 THE IIOKSE. Slender was the favorite at odds against the fiohl. During the training of Betsey Kansom, the fall j^revions, she liad let down in the hack sinew of one fore leg, and was tlien purchased, bj Mr, Livingston, as unsound. By the aid of blisters, and that grand specific of nature, rest, she had, to appearance, so far sur- mounted this accident as to induce Mr. Livingston, prior to the 1st of January, 1830, to nominate her for this stake ; but unfor- tunately, her leg could not stand the exercise required to get four mile length into her. She complained much — ^lier work was of necessity curtailed, and her gallops, at times, discon- tinued. She came to the post by much too high in flesh, and her leg much swollen — it was madness to start her. Black Maria fell far short of tip-top order, while Slender was all and all the thing. The race is thus described. " They got off well together, Maria taking the lead, followed closely by Betsey Kansom — Slender trailing a little. Li this way they went along at a clever rate, all in hand, for the first mile and a quarter, each waiting for the other to make play. In ffoino; down the back stretch in the second mile, Slender let out a little, lapped Betsey, and ran up to Maria, whose rider set her upon her legs, and all three went the pace, until they arrived at the rise of the ground, at the termination of the straight run, on the back side. Here Billy Clark took the bay mare firmly in hand, while Maria led round the north turn, with Betsey close up. When they entered upon the quarter stretch, toward the termination of the second round. Slender again let out, and all came up the straight run at a rattling rate, the black mare still leading the gray in her former position, and the bay still waiting upon them. Thus they entered upon the third mile, and passed round the south turn. When they arrived at the commencement of the straight run, on the back part, it was evident that Betsey faltered — her fine regular stride was gone — she clambered, and was all abroad. Slender passed in her steady stroke. Betsey continued to drop rapidly, and, being completely let down, was stopped, near the termination of the third mile. Maria and Slender were now going the last mile, and had advanced full half way round the first turn ; the latter collected and in hand, ready for a dash. As soon as they com- menced the stretch, on the back side, she made play, ran up and BLACK MARIA AND SLENDER. 229 challenged, and a sharp rally ensued for about sixty rods. But the set-to commenced too early ; the distance home too long for Maria to live through ; the length began to tell, and although the boy got well at her, it would not do. Slender came in front at the end of the straight side, and swept boldly round the last turn. The black mare's chance was now out, while the bay entered upon the last quarter stretch in good style, winning in a canter. — Time, Y.58." Slender, the beautiful winner of this race, was killed the May following, by an accident received in a race with Collier and Eliza Eeilly, at J^orfolk, Va. It occurred on the 25th May, in running four-mile heats. The three entries were locked in the second mile, Slender having the inside track ; when all three were making play for the lead. Slender struck one of her feet against the railing, and fell. Tlie shock was so great as to deprive her of all motion, and she lay apparently lifeless on the track, whence she was immediately removed, and every effort made to revive her ; but it appeared, upon examination, that the spine was broken, and that she had received some internal hurts, which rendered recovery impossible ; she died at 10 o'clock the same night. Her fate excited general sympathy, and a deep-felt regret in the gallant turfman to whom this fine animal belonged. To him her nominal value was of little con- sequence, but she was a favorite. Her rider escaped unhurt. Betsey Eansom, now owned by Eobert L. Stevens, Esq., of this city, he sent out to England, in company with hi^ celebrated mare Polly Hopkins, in October, 1834. They went out in foal to Eclipse ; Polly Hopkins dropped a colt, and Betsey Eansom a filly foal, which were imported in their yearling form. The filly, called Jessica, Mr. Stevens sold last season, and she is now owned in Missouri ; Mr. P. C. Bush ran her with credit at the fall meeting of the St. Louis Jockey Club, over the Sulphur Springs Course. In England the two mares were bred to the most fashionable stallions of the day ; in 183T a yearling filly by Priam — since imported — and another by Emilius came over, and shortly afterwards Betsey Eansom herself ; she was bred last year to Mr. John C. Stevens' Dosoris, while Polly Hopkins was stinted to Plenipo, and still remains abroad. 230 THE ITORSK. 1830. Dutchess County Course, Poughkeepsie, N. T., Wednesday, May 19— Jockey Club Purse, |S00, free for all ages ; weights as on the Union Course. Three-mile heats. Maj. Wm. Jones's ch. m. Lady Flirt, by Hickory, dam by Duroc, aged 11 John C. Stevens' bl.f. Black Maria, by Eclipse, out of Lady Liglitfoot, 4 yrs. ... 2 2 Gen. Bedell's b. f Jeannett, by Eclipse, dam by , 4 yrs ■* * Wm. H. Minge'sb. c. Mayday, by Sir Archy, dam by Hornet, 4 yrs * * Time, 6.00 each heat. No particulars of this race have come to our knowledge, otherwise than that it was said to have been " won handily." The Jeannett, run by Gen, Bedell, must not be confounded with Mr. Stevens' Janettc, own sister to Sir Charles. Mayday was standing at Buckingham Court House, Ya., in 1837, since which we have lost sight of him. 1830. Same course, Thursday, Oct. 7 — Jockey Club Purse, $500, free for all ages, weights as before. Four-mile heats. John C. Stevens' bl. f. Black Maria, by Eclipse, out of Lady Lightfoot, 4 yrs 11 Jos. H. Van Mater's ch. c. Leopold, by Oscar, out of Katydid, by imp. Expedition, 4 yrs. . 3 2 John Buckley's ch. m. Lady Hunter, by Duroc, out of Lady Eichmond, by Eagle, 6 yrs. . 2 8 Maj. Wm. Jones's ch. m. Lady Flirt, by Hickory, dam by Duroc, aged, dist. Time, 7.53-8.05. A very fine race between Leopold and Lady Hunter, neither being able to put up the winner, who won cleverly at her ease. Leopold is now standing in Illinois, and promises to distinguish himself. Lady Hunter is beneath the turf. It will be seen that Lady Flirt, who beat Black Maria in her previous race, was dis- tanced by her in this with ease. 1830. Same course, "Wednesday, Oct. 27 — Jockey Club Purse, $500, conditions as before. Four- mile heats. John C. Stevens' bl. f. Black Maria, by Eclipse, out of Lady Lightfoot, 4 yrs. . . .11 Jos. H. Van Mater's ch. c. Leopold, by Oscar, out of Katydid, 4 yrs 2 2 Mr. Parker's gr. m. Peggy Madee, by Sir Hal, dam by Sir Archy, aged 5 8 Thos. Pearsall's ch. m. Medora, by Rattler, out of Sport's-mistress by Hickory, 4 yrs. . 8 4 J. Buckley's ch. m. Lady Hunter, by Duroc, out of Lady Eichmond, 6 yrs 4 6 Time, 7.56—7.53. A capital race, all out and doing their best from end to end, save the winner, who cut out the work with a long rating stroke, and never was headed in either heat. Peggy Madee, when we last heard of her, was in the breeding stud of Henry Maclin, Esq., of Yirginia. 1831. Union Course, L. I., Thursday, May 12— Jockey Club Purse, $600, conditions as before. Fonr-mile heats. Col. "Wm. R. Johnson's gr. f. Bonnets o' Blue, by Sir Charles, out of Eeallty, by Sir Archy, • 4 yrs 11 John C. Stevens' bl. m. Black Maria, by Eclipse, out of Lady Lightfoot 5 yrs. . . 2 3 Dr. Alex. Hosack's ch. h. St. George, by Eclipse, 5 yrs diat. Time, 7.57—8.22. BONNETS o' BLUE. 231 Bonnets o' Blue, a veiy superior race mare, promises to be- come equally celebrated in tbe breeding stud. She is now the property of AVilliam Gibbons, Esq., of Madison, N. J., wbo has colts from her by Shark and imp. Trustee ; the former at a year old was very bloodlike, and as promising a yearling as we ever saw ; he makes his debut in the spring, and though a little under-sized, promises to confer credit upon his illustrious ances- try. If our memory serves us, Mr. Gibbons paid Col. Johnson $2,500 for Bonnets o' Blue, after she was withdrawn from the turf. 'No particulars of this race are furnished by the Turf Register or journals of the day. Dr. Hosack's St. George was of no account. 1831. Dutchess County Course, Poushkeepsie, N. T., Thursday, May 26— Jockey Club Purse, $500, free for all ages, weights as before. Four-mile heats. John C. Stevens' bl. m. Black Maria, by Eclipse, out of Lady Lightfoot, 5 yrs. . . .11 Jos H.. Van Mater's eh. c. Mark Eichards, by John Pachards, dam by Eevenge, 4 yi-s. . 2 2 J. S. Snedeker's gr. h. Splendid, by Duroc, out of Empress, aged 3 * Time, 8.17— S.80. * Broke down. The track was very heavy, and neither of the other entries were able to push the winner, who led from end to end. Mark Richards has since stood for mares, and if we mistake not. Splendid is yet a stallion at the South-west. Some of the former's stock we have seen, but cannot say much for them. 1831. Same course, Thursday, Oct. 6— Jockey Club Purse, $500, conditions as before. Four-mile heats. Col. Wm. Wynn's b. c. James Cropper, by Sir Charles, dam by Whip, 4 yrs. . . .12 1 John C. Stevens' bL m. Black Maria, by Eclipse, out of Lady Lightfoot, 5 yrs. .' . 2 12 Time, 8.01— 8.04— S.OT. Track heavy. Cropper was the favorite at long odds, the mare being amiss. Each heat was desperately contested, Cropper winning the first heat by a neck onlj^, after being spurred all the way up the straight side. Betting now ten to one on him. Black Maria won the second heat by two lengths, having a different jockey on her back ; the one who rode her the first was obliged to carry a heavy hag of sand to make up his weight. The issue of the third heat was put upon a brush by Maria, and she lost it by a throatlatch merely ; two more strokes would have " done the trick." James Cropper, at our last accounts of him, M'as standing in IS'ottoway county, Ya. 232 THE HORSE. 1831. Central Course, Baltimore, Md., "Wednesday, Oct. 26— Post Stake for all ages, 3 yr. olds to carry 86 lbs. — 4, 100 — 5, 110—6, 118—7 and upwards, 124 lbs. allowing 8 lbs. to mares and geld- ings. Six subscribers at $500 each, to which the proprietor added $1,000. Four-mile heats. John C. Stevens' bl. ni. Black Maria, by Eclipse, out of Lady Lightfoot, 5 yrs. . .511 Col. John P. White's ch. h. Collier, by Sir Charles, dam by Whi[., 5 yrs. . . . 3 2 2 Col. W. K. Johnson's b. m. Virginia Taylor, by Sir Archy, out of Coquette, 5 yrs. . .13 3 Col. Wm. Wynn's b. c. James Cropper, by Sir Charles, dam by Whip, 4 yrs. . . 4 4 * Gen. C. Irvine's ch. c. Bu.siris, by Eclipse, out of Grand Duchess, 4 yrs 6 dist Dr. Wm. II. Miuge's b. f. Eliza Eeilly, by Sir Archy, out of Bet Bounce, 4 yrs. . . 2 dr. Time, 8.0-3— 8.10— 8.03. * Broke down. " Godolpliin," a favorite correspondent of the " Turf Eegis- ter" at the time, gives us the annexed report of this fine race : — " The amount of the purse, the reputation of the horses, to- gether with the concourse assembled to witness it, gave to this race an interest scarcely inferior to that excited by the contest between Henry and Eclipse. The course, from the surrounding hills, had the appearance of a vast amphitheatre. Its whole area seemed covered with equipages — some of them very splen- did — mingled with troops of well-dressed men, on foot and on horseback. The sun shone with more than his usual splendor — there was not a cloud to be seen — Heaven and the ladies smiled upon the first efforts of the Maryland Jockey Club. How, then, could they fail ? Their immense pavilions were crowded with spectators, collected from every State in the Union. The one appropriated to the ladies w'as occupied by hundreds. of the gay and beautiful of that sex, without whose smiles, the flowers of the brightest wa-eaths ever wove for victory would fade and be valueless. Their presence was felt as a security for the ob- servance of those rules, the slightest violation of which w'ould have been deemed a disgrace too deep for a gentleman, and too dangerous for a ruffian to encounter. " The horses Avere mounted, and got off well together at a few minutes after one o'clock. Eliza Keilly came out of the crowd and took the lead down the back stretch, followed at dif- ferent distances by the others. In the last mile she was tackled by Yirginia Taylor, who beat her the heat by a length in 8.03. What Collier and Cropper did, or meant to do, nobody could guess, as they appeared to change their minds some half dozen of times, running at one moment, and pulling at another. Busiris dropt just within his distance. The boy on Black Maria was ordered to do the same ; but, maugre his utmost exertions, COLLIER AND ELIZA EEILLY. 233 and his nmning rein, she came within a mile distance of the winning horse. Had she broke away with him in the hist half mile — which I expected every minute to see — she would have won the heat in spite of his teeth. The heat varied the betting but httle. It was still, as at the commencement. Collier against Cropper— Collier against the field— Cropper against the black mare — the field against either, &c., &c. " For the second heat five started, Eliza Eeillj being drawn. The first three miles of this heat was done in a gallop, neither seeming anxious to make play. At the end of the third mile Maria took the track, and kept it at a killing pace, winning easily in 8.10. Collier second, and Busiris distanced. This bout changed the complexion of things. It was now Maria against the field, and no takers. " Tour stripped for the third heat ; but the way in which the black mare cooled out, showed to those who knew a hawk from a handsaw, that the jig was up, barring accident. It was a side of bacon to a sour apple — no bad thing, as the stable boys, as well as myself, can vouch. That, together with the corn bread, stuck so close to the ribs of Gil and Kalpli, that four ounces of salts had no efi"ect on either, except to harden the corn bread and the bacon, and render them four ounces heavier, instead of four pounds — the difi'erence between ISTorthern and Southern weights— lighter. Maria took the lead and kept it, winning easily in 8.03— as hard as Ralph could pull her. Cropper broke down in the third mile." Collier stood at the Madison Course, Ky., last season. Busiris, for several seasons, has been covering in Pennsylvania, quite " out of the world," as regards thoroughbred mares, though a very capital horse ; he ought to be sent to a " race-horse region." At the sale of Mr. Minge's stock last October, Eliza Reilly was sold to J. H. Williamson, Esq., of Yirginia. Virginia Taylor, who soon after this race passed into the hands of the late Mr. Craig, of Philadelphia, is now the property of Dr. George Mc- Clellan, of that city. 1831. Same course, Saturday, Oct. 29— Jockey Club Purse, $T00, free for all ages, weights as be- fore. Four-mile heats. Col. Wm. E. Johnson's ch. t. Trifle, by Sir Charles, clam by Cicero, .3 yrs 11 John 0. Stevens' bl. m. Black Maria, by Eclipse, out of Lady Lightfoot, 5 yrs. ... 22 Col. J. P. White's ch. h. Collier, by Sir Charles, dam by Whip, 5 yrs 8 3 Dr. John Minge's b. h. Mayday, by Sir Archy, dam by Hornet, 3 yrs 4 4 Time. 8.00—7.55. Track heavy. 234 Tin-: horse. The following spirited account of this race is from the same correspondent. " Two to one on Maria against the field and few takers. She was known to have fed but little, and to be somewhat stiff and sore from her race of Wednesday, still it was thought there was enough left in her to beat Collier, Mayday, and an untried 3-year-old of 14 hands high. The start w^as a good one. Col- lier and Mayday had the track for the first two miles and a half, closely followed by Maria and Trifle ; Maria then came in front and kept the lead to the turn in the last half mile, when, to the astonishment of every body. Trifle made a brush and went by her two or three lengths. Ealph was all abroad, and did not know whether he was on his head or his heels. Whalebone and catgut could only bring the mare to a lap at the ending post. Trifle won the heat in 8.00. Collier and Mayday laid np. This heat, though it varied the betting on the black mare, did not discourage the friends of Collier, who backed him to win against either the mare or Trifle. Maria came to the post for the second heat perfectly cooled out, and looking still like a winner ; but she was observed to be a little lame, and to feel in her feet the effects of her former race. Collier and Mayday were but little distressed, and Trifle came from the hands of Col. Selden's trainer in perfect condition. The four stripped again at the usual interval — which at the South is forty-five minutes. Collier and Mayday made the running for the first two miles, when Maria's steady stride brought her alongside, and in the next half mile ahead of both. The black mare kept the track, dropping Collier and Mayday fast, and followed at a short dis- tance by Trifle, who had also headed the other two. Li round- ing the turn in the last half mile, Trifle again challenged, and again went by the mare, in the same place and in the same style as in the former heat, evincing no signs of tire, and win- ning by a length in 7.55. She kept up her stride, and showed an endurance that astonished those who witnessed this extra- ordinar}' performance. In this heat Black Maria ran her twentieth mile of that week in 1.53." Trifle came out in the spring of this year, and ran on to the end of the campaign of 1834, during which she started twenty- four times and won eighteen races — sixteen of them pm'ses, at TRIFLE. 235 three and four-mile heats — netting for her owner $14,380. She has never been put in condition since first withdrawn from the turf, though " taken up " to train several times. She dropped a very fine br. fillj foal bj Star in 1837, and is now stinted to imp. Priam ; she still remains the property of Col. Johnson of Yirginia, and Capt. David H. Branch, of the Union Course, L. I. Charlotte Russe, an own sister of hers, coming five years, the property of Col. Wade Hampton of South Carolina, promises to add another chaplet to the brow of Sir Charles, by her brilliant performances ; after winning at the South in the winter of 1837, she was placed in the stable of the " JSTapoleon," who brought her to the JSTorth with Boston, and she finished the campaign by winning a four-mile purse on the Beacon Course. The same chivalrous gentleman is also the owner of Bay Maria, an own sister of the subject of this memoir, and a distinguished winner at four-mile heats. To the great regret of her Northern friends, Col. Hampton withdrew her from the turf at the close of her five-year-old year, after she had won three Jockey Club Purses in South Carolina at four-mile heats, within about as many weeks. She was without a blemish when put into the stud, and is the most beautiful brood mare we ever saw ; a filly she dropped last season to imp. Rowton is considered a nonpareil. 1832. Dutchess County Course, Poughkeepsie, N. T., Thursday, May 17— Jockey Club Purse, $500, free for all ages, 3 yr. olds 90 lbs.— t, 104—5, 114—6, 121—7 and upwards, 126 lbs., mares and geldings being allowed 8 lbs. Four-mile heats. John C. Stevens' hi. m. Black Maria, by Eclipse, out of Lady Lightfoot, 6 yrs. . . .11 J. H. Forman's b. c. Uncle Sam, by John Richards, dam by Oscar, 4 yrs 4 2 Thos. PearsalVs ch. m. Medora, by Battler, out of Sport's-mistress, 6 yrs 5 3 Mr. Abbott's bl. h. Eising Sun, by Eclipse, dam by Plato, 5 yrs 3 4 Jos. H. Van Mater's gr. f. Jane Grey, by Orphan Boy, out of Eosalind, by Oscar, 4 jts. . . 2 dr. Time, 8.03—8.16. The track was very heavy from rain, having been ploughed the fall previous. Maria won without a struggle. Uncle Sam having bolted in the last mile of the second heat, notwithstand- ing which he came in second. We recollect seeing him adver- tised to stand for mares in a Maryland paper a year or two since. Medora, a very fine brood mare, is now the property of Walter Livingston, Esq., of this city, and is the dam of his colt Nassau ; he was nominated with Job in the great $44,000 stake run over the Union Course last spring, for which he was a fa- 236 THE HORSE. vorite, but broke out with the distemper a few days before the race, and was not started during the season. 1832. Union Course, L. I., Wednesday, May 23— Jockey Club Purse, $500, conditions as at Pongh- keepsie. Four-mile licats. Bela Badjrcr's b. h. Flying Dutchman, by John Richards, dam by Eclipse, 5 yrs. . . .11 Jos. H. Van Mater's gr. f. Jane Grey, by Orphan Boy, out of Rosalind, 4 yrs. ... 32 John C. Stevens' bl. m. Black Maria, by Eclipse, out of Lady Lightfoot, 6 yrs. . . .23 Time, 8.05 — 8.08. Track very heavy from rain. Tlie betting was general at 100 to 25 on Black Maria, amorous notions in whose head interfered with the swiftness of her heels ; she was so desperately enamored with the Dutch- man, that she could not be induced to pass him. Long odds were offered on her for the race, even after the first heat. After Mr. Badger's death — some three years since — Flying Dutchman was sold to go West, with Priam — by John Eichards — and an- other stallion. 1832. Dutchess County Course, Poughkeepsie, N. Y., Thursday, Oct. 4— Jockey Club Purse, |300, conditions as before. Three mile heats. John C. Stevens' bl. m. Black Maria, by Eclipse, out of Lady Lightfoot, 6 yrs. . .211 Dr. E. A. Darcy's ch. m. Lady Relief, by Eclipse, out of Maria Slamerkin, 5 yrs. . . 12 3 A. Sherman's ch. h. De Witt Clinton, by Rattler, out of Matilda, 4 yrs 3 3 2 Time, 6.02—5.55—5.55. Black Maria not being quite up to the mark, Mr. Stevens entered her for the three-mile, and O'Kelly, instead, for the four- mile purse, and thereby won both cleverly. O'Kelly, then five years old, beat Jane Grey and De Witt Clinton, and soon after- wards passed into the hands of Col. Johnson, of Virginia, for $5,500. Col. Johnson disposed of him soon after at a handsome advance, to a Tennessee turfman. Mr. A. T. Nolan advertised him to stand at Franklin, Tenn., in 1836 ; his new owners brought him on the turf again last season, in his eleventh year, and considering " the hardships he had passed," his performance was highly respectable. De Witt Clinton is still the property of Mr. Brooks, of Ovid, Seneca county, N". Y., who purchased him of Mr. Sherman, and he is now standing at Columbus, Ohio. 18.32. Union Course, L. I., Saturday, Oct. 13— Jockey Club Purse, $600, conditions as before. Four mile heats. John C. Stevens' bl. Black Maria, by Eclipse, out of Lady Lightfoot, 6 yrs. .10 2 2 1 Dr. E. A. Darcy's ch. m. Lady Relief, by Eclipse, out of Maria Slamerkin, 5 jts. 3 8 8 12 John C. Craig's ch. f. Trifle, by Sir Charles, dam by Cicero, 4 yrs. . . .2013 dlst Bela Badger's— John C. Tillotson's— b. f Slim, by Flying Childers, out of Molly Longlegs, by Harwood, 4 yrs 4 dist. Time, 8.06—7.55—8.13—8.39—8.47. THE TWENTY-MILE RACE. 237 Several interesting reports of this remarkable race have been pnblished, but the most accurate and graphic one that has met our eye was penned by a distinguished member of the l!^ew York bar — a gentleman whose taste and judgment in every thing pertaining to horse-flesh, is only equalled by tlie extent and variety of his legal acquirements. It appeared as a communication in the " Turf Register," in the number for De- cember, 1832, and was to the following eifect ; — " After the horses were brought upon the ground, much anxiety was exhibited as to the event of the coming contest ; and the interesting little Trifle appeared to be the favorite among the betters, as well as the spectators. — ' Five to four, Trifle against the field,' was current betting ; and ' five to three, Trifle against Black Maria,' were repeatedly off"ered and refused. Indeed, this ofi'spring of the far-famed Lady Lightfoot seemed to have but few friends or well-wishers, comparatively speaking ; and bets were repeatedly oflfered that she would not take a heat. Prepossessions, in favor of the Southern mare, appeared to exist among a decided majority of the spectators ; and, as she was foaled ' south of Mason and Dixon's line,' it seemed a matter of course that she was to win. Indeed, if unfailing spirits, beauty of form, and a peculiar quietness of manner, could sup|)ly the defect of size, Trifle would not be considered as such in any thing but oiame. She is race-horse in every just sense of the word, but a race-horse of the smallest pattern — not over four- teen hands and a half high — of just proportions, undoubted bottom, and considerable power. Her color a bright chestnut, with a blaze, indicating sj)irit and blood. " Black Maria, in size and general appearance, is in all re- spects unlike her rival, as is well known to Southern, as well as JSTorthern sportsmen. Her color is indicated by her name ; and her great size, strength and stride, show her a worthy daughter of a noble sire. Indeed, in her the blood of Eclipse and Lady Lightfoot are in no way disgraced, as this race will most fully prove. " Lady Relief and Slim were almost unknown to fame ; but certain individuals present were aware that the former had, upon a previous occasion, won the last half of sixteen miles ; and they looked for sport, unexpected by others, if it should 238 THE HORSE. happen that the two first heats were not taken either hy Trifle or Maria. The latter, it was known, had the foot of Relief; as they met on the first of the month at Ponghkeepsie, and con- tended together for the three-mile purse, which was taken bj Maria with great ease. As the trumpet sounded for the horses to come up to the starting-post, they severally appeared, exhibit- ing their various tempers by their individual behavior. Black Maria — who had the inside track — showed neither alarm nor anxiety. She was as calm and unimpassioned as if she had been a mere spectator ; and this coldness of demeanor won no ' golden opinions ' among the lookers-on. Trifle exhibited high spirits, brought down to their proper level by judicious break- ing and training. A slight tremor ran through her frame ; and an impatient lifting of the fore foot, now and then, showed that she was alive to the coming struggle. " Lady Eelief, on the contrar}^, was all tire and animation — ready to break away fi-om her groom, and dash through all ob- stacles for the sake of victory. " Slim exhibited an impatient spirit, and seemed, by her anxiety, to show herself a descendant from that Childers who always ran — at least on our course — without ' whip or spur.' " At the tap of the drum the fonr went off well together, Relief taking the lead within the first quarter, closely followed by Slim, then by Trifle, and last, but not least, by Black Maria. The first mile indicated a waiting raee, as all the riders had their horses under the hardest pull ; each seeming desirous that his antagonists should take the lead. Trifle, impatient at such trifiing^ began to make play, and this aroused Black Maria, who was trailing along quietly, behind the whole. AVith a few Imge strides, she brought herself up to the front, passed the whole before she came to the judges' stand, followed closely by the gallant little Trifle, who ' stuck to ' her like an accompanying phantom. At the beginning of the third mile the leading nags made play, and during the whole of it Maria held the lead, fol- lowed closely by Trifle ; while Relief and Slim were — and, as we believe, not willingly — at a most respectable distance in the rear. " After passing the judges' stand and entering upon the fourth mile, and after compassing the turn, upon the southerly THE FIRST HEAT. 239 side of the course, Trifle ' made a dash ' at Maria, and ran her so hard down the descending gronnd upon the straiglit side, that her sable antagonist — perhaps not unwillingly — gave up the track, which was taken by the Southern lady, and kept, with apparent ease, round the turn, until you come to that part of the course which looks up towards the judges' stand. Here, at a moment when all opinions had given Trifle the heat, as a ' safe thing that could not be missed,' Maria ' went at her,' and, before you could count one, she shot by Trifle like an arrow, and won the heat with ease ; there being a considerable gap between herself and Trifle, and a much greater one between the latter and the hindmost horses. " Here then w^as disappointment on all sides. Black Maria, that was not ' to take a heat,' or who, at all events, had ViOXfoot enough to brush with the speedy little Trifle, had beat the field, in the last quarter, in what she was not supposed to possess ; namely, sjyeed. Indeed, we think that the rider of Trifle com- mitted a mistake in making his dash at Maria at the beginning of the fourth mile. As he had commenced a trailing race, his obvious policy was to wait until he came to the last turn ; then run up to his antagonist upon ground where he had a decided advantage, from the size and form of his horse, and finally make ' his run ' upon the straight side, coming in. Had he followed this course in the first heat — as he did in the second — we might possibly have had a difiTerent tale to tell ; for his little nag obeys the spur well, and is a hard one to beat upon a brush. But, by running at Maria on the northerly side of the course, he dis- tressed his mare, enabled his antagonist to come round the turn under a strong pull, and make a run at him at the very moment when he was least prepared for it. The result has already been shown. Time, first heat, 8.06. " It may be here remarked, that in consequence of the rains, which had prevailed for several days previous to the race, the course, although good, was unusually heavy ; so much so, as to make a difference of several seconds, probably, in the time of a four-mile heat. The top of the ground was not perfectly firm, and, consequently, the foothold of the horses was yielding and insecure. On a hard track, the time of each heat would have been considerably reduced. 240 THE HORSE. " Notwithstanding the unexpected success of Maria, she seemed still to have but few r^a^'adiuirers ; although her owner and his friends stood manfully by her, and kept their spirits up to the betting point. Trifle was still the favorite, and it was a settled thing, 'at all events,' that Maria was not to 'win the money.' Lady Relief, at this moment, had not attracted much attention, except from one circumstance. Her saddle — which was a very small one — slipped from under her rider, who, never- theless — as his girths had not parted — stoutly kept his seat upon her hare hack — his feet in the stirrups, with the saddle before him ! It was observed, however, that she ran with great spirit ; and what she 'might do^ the wise ones could not tell. " At the start for the second heat Black Maria appeared calm — as is usual with her — while Trifle and Lady Relief were all animation. They w^ent oflF as if this heat was to be won by rwmjm^, instead of waiting, as in the first heat; Relief taking the lead, followed by Slim, then by Trifle, wdiile Black Maria brought up the rear. Ere they had accomplished one mile, however, Trifle had passed Relief and Slim, while Black Maria, taking advantage of the rising ground, as you come up to the judges' stand, thundered by them all, with her long strides, and took up her station in front, closely followed by Trifle, Avhilst the others again dropped behind. Indeed, the pace at which they were running seemed so um-easonable to Miss Slim, that she concluded that she would not keep such company any longer ; and, as she could not run away from them by pursuing her course upon the track, she very wisely abandoned it alto- gether, at the end of the third — seventh — mile, and cptietly w-alked oft' the course. Maria, in the mean time, led Trifle, with apparent ease,- round the second, third, and fourth miles, until you come to the ' run in.' And here her rider, instead of giv- ing her the ' persuaders,' to make ' assurance doubly sure,' turned his head round to look for his antagonist ; and he was not long in finding her ; for Trifle, close at his heels, went at him up the straight side, whip and spur, gradually gaining at every steji. Maria's rider begins to ' look wild.' She is at her throat-latch, and the judges' stand not six feet off. She makes a desperate efibrt, and head and head they pass the stand — a dead heat ! Time, 7.55. THE THIKD HEAT. 241 " Here, again, all were at fault. One party were crying out to the rider of Maria, ' Why did you not stir yom-self ! One blow of the whip, before you came to the distance post, would have won the race.' ' I had no whip, sir ; Maria won't bear it. It discourages her. She must run under a pull, with the spur as an admonisher.' Again a thousand rumors were afloat. Trifle was as gay as a bird — ^in no way distressed. She had ''posed the ' big 'un,' who looked, as imagination said, ' both sick and sorry.' It was a ' safe thing,' and ' Black Maria can't win — she's done up ' — went round like wild fire, from mouth to month. " In the mean time, Lady Eelief was little thought of; but a Jerseyman was heard to say, ' We'll show 'em some of the Eclipse ^j'Zii^c^ yet, before we've done.' At the sounding of the trumpet for the third heat. Trifle and Eelief came up in great spirits, while Black Maria seemed in no way ambitious of an- other trial. But she's always cool ; and, as her mode of start- ing is reluctant and slow, nothing can be safely argued from her spirits. " At the tap of the drum, Trifle and Relief went off from the score, leaving Maria some distance behind. In the course of the first mile, however, she lessened the gap between herself and the leading horses, and got well up to them. But it would not do ; she could not pass. — ' What horse is that leading there ? Surely it can't be Lady Relief ! It is, upon my soul ! The Jer- sey mare's ahead ! ' And, sure enough, so she was. The nag that had attracted so little notice, as neither to be heard nor cared for, had taken the lead upon the fourth mile ; and away she ran, keeping the track in spite of them all, until you come within the distance pole, on the last quarter's stretch. And while she was leading, well ahead, from some unaccountable circumstance the boy pulled her up at once, and Trifle shot by and won the heat. Time, 8,13. " Black Maria was ' well up ' during the whole race, but she now fell into comj)lete disfavor ; and ' she's done up ' — ' an even bet she don't come again ' — went round the field with great con- fidence. It is the writer's opinion, that Relief could have taken the heat if she had been urged up to the judges' stand, and that she ought to have won it. As it was. Trifle, who well deserved Vol. I.— 16 24:2 THE HOKSE. her honors and the admiration of her friends, had been vic- torious. She had run twelve miles, winning the twelfth ; and the little game creature appeared as fresh as ever. It was now settled that she was to win the money ; although it might be that Kelief, who was fast rising in favor, might make her ' run for it.' Indeed, the latter did not seem in full vigor until she had run two heats ; and now her nostrils opened, and she pawed the ground, as if just brought upon the course. " Tliey are saddled for the fourth heat ; and here is to be a struggle until sixteen miles from the beginning are accom- plished. Black Maria is in no way distressed, Relief full of spirit, but ' Trifle's to win the money.' Off they go ; Relief takes the lead, followed by Trifle, and then the black. Miles are passed over, and yet Relief is ahead. — ' How is this ? can't Trifle pass ? Is the Jersey mare ahead ? ' — She is, indeed ; and ahead like to be. A better, truer, tougher, and more spirited piece of stuft^ never came from the loins of old Eclipse. She takes the track from the score. Trifle goes at her, but ' can't do it.' — ^Three miles and a half are accomplished, and Black Maria has passed Trifle, and is close at the heels of Jersey. Now they come up the straight side. The black is at her, and Relief takes the whip like a glutton. Maria comes up and laps her — she's at her shoulder ; but they pass the stand, and Relief takes the heat by a neck. Time, 8.39. " ' Huzza for Jersey ! ' rings over the course ; and a look of pity is cast upon the gallant little Trifle, who had done her utmost — ' Black Maria won't come again,' says a wise one, with a knowing look ' I don't know that,' says a Yorker. ' If she had run twenty straight yards farther, she would have taken the heat.' ' She is distressed,' is the reply. ' Distressed ! may he she is. I saw her lay her ears back, and lash out with her hind feet, after the boy dismounted from the sixteen miles, as if her sinews were of whipcord.' " Here was an interesting point, five heats, in all, were to be run, and twenty miles to be passed over. ' The like was never seen on this course before,' says a Long Islander, ' Bottom's the word— how go the bets ? ' ' At a stand still. Trifle's dis- tressed ; but Lady Relief has more life in her than any thing tliat ever ran sixteen miles before.' THE FIFTH HEAT. 243 " Up they come for a fifth heat ; Relief all fire, Trifle very sorry, and Black Maria now begins to paw the ground ! This she had not done before. Ofi" they go ; Relief ahead. Trifle after her, and Black Maria allowing no gap. She sticks to them like a spirit ; and in the nineteenth mile the gallant little Trifle is reluctantly compelled to give it up. The Eclipse mares are obstinately determined to 'play out the play,' and the little chestnut is taken off the track, completely ' done up.' Kow comes a struggle, for the honors of a twentieth mile, between two half sisters — whalebone both — and ' never give it up ' 's the word. Black Maria pushes up the straight side, as you enter upon the fourth — twentieth — mile, with a stride that counts ter- ribly upon the steps of the Lady, who has relief now in nothing but name. The black is so close upon her, that she almost touches her heels. She pushes round the turn, and goes at her on the straight side, like a quarter horse. They brush down the straight side with invincible courage ; but that long untiring stride is too much for Relief. Maria gives her the go by, takes the track — keeps it in spite of all exertions — leads round the turn, and thunders up toward the judges' stand, hard in hand, untouched by whip or spur — passes the goal for the twentieth time, and wins the race. Time, 8.4T. " Neither of the Eclipse mares appeared much distressed, and they ran the last mile with the greatest spirit and stoutness. Relief is a nag of the most extraordinary bottom. She seems to become fresher after twelve miles, and then runs off* as gay as a lark. As for Black Maria, she is literally ' too fast for the speedy, and too strong for the stout.' She ran the twentieth mile with a freshness and vigor that surprised every body, and the spectators at last actually conceded that she is ' game ! ' That she can conquer either Relief or Trifle, at two heats, in a match^ there can be no manner of doubt ; and that she is a 'hard one to beat' in any race, even by o. field, all sportsmen must now believe. She ran at her antagonists every heat, and at last let them know what it was to run for the honors of a twentieth mile ! " Of the three placed first in this memorable race. Black Maria was the first to recover, though for months she was but the shadow of herself. She came out in the following May 244 THE HOKSE. against a strong field, and won, while Trifle was crippled and laid np until the September season of the ensuing year. Lady Belief, as game a filly as ever started, and true as steel to the last, died within a few weeks, from the effects of a cold and exhaustion. Who that was present that day, and marked the meek expressive glance cast up towards the judges by one of these doomed ones— Black Maria — when brought up to struggle through a fifth heat, will ever forget it ? 1833. Same Course, Tuesday, May 28— Jockey Club Purse, $400, conditions as before. Three- mile heats. John C. Stevens' bl. m. Black Maria, by Eclipse, out of Lady Lightfoot, 7 yrs. . ,15 1 John M. Botts' b. c. EoUa, by Gohanna, out of Dairy Maid, 4 yrs 4 14 John C. Craig's b. m. Virginia Taylor, by Sir Archy, out of Coquette, 6 yrs. . . .542 Jos. H. Van Mater's b. h. Jackson, by John Eichards, out of Honesty, 6 yrs. . . 2 2 8 Thos. Pearsall's gr. f. Alice Gray, by Henry, out of Sport's-mistress, 4 yrs. . . .38 dist Time, 6.02— 6.07— 5.4S. A tip-top race, every inch being well contested ; Black Maria's 5.48 in a third heat of three miles has not been equalled before or since, to our knowledge ; her time is the more remark- able, when the fact is considered that it was the old mare's first appearance after her race of twenty miles the previous October. Alice Gray, a filly of very fine speed, though unfortunate in this race, subsequently placed herself near the head of the I^orthern Turf. She is now a magnificent brood mare, in the possession of Walter Livingston, Esq., who has bred several very blood-like looking colts from her that promise to " follow in the footsteps " of their dam, when brought to the post. KoUa has since been sold by Mr. Botts, if we mistake not, and has been standing in Yirginia for two or three years. 1838. Dutchess County Course, Poughkeepsie, N. T., Friday, June 7- Jockey Club Purse, $300, conditions as before. Throe-mile heats. John C. Stevens' bl. m. Black Maria, by Eclipse, out of Lady Lightfoot, 7 yrs. . . .11 Alfred Sherman's ch. h. De Witt Clinton, by Rattler, out of Matilda, 5 yrs. ... 2 2 E. Jackson's b. h. Henry Archy, by Henry, dam by Eclipse, 5 yrs 3 dr Time, 5.42—6.04. The time of the first heat of this race would probably have been several seconds less, had the field been able to drive Maria ; as it stands, it is one of the very best in the annals of the American Turf. After her race in May on the Island, • Maria was ordered by Mr. Stevens to be thrown out of training, but Bill Patrick had her out after dark or before daylight, every time opportunity afforded without danger of detection, and TRAINING ON THE SLY. 245 galloped her on the sandy road leading across the mouth of Spring Creek, never venturing to bring her out on the private training track. Daring one of these nocturnal gallopings, some wag in the secret, frightened Bill half to death, one evening, with the information that J//". Stevens was coming down the road^ so what does he do but whip down to the mill, and getting a grist, actually carried it home on the mare's back ! This oc- curred within less than a fortnight of the day of her race. To prevent a walk-over at Poughkeepsie, Mr. Stevens finally al- lowed his trainer to put her in condition ; she had only a week's galloping exercise, however, and was then brought to the post, without having had any quick or long work, much less a trial. She ran under so strong a pull throughout the heat, that those who saw the race, including her owner and trainer, are firmly of the opinion that on that day she could have made a better race at four-mile heats, than she has ever done before or since. The time of the third mile in the second heat was 1.50. Three miles at that rate would have surpassed any performance we know of ; and we can scarce doubt from this and various other proofs of Black Maria's powers of endurance, that she might, on this occasion, have kept up the rate of her first heat — 1.54 — one other mile, making the four in 7.36. Henry Archy, her competitor in this race, has been " making himself generally useful" for the last few years, in Illinois, standing for mares in the spring, and running in the fall ; he never had a great turn of speed, or he would have been distin- guished, for a horse of more undoubted stamina and thorough game was never brought to the post. 1883. Union Course, L. I., Friday, Oct. 5— Jockey Club Purse, $500, conditions as before. Fonr- mile heats. Thos. Pearsall's gr. f. Alice Gray, by Henry, out of Sport's-mistress, 4 yrs 11 John C. Stevens' bl. m. Black Maria, by Eclipse, out of Lady Lightfoot, 7 yrs. ... 22 Jos. H. Van Mater's b. b. Jackson, by John Richards, out of Honesty, 6 yrs dlst. Time, 7.56—7.50. In this fine race the " gray mare proved herself the better horse," though Black Maria beat her before, and twice after- wards. It was " turn about and turn about " with the two, for in four races they were quits, each having twice proved the winner. Mr. Van Mater, some time after this race, S' jld Jack- 246 THE HORSE. son — who was amiss on this occasion — to go South, and farther, of him, deponent saith not. 1883. Same course, Friday, Oct. 31— Jockey Club Purse, $300, conditions as before. Four-mile heats. Col. Wm. K. Johnson's ch. m. Trifle, by Sir Charles, dam by Cicero, 5 yrs 11 Walter Livingston's gr. f. Alice Cray, by Henry, out of Sport's-mistress, 4 yrs. ... 22 John C. Stevens' bl. m. Black Maria, by Eclipse, out of Lady Lightfoot, 7 yrs. . . . dist. Bela Badger's b. c. Priam, by John Eichards, 4 yrs dist. Time, 7.49— T.56. The reputation of the three mares entered in this race, ex- cited a great sensation in sporting circles, and immense sums were haid out about them, Kelying upon the tried game of Black Maria, Mr. Stevens ordered Gil. Crane, his jockey, not to make a stroke for the first heat, but to drop just within the dis- tance. Trifle and Alice made play from the score, and main- tained it to the end ; in coming up tlie straight side home on the last quarter. Crane carelessly pulled Maria back so far, that she was shut out by the distance flag eighteen inches. He was taken off the mare, and discharged on the spot. In the great Twenty-Mile race, the dead heat made by Trifle was thought to be entirely owing to his heedlessness. 1834. Same course, Friday, May 9— Jockey Club Purse, $1000, conditions as before. Foor- mile heats. Capt. E. F. Stockton's bl. c. Shark, own brother to Black Maria, 4 yrs 6 11 John C. Stevens' bl. m. Black Maria, by Eclipse, out of Lady Lightfoot, 8 yrs. . . 3 2 2 Maj. James M. Sclden's b. c. Charles Kemble, by Sir Archy, dam by Gallatin, 4 yrs. .14 4 Walter Livingston's gr. m. Alice Gray, by Henry, out of Sport's-mistress, 5 yrs. . . 2 8 8 Samuel Laird's b. h. Henry Archy, by Henry, dam by Eclipse, 6 yrs 4 5 5 John M. Botts' b. h. EoUa, by Gohanna, out of Dairymaid, 5 yrs 5 * Time, 7.54—7.57—8.03. * Broke down. A stoutly contested and spirited race. The winner was sold soon after, for the largest sum ever then paid in this country for a race-horse, being $17,500. Some odd dozen of the celebrated " Bingham " wine was also talked of, but Mr. Craig would not sell. Failing to get hold of a few dozen in this way, Capt. Stockton, at the Club Dinner, shortly after, offered to run his colt Monmouth against Mr. Craig's Fanny Cline, a match of two miles, laying $1,200 vs. 12 dozen of the Bingham. This, too, was a failure, and in a double sense, for though Fanny won the match and the $1,200, Mr. Craig, upon examination, found that his vault had been entered, and that a great part of his stock of favorite wine was missing ! Shark was withdrawn from the turf after the Fall season of 1835, and made his first MAEIA AND ALICE GRAY. 24:7 two seasons as a stallion at Taylor's Ferry, Ya., at $75 ; in 1838 he stood at Charlotte Court House, in the same State, but is now located on Long Island, in view of the scene of the never-fading victories won by himself and the glorious race from which he sprung. He is still the property of the heirs of the late la- mented John C. Craig, Esq., of Philadelphia. Charles Kemble, the winner of the first heat in this race, after running at all distances, and beating some of the best horses of his day, is now enjoying his otium cum dignitate ; he stands the present season at Chester-town, Md. 1834 Same course, Thursday, June 5— Jockey Club Purse, $400, conditions as before. Three- mile heats. John C. Stevens' bl. m. Black Maria, by Eclipse, out of Lady Lightfoot, 8 yrs. . . .11 Samuel Laird's b. h. Henry Archy, by Henry, dam by Eclipse, 5 yrs 3 2 Col. Wm. E. Johnson's b. f. Fanny Oline, by Sir Archy, dam by Gallatin, 4 yrs. . . .28 Time, 6.03-6.11. Owing to previous wet weather the track was very heavy. Black Maria was the favorite at odds, and won handily. 1834 Same course, Wednesday, Oct. 8 — Jockey Club Purse, $1000, conditions as before. Eour- mile heats. John C. Stevens' bl. m. Black Maria, by Eclipse, out of Lady Lightfoot, 8 yrs. . .211 Walter Livingston's gr. m. Alice Gray, by Henry, out of Sporfs-mistress, 5 yrs. . . 12 2 Capt. K. F. Stockton's b. c. Monmonth, by John Eichards, out of Nettletop, 4 yrs. . . 3 dist. Time, 7.52—7.55—8.03. Alice was the favorite, and at very long odds, after the first heat. Black Maria running unkindly ; she let out a kink, how- ever, in the second and third, and won both cleverly. Mon- mouth, the following season, won two races at three-mile heats ; in 1836, with 121 lbs. on his back, he won a race at two-mile heats in 3.45 — 3.49, and another in 3.56 — 3.48. He soon after passed into the hands of Capt. Y. IST. Oliver, of the Eclipse Course, New Orleans, and was so knocked up by his long jour- ney South, as never to have shown to advantage, though a horse of very fine speed. He is now standing at Basin Spring, Breck- enridge County, Ya. 1834 Same course, Friday, Oct 31— Jockey Club Purse, $1000, conditions as before. Four-mile heats. Walter Livingston's gr. m. Alice Gray, by Henry, out of Sport's-mlstress, 5 yrs. . . .11 John 0. Stevens' bl. m. Black Maria, by Eclipse, out of Lady Lightfoot, 8 yrs. ... 2 2 Time, 7.59—8.12. It was the gray mare's " turn " to win this time, which she 248 THE HORSE. did with ease ; three weeks before Maria beat her as handily in much better time. 1834 Eagle Course, Trenton, N. J., Thursday, Nov. 13— Purse, $800, free for all ages ; weights the same as on the Union Course. Three-mile heats. Maj. Jas. M. Selden's b. c. Charles Kemble, by Sir Archy, out of Pilot's dam by Gallatin, 4 yrs 11 John C. Stevens' bl. m. Black Maria, by Eclipse, out of Lady Lightfoot, 8 yrs. ... 22 Time, 5.50i— 5.51i. Kemble won handily ; he was considered the best three-mile horse in Yirginia of his day. It should be remembered that Black Maria beat him a long way off, running /bw?*-mile heats in the spring of this year. 1835. Union Course, L. I., Friday, May 8— -Jockey Club Purse, $1000, conditions as before. Four- mile heats. Samuel Laird's b. h. Henry Archy, by Henry, dam by Eclipse, 6 yrs 3 11 John C. Stevens' bl. m. Black Maria, by Eclipse, out of Lady Lightfoot, 9 yrs. . . 2 3 2 Capt. R. F. Stockton's b. h. Monmouth, by John Richards, out of Nettletop, 5 yrs. . .12 3 Joseph Alston's b. h. Daniel O'Connell, by John Richards, dam by Eclipse, 5 yrs. . 4 dist Wm. Gibbon's b. h. Milo, by Mens. Tonson, out of Meg Dods, 5 yrs dist. Time, 7.55-8.00—8.15. After distancing Monmouth and beating Henry Archy three times in their prime, they took advantage of her want of con- dition, and paid off a portion of their old scores. O'Connell soon after passed into the hands of Mr. P. C. Bush of St. Louis, Mo., who ran him successfully in the West at all distances. Milo, who was a much better horse than his performance on this occasion " made him out," suddenly died in the fall of 183T, on his way to the Long Island races. This was the last performance in public of Black Maria, who was now withdrawn from the turf and sent to Gohanna tlien standing on Long Island. RECAPITULATION. 1. 1829. Oct. 3— Union Course, L. I Match 2 mile heats won $6000 2. . Oct. 8 — Union Course, L. I Purse 3 mile heats won 400 3. 1830. May 10 — Union Course, L. I Sweepstakes . 4 mile heats lost 4. . May 19 — Dutchess County Course, N.Y. Purse 3 mile heats lost 5. . Oct. 7 — Dutchess County Course, N.Y. Purse 4 milo heats won 600 6. . Oct. 27— Dutchess County Course, N.Y. Purse 4 mile heats won 500 7. 1831. May 12— Union Course, L. I Purse 4 mile heats.. .. lost 8. . May 26— Dutchess County Course, N.Y. Purse 4 mile heats won 600 9. . Oct. C — Dutchess County Course, N.Y. Purse 4 mile heats lost 10. . Oct. 20— Central Course, Md Poststake.. .. 4 mile heats won 4500 11. . Oct. 29— Central Course, Md Purse 4 mile heats lost 12. 18.32. May 17— Dutchess County Course, N.Y. Purse 4 mile heats won ... 600 13. . May 2-3— Union Course, L. I Purse 4 mile heats lost 14. . Oct. 4— Dutchess County Course, N.Y. Purse 8 mile heats won 800 won... . $600 won... . 400 won . . . . 300 lost... lost.... lost... won... . 400 won... . 1000 lost... lost... lost-... RKCAPITULATION. 249 15. . Oct 13 — Union Course, L. I Purse 4 mile heats . . . 16. 1833. May 28— Union Course, L. I Purse 3 milo heats. .. 17. . June 7 — Dutchess County Course, N. T. Purse 3 mile heats . . . 18. . Oct. 5— Union Course. L. I Purse 4 mile heiits . . . 19. . Oct 31— Union Course, L. I Purse 4 mile heats. . . 20. 1834 May 9— Union Course, L. I Purse 4 mile heats . . . 21. . June 5 — Union Course, L. I Purse 8 mile heats. . . 22. . Oct 5— Union Course, L. I Purse 4 mile heats. - - 23. . Oct 31 — Union Course, L. I Purse 4 milo heats. . . 24. . Nov. 13— Eagle Course, N. J Purse 3 mile heats - . 25. 1835. May 8— Union Course, L. I Purse 4 mile heats- - . Starting twenty-five times, and winning in thirteen races, — eleven of them Jockey Club Paces, at three and four-mile heats, — the handsome sum of $14,900 Seventeen four-mile races, and forty-two heats of four miles — making 168 miles. The above recapitulation of her performances fully justifies, we think, the high opinion we have expressed in the course of our article, of Black Maria's surpassing speed, and wonderful powers of endurance. In summing up the large amount she won, and comparing it with the winnings of first-raters of a more recent date, it should be recollected, that while she was on the Turf, the Club Purses were but of about half the value of those given at the present day. Trifle, a nonpareil, and the most successful racer of her day, won but $14,380 ; Post Boy, a " crack " of later date, for a time at the head of the Northern Turf, and a very capital performer, won only $12,700, while Mingo, the phenomenon, who ran well at all distances, and won for himself the proud title of the " Champion of the North," won but $15,250 ; Mingo's winnings, however, were mostly in purses. By setting down the purses won by Black Maria at the respective suras now ofiered for three and four-mile heats, she would have left the Turf a winner of Eighteen Thousand Five Hundred Dollar's ! Black Maria, like Post Boy, was " hammered to death '' in training, and came to the post quite as often amiss as in condi- tion. When " fit," she was too fleet for the fast, and too stout for the strong ; another reason for her frequent defeats, was owing to the management of her high-spirited owner, of whom it is no- torious that he never pays forfeit — never allows a walk over, if a horse in his stable can stand on three legs, and is the man always called upon to make up a fleld or a stake, and always certain to do it without consulting his interest or his trainer. In the hands of a gentleman less regardless of the gratification of the public, and more alive to his own interests, 250 THE HOKSE. it is very doubtful wliether Black Maria would not have ruu on to the age of her grand-dam, and with equal credit. In 1836 she produced a bay colt by Gohanna, which Mr. Stevens appropriately named Terrific, from its immense size. It is a colt of great promise, combining the best racing points of both sire and dam — at six weeks old Mr. Stevens refused $1,500 for it. It makes one of the "string" Mr. Stevens sent to New Orleans last January, in Yan Leer's charge. On the 6th of March last, Mr. Stevens shipped Black Maria to New Orleans, per the " Nashville," in company with Cora, Clara Howard, African, Bonny Black, and EthioiDia. The lot arrived there on the 29th of that month, and when landed on the levee, the fine old mare excited great admiration by her blood-like appearance. None were sold here but Black Maria ; the three last named were subsequently taken to St. Louis, Mo., where Van Leer sold them for $5,000, to Messrs. Shacklett, Sloan & Overton ; they came out at the Fall Meetings at St. Louis, and were all winners, carrying oif the purses for three and four- mile heats. Cora and Clara Howard were sent to Alabama, the first to be stinted to imp. Glencoe, and the last to imp. Leviathan, where they remain, still owned by Mr. Stevens. Black Maria, while at New Orleans, was purchased by the Hon. Balie Peyton, in company with his friends. Dr. J. G. Chalmers, of that city, and J. S. Yeager, Esq., of Yicksburg, Miss., for $4,000, a sum much below her value ; not above a year previous, an ofifer of $5,500, made for her, through us, was refused. Mr. Peyton sent her at once to imp. Luzborough, and at the same time proposed a Produce Stake for colts and fillies dropped Spring of 1839, to come off over the Nashville — ^Tenn. — Course, during the Fall Meeting of the Jockey Club in 1843, with a subscription of $5,000 each, $1,000 forfeit, four- mile heats. Black Maria's produce headed the list of nomi- nations, and when the stake closed in January lust, there were twenty-nine subscribers, making the stake amount to the enor- mous sum of One Hundred and Forty-Five Thousand Dol- lars ! No stake at all comparable with this, has ever been made up in this country or Europe, so far as the amount of money is concerned, and twenty-nine better mares cannot be selected, in England or America. THE PEDIGKEES, PERFORMANCES, AND CHARACTERISTICS OP WAGNER AND GEEY EAGLE. At no time, probably, since the commencement of horse-racing in America, has the Turf stood higher, or been more ably repre- sented, than in the year 1839. In that year Boston, probably the best race-horse that ever ran on an American track, was in his prime, and almost, one might say, unbeaten ; for having started twenty-five times, and received forfeit twice, he had suffered but two defeats, one, in his very first race, having bolted while running on the lead and looking like a winner ; the other, in a race of two-mile heats at Petersburgh, Virginia, in which he was outfooted by Ports- mouth. In that year ran "Wagner, G-ano, Treasurer, Clarion, Balie Peyton, Portsmouth, Decatur, and Grey Eagle ; and the mares Omega, Andi-ewetta, Sarah Bladen, and others scarcely inferior in renown. The crack mare Fashion, in her two-year-old form, had not come upon the scene of her triumphs, and the day when the matchless Boston should find his match was not yet, even in anticipation. Not one of the animals named above, but was a real race- horse, a good one and no mistake, though differing in excellence the one from the other. All had their sanguine fi-iends and backers, and more than one was believed by his own especial partisans to be invincible. 252 THE HORSE. Of none is this more true than of tlie two gallant animals, whose names are prefixed, and whose gi-andest exploit I am about to borrow from the Turf Eegister of 1840, for which it was incomparably reported by my friencl Wm. T. Porter. "Wagner in his five-year-old forai, was already a tried horse, of proved speed, courage, and bottom, a distinguished winner, and even, in the high-flown aspirations of his owner, capable to compete with Boston. He was, at least the equal of any other horse in America of his day ; and not long afterward, a distinguished writer was found in the columns of the Spirit of the Times to maintain that, up to this period, the great son of Timoleon had displayed no manifest sui^eriority over him. He had been in training continually since his third year ; in 1838, he had won three races of four-mile heats, and two of two-mile heats, beating Extio at New Orleans in 7.44-Y.5T — considered in those days all but the very best time. He was a beautiful chestnut horse of fifteen and a half hands, with a white blaze on his face, and two white hind feet. He was got by Sir Charles — he by Sir Archy, dam by imp. Citizen, gd. by Commutation, g. gd. by imp. Daredevil, g. g. gd. by imp. Shark, g. g. g. gd. by imp. Fearnought — out of Maria West by Marion, her dam Ella Crump, by imp. Citizen, gd. by Hunts- man, g. gd. by Wildair, g. g. gd. by Fearnought, g. g. g. gd. by Janus, &c. Marion was by Sir Archy, dam by Citizen, gd. by Alder- man, g. gd. by Roebuck out of a Herod mare. Grey Eagle was in his fourth year, a magnificent horse nearly sixteen hands in height, said to be of almost perfect symmetry, although scarcely equal in his quarters to his forehand, which is described as sumptuous. His color, as his name indicates, was a fine silvery gray. In his three-year-old form he had won two races of two-mile heats, in 3.41 — 3.43 — 3.48 — and 3.44 respectively, and was honestly believed by his owner, and by Kentuckian sportsmen in general, to be equal to any thing in America, both for speed and bottom ; although, in truth, this opinion must be regarded rather as surmise than as judgment, since his powers had not yet been sufficiently tested to justify such boundless confidence. PEDIGEEK OF GREY EAGLE. 253 It is but fair to add, that his running, in the wonderful races which are to be described, was such as to prove that this confi- dence was not misplaced — was such, indeed, as to render it probable that, had he been ridden by a jockey competent to make the most of his powers, he might have been the winner in the first match — in which case he probably would not have been lost to the turf, by the rash, and, as I must consider it, cruel trial, of running a second four-mile race of scarcely paralleled severity, within five days. Grey Eagle was got by Woodpecker — ^he by Imp. Dragon — dam, Irby's Daredevil mare, grandam by old Wildair, g. gr. dam by Fearnought, etc. — out of Ophelia by Wild Medley, gd. Ophelia by Grey Diomed, g. gd. Primrose by Apollo, g. g. gd. by imp. Granby, g. g. g. gd. by imp. Figure, &c. Wild Medley was got by Old Medley, dam by Wildair, gd. by Ti-istram Shandy, g. gd. Sportley by Imp. Janus, g. g. gd. Gen. Nelson's imp. Spanish mare. There are no less than four Grey Diomeds and seven Apollos in Edgar's Stud Book, and it is not stated which of these horses are intended. They are all, however, of good blood. The description which here ensues has been considered, by competent judges, to be the finest specimen of turf-writing in the English language, and if the laudari a laiidato be fame in literary matters, we know no one who has derived more from a single essay than the writer of the narrative annexed. WAGNEE AND GREY EAGLE'S RACES. The editor of this magazine had the pleasure of attending the last meeting of the Louisville Jockey Club, and witnessing the two splendid races between Wagner and Grey Eagle. Those who have noticed the spirit with which every thing connected with breeding and racing is carried on at present, in Kentucky, will hardly be surprised to hear that the late meeting has never been equalled in the excellence of the sport, or in the number and character of the visitors. Turfmen and other distinguished strangers from the neighboring States mustered in great force ; 254 THE HORSE. while the Kentuckians themselves turned out in such numbers, that the hotels and lodging houses literally overilowed. A week of i^ore delightful weather we have rarely known. The fields were large every day ; the horses ran well ; " all the world and his wife " were on the course ; the pressure was forgotten, and all appeared to enjoy themselves without stint or measure. In addition to the brilliant report of " N. of Arkansas " in the Spirit of the Times, the editor, since his return, has given his impressions of the meeting, in the columns of that paper. Many readers of this magazine have expressed a desire that we should also give them a report of the two great races. In compliance with the general desire of these, we proceed to give our own impressions of the two races, which have con- tributed in an eminent degree to give "Wagner and Grey Eagle the high and enduring reputation they now enjoy. The races during the week were characterized by good fields, strong run- ning, fine weather, and an attendance unparalleled in numbers and respectability. The Oakland Course was in the finest pos- sible order, the stewards were in uniform and well mounted, and the arrangements of the proprietor, Col. Oliver, and of the club, for the gratification and convenience of their guests, were not only in good taste, but complete in all respects. We have not roonj to speak in this place of a variety of in- teresting circumstances connected with the meeting, but shall be pardoned for alluding to the unusual number of distin- guished individuals present, and the blaze of beauty reflected from the Ladies' Pavilion, on the occasion of the first race be- tween the champions of Louisiana and Kentucky. The number of ladies in attendance was estimated at eight hundred, while nearly two thousand horsemen were assembled on the field. The stands, the fences, the trees, the tops of carriages, and every eminence overlooking the course, were crowded ; probably not less than ten thousand persons composed the assemblage, com- prising not only several distinguished Senators, and nearly the entire Kentucky delegation in Congress, with their families, but all the elite of the beauty and fashion of the State. Among the earliest on the ground were the Hon. Judge Porter, of Louisiana, the distinguished ex-Senator, and Mr. Clay. His colleague in the Senate, Mr. Crittenden, soon followed, with THE OAKLAND MEETING. 255 Gen. Atkinson, Major Stewart, and Capt. Alexander, of tlie army, Judge Woolley, Gov. Poindexter, Judge Rowan, the Hon. Messrs. Menifee, Allan, Letcher, Hardin, Graves, Hawes, etc. Among the guests of the Club, well known to the sporting world, we noticed J. S. Skinner, Esq., of Baltimore, W. M. Anderson, Esq., of Ohio, Col. C. F. M. ISToland, of Arkansas, the Messrs. Kenner, Mr. Slidell, Mr. Parker, and Mr. Beasley, of Louisiana, Mr. McCargo, Mr. Beasley, and Capt. Bacon of Yir- ginia, Mr. Geo. Cheatham, of Tenn., Maj. Fleming, of Alabama, and a great number more whose names have escaped us. Good breeding forbids an enumeration of the distinguished throng of belles. The young miss just from the trammels of school, flush with joy and fears, the budding, blooming girl of sweet sixteen, the more stately and elegant full-blown woman, the dark-eyed Southerner, with her brown complexion and matchless form, the blue-eyed Northerner with her dimpled cheek and fair and spotless beauty, were gathered here in one lustrous galaxy. The gentlemen were unmatched for variety ; the Bar, the Bench, the Senate, and the Press, the Army and the Navy, and all the et ceteras that pleasure or curiosity attracted, were here represented. We are very much tempted to essay to describe a few of these radiant belles — had kind Heaven made us a poet, like Prentice, we would immortalize them ; as we are only a proser, we can merely detail them. If any demand by what right we allude so pointedly to them, surely we may ask what right they have to be so beautiful ? There was one with a form of perfect symmetry, and a countenance not only beautiful, but entirely intellectual ; like Halleck's Fanny, she may have been " younger once than she is now," but she is, and will ever be, " a thing to bless — all full of life and loveliness." With a purely Grecian bust and classic head, and with an eye as dark as the absence of all light, beaming with a lustre that eclipses all, her figure varied itself into every grace that can belong either to rest oi motion. And there was a reigning belle, in the spring-time of her youth and beauty, with a face beaming with perfect happi- ness ; it was like a " star-lit lake curling its lips into ripples in some stream of delight, as the west-wind salutes them with its balmy breath, and distui-bs their placid slumber." It was the 256 THE IIOKSE, realization of Byron's idea of " music breathing o'er the face." There comes a bride — and from tlie East. too. A peep at her face, ahnost hid by clustering braids of raven hair, displays a belle of an Atlantic city, and ere we have time to ask her name, a lovely blonde sweeps by in a gay mantilla, changeable as the hues of evening, with a hat whiter than the wing of a dove, and a face faultless as Nesera. It would puzzle a Sphinx to divine the cause of her radiant smile. Walks she fancy free ? Has Cupid's bolt passed her innocuous ? In the centre of the Pavilion stand two rival belles, of a style of beauty so varied as to atti-act marked attention. The face and figure of one is rounded to the complete fulness of the mould for a Juno ; while the other, with the form of a sylph, and the eyes of an angel, is the impersonation of delicacy and loveliness. And there is a lady from the northernmost extremity of the Republic, nearly allied to the Patrick Henry of the Southwest, with eyes of the sweetest and most tranquil bine " that ever reflected the serene heaven of a happy hearth — eyes to love, not wonder at — to adore and rely upon, not admire and tremble for." And then there was that beautiful belle from Scott County, and that bril- liant wit from Lexington ; here, the pearl wreath strove to rival the fairer brow — the ruby, a rubier lip — the diamond, a brigliter eye ; there, the cornelian borrowed from the damask cheek a deeper hue ; the gossamer floated round a lighter form — the light plume nodded over a lighter heart. But what grace can flowers or sweeping plumes confer when the rich smile of beauty is parting her vermilion lips, and the breath of the morning, added to the excitement of the occasion, have given a ripeness to her cheeks, and a fire to her eye, which, to our bachelor taste, would be worth a pilgrimage to Mecca to enjoy, as we did at that moment. Who can fail to detect the graceful being on our left, in a Parisian hat, lined with violets, whose soft liquid eye, and raven braids render her the fairest gem in the brilliant cluster of Western beauties ? The flashing eyes of a dark-browed matron from Missouri are roving restlessly over the nodding sea of heads beneath ; and the pensive smile of a fair lily, just home from school, has become absolutely radiant as she shakes back, from her open brow, a flood of glis- tening ringlets, and gazes down upon the multitude with the THE NOMmATIONS. 257 innocent gaze of a young-eyed seraph. But how shall our pen do homage to the daughters of Old Kentuck, whose striking Di Vernon beauty, with their dark lustrous eyes and sable tresses, is only rivalled by the high culture bestowed upon their minds, and the attraction of those feminine accomplishments which '* gild refined gold," and render them among the loveliest and most fascinating women within the circuit of the sun? The waters of Lethe must flow deep over our souls, to banish the memory of the bouquets and gloves we lost and won upon that day ! The evening festivities that followed — the brilliant dance, the plaintive song that " lapt us in Elysium," — and she, too, the fairy masquerader, in the Suliote cap and bodice, lives she not last, as well as first, in our remembrance ? But our pages forbid a longer retrospection. The hospitalities and courtesies of the West, joined to the smile of her beauteous women, are indelibly impressed upon our hearts, and shall be freshly remembered when we pledge our warmest friends in the generous wine-cup. The occasion of this brilliant assembly was the stake for all ages, four-mile heats, which closed on the 1st of January, 1839, with ten subscribers at $2,000 each, half forfeit, as follows ; — 1— T. N. Oliver & Miles W. Dickey, of Kentucky, named gr. c. Grey Eagle, by Woodpecker, out of Ophelia, by Wild Medley, 4 yrs. — Dress, Red, Blue, and Orange. 2 — "Wm. T. Ward, of Kentucky, named b. m. Mary Vatighan, by Waxy, out of Betty Bluster, by imp. Bluster, 5 yrs. — Dress, Blue and White. 8 — Willa Viley, of Kentucky, named ch. £ Queen Mary, by Bertrand, dam by Brimmer, 4 yrs.— Dress, White and Green. 4 — Geo. N. Sanders & Lewis Sanders, Jr., of Kentucky, named b. c. Occident, by Bertrand, out of Diamond, by Turpin's Florizel, 4 yrs. — Dress, White. 5 — Sidney Burbridge, of Kentucky, named b. c. Tarlton, by Woodpecker, dam by Eobin Gray, 5 yrs. — Dress, not declared. 6 — Jas. L. Bradley & H. B. Steel, of Kentucky, named ch. c. Haick-Eye, by Sir Lovell, out of Pressure's dam, by Jenkins' Sir William, 4 yrs. — Dress, Orange and Black. 7 — Archie Cheatham, of Virginia, named b. h. Billy Townes, by Imp. Fylde, dam by Virginian, 5 yrs. — Dress, Purple and Ked. 8— Jas. S. Garrison, of Louisiana, named ch. h. Wagner, by Sir Charles, out of Maria West, by Marion, 5 jts. — Dress, Eed and Eed. 9 — Wm. Wynn, of Virginia, named b. c. Picton, by Imp. Luzborough, out of Isabella, by Sir Archy, 5 yrs. — ^Dress, not declared. 10— Wm. Buford, Jr., of Kentucky, named ch. f. Musidora, by Medoc, dam by Kosciusko, 4 yrs. — Dress, not declared. The race came oif on Monday, the 30th of September. Of the ten nominations, four only came to the post — Wagner, Grey Eagle, Queen Mary, and Hawk-Eye. Of the other six. Tarlton Vol. I.— 17 ^ 258 THE HOKSE. and Musiclora had given way in training ; Picton was in Ten- nessee, and complaining ; Occident's trials would not justify his starting ; Billy Townes and Mary Yaughan were on the ground, but not up to the mark in condition. From the day the stake closed, the betting had been going on with spirit in different sections of the country, increasing daily in amount as the race drew nigh. From the first Wagner was decidedly the favorite ; and when it became reduced almost to a certainty that not above six would start, the betting was about 50 to 75 on him vs. the field. For many months previous to the race, and before it was known how many would start, odds were offered, from New York to New Orleans, on Wagner and Billy Townes against the field. Immense sums were laid out at odds, in Kentucky, on Grey Eagle's winning the first heat, and in many instances he was backed against Wagner for the race. In consequence of the unlimited confidence felt by the Kentuckians in the " foot " of Grey Eagle, it was resolved by the Wagner party not to run for the first heat, unless circumstances should occur which might render it an easy thing for their horse. But the day before the race, a commission from New Orleans was received, offering a large sum on Wagner's beating the gray the first heat, which induced them to change this determination ; indeed, the induce- ment to run for it was a pretty substantial one, for they could lose nothing, and might win several thousands — we do not feel at liberty to say how many, or who were the parties ; it is enough that they were keen, and also successful. Two days before the race, Mr. McCargo gave Billy Townes a trial with Missouri and Texana, and though the result was entirely satisfactory, so far as his action was concerned, he soon after cramped to such a degree that it was at once declared that he would not be started. Mary Yaughan, we believe, was plated for the race, but not being quite up to the mark, she also paid forfeit. On the morn- ing of the race, it being understood pretty thoroughly that Wagner, Grey Eagle, Queen Mary, and Hawk-Eye only would start, out of the ten nominations, "business" commenced in earnest, Wagner being freely oftered against the field, and as freely taken, while Grey Eagle was backed at small odds for the first heat. The " call " for the horses was sounded at a quarter to one THE ■ HORSES. o'clock, and soon after all eyes were directed toward a motley grouj) approaching from Mr. Garrison's stable : " with stately step and slow," the proud champion of Louisiana made his appearance. He was directly stripped, and a finer exhibition of the perfection to which the trainer's art can be carried, we have rarely seen. His coat and eye were alike brilliant. Wagner is a light gold chestnut, with a roan stripe on the right side of his face, and white hind feet — about fifteen hands and a half high. His head is singularly small, clean, and bony, set on a light but rather long neck ; forehanded, he resembles the pic- tures of his sire, and in his carriage is said to resemble him. His shoulder is immensely strong, running very well back into a good middle piece, which is well ribbed home. One of the finest points about him is his great depth of chest ; few horses can measure with him from the point of the shoulder to the brisket. His arms are heavily muscled like Mingo's, with the tendons standing out in bold relief. He has uncommonly strong and wide hips, a good loin, remarkably fine stifles and thighs, with as fine hocks and legs as ever stood under a horse. Wagner has been in training ever since his 3 yr. old, and has travelled over three thousand miles, without three weeks' rest this season ! Mr. Garrison commencing galloping him just four weeks previous to this race ; he had not even been turned loose in a paddock. A murmur, which was soon lost in a suppressed cheer at the head of the quarter stretch, announced to the multitude about the stand the approach of Orey Eagle j as he came up in front of the stand, his lofty carriage and flashing eye elicited a burst of applause, which told better than words can express the intense and ardent aspirations felt in his success, by every son and daiighter of Kentucky. Clinton, his trainer, immediately stripped off his sheet and hood, and a finer specimen of the high-mettled racer was never exhibited. He was in condition to run for a man's life — a magnificent gray, nearly sixteen hands high, with the step of a gazelle and the strength of a Bucephalus. Mr. Burbridge had told us that of one thing he was confident — his horse might want foot, but of his game he was certain ; the cor- rectness of his judgment the sequel will show. In the hands of Clinton, who, by-the-by, is a Kentuckian, not above seven and twenty years of age, Grey Eagle had never lost a heat ; the 260 THE HOR8K. previous October, he won a two-mile Sweepstakes, over this course, in 3.41 — 3.43| ; and a week afterwards repeated tlie race in 3.48 — 3.44. His form indicates more power of endur- ance than any hoi'se we ever saw in Kentucky ; from the girth forward his shape and make could hardly be improved, if he merely had the delicate, finely-tapered ears of a Sir Charles, or a Wild Bill. Standing behind him, his quarters display a fine development of muscle, but many would call them light in pro- portion to his size and forehand ; in this respect he closely re- sembles Priam. His coupling, thigh, and stifle, are miexcep- tionably good, and his hocks come well down to the ground, giving him great length from their point to that of the whirl- bone. His legs are clean, broad, and flat, with the hamstrings and leaders beautifully developed — no son of Whip ever had a finer set of limbs under him. Two chestnuts next challenged the public's attention ; the first was Queen Mary, a very blood-like looking filly, with white hind feet, that a single glance would have shown to be a daughter of Bertrand. She measures about 15^ hands, is well put up, and when running in good form, must be a dangerous lady to trifle with. Hawk-Eye, as we remember him, is a heavy moulded colt, of nearly 15| hands, with a star and white fore feet ; without the foot or the endurance of his half brother, Pressure, he presents to the eye no such game appearance. We trust he was not himself on this occasion, or we should wish " ne'er to look upon his like again," for he cut a very sony figure in this party. Both himself and the Bertrand filly have been winners, and the latter has ever been looked upon as a performer of great promise. At half-past one o'clock, the jockeys having received their orders from the judges, the order was given to " clear the course." Cato, called Kate, in a richly-embroidered scarlet dress, was put upon Wagner ; he is a capital jockey, and rode nearly up to his weight, 110 pounds. The rider engaged for Grey Eagle, lost the confidence of his owners just before the race, and at the eleventh hour they were obliged to hunt up another. StepJien Welch, a three-year-old rider, was selected, though obliged to carry thirteen pounds dead weight in shot-pouches on his sad- dle ! The friends of Grey Eagle, however, had entire confidence THK START. Ml in liis honesty ; and it is clear that he did his best, though, weighing as he did but eighty-two pounds, he had neither the strength nor stamina to hold and control a powerful, fiery horse like Grey Eagle. He rode superbly for a lad of his years, while Cato's exhibition of skill and judgment would have done credit to Gil. Patrick. The horses took their places in accordance with the precedence of their nomination for the stake. Grey Eagle having the inside track, Queen Mary second, Ilawk-Eye third, and Wagner the outside. Just at this moment Mr. Ward, the President of tlie Club, dislodged the band from their seats over the judges' stand, and Mr. Clay, Judge Porter, Judge Kowan, our friend Col. Whetstone, of the Devil's Fork of the Little Red, and the writer of this article, with two or three other gentlemen, were invited to occupy them, by which we all obtained a fine view, not only of the race, but — of the ladies in the stands opposite. THE RACE. All being in motion and nearly in line, the President gave the word " Go ! " and tapped the drum. Grey Eagle was the last off, while Wagner went away like a quarter-horse, with Queen Mary well up second ; they were taken in hand at once, which allowed Hawk-Eye to take the place of the Queen on the back stretch, and at the three-quarter-mile post, Wagner allowed him to take the track. Hawk-Eye led home to the stand at a moderate pace, Wagner second, and Queen Mary third ; both of them were pulling to Grey Eagle, at whose head Stephen was tugging with might and main. Hawk-Eye carried on the running for about half a mile further, until Gooding bid Cato " go along." The pace mended at once ; Wagner went up to Hawk-Eye, and might have cut him down in half a dozen strides, but the Queen was still laying back, and Grey Eagle had not yet made a stroke. Wagner came first to the stand, and at the turn Cato having held up his whip as a signal to a crowd of rubbers and boys on Garrison's stable, that " the old Sorrel Stud" was going just right, they gave him a slight cheer, at which Wagner broke loose, and made a spread eagle of the field in "no time." The other jocks were not a little startled at this demonstration of Wagner's speed, and each called upon his nag, 262 TirK HORSK. 80 tliat opposite the Oakland House, near the three-quarter mile post, the field closed. Ste})hen here let out the phenomenon he so gracefully bestrode, and like twin bullets the gallant gray and Wagner came out of the melee. At the head of the quar- ter stretch, Stephen was told to " pull him steady," so that before Wagner reached tlie stand, Queen Mary had changed places with Grey Eagle, notwithstanding her saddle liad slipped on her withers. Hawk-Eye was already in difficulty, and for him the pace was getting " no better very fast." Grey Eagle set to work in earnest on entering the back stretch, first outfoot- ing the Queen and then challenging Wagner. From the Oak- land House to the head of the quarter-stretch, the ground is descending, and from thence up the straight run to the stand, a distance of perhaps six hundred yards, it is ascending. At the half-mile post, Cato called upon Wagner, and tlie critical moment having arrived, Stephen collared him with the gray, on the outside. For three hundred yards the pace was tremen- dous ; Grey Eagle once got his head and neck in front, and a tremendous shout was sent up ; but Wagner threw him oft' so far in going round the last turn, that, halfway up the stretch, Mr. Burbridge ordered him to be pulled up, and Wagner won cleverly, Queen Mary dropping just within her distance, 150 yards. Hawk-Eye was nowhere. Time 7.48. The disappointment and mortification was so great, that for the first twenty minutes after the heat. Queen Mary was freely backed against Grey Eagle, while so far as Wagner was con- cerned, it was considered " a dead open and shut." Before the forty-five minutes had elapsed, however, a re-action took place in favor of Grey Eagle. Not a KentucMan on the ground laid out a dollar on Wagner ! From the first, the very few individ- uals who were disposed to back him on account of his blood, his form, his performances and his condition, had not staked a dollar; their judgment prompted them to back the Southern chamj)ion, but they would not bet against Kentucky ! Talk of State pride in South Carolina ! Why, the Kentuckians have more of it than the citizens of all the States in the Confederacy added together. They not only believe Kentucky to be the Eden of the world, and the garden of the Union, but their own favorite county to be the asparagus-bed of the State ! And they THE SECOND HEAT. 2G3 have good reason ; Kentucky is a glorious State. The talent and chivalry of her sons are in keeping with the intelligence and peerless beauty of her daughters, and well may they be proud of her and of each other. But to the horses. All cooled off well, but more especially Grey Eagle, who appeared not to mind the run a jot. They got, as Clinton remarked, " a capital scrape out of him," and he was " as fine as silk," — in good order for a bruising heat. He extended him- self with a degree of ease in the second heat, and changed his action in a manner that convinced ns that the sweat had relieved him. Wagner, who resembles Boston in many other respects, showed all that placidity and calmness of look and motion which characterizes " the old White-nose." Great odds were offered on him for the race, but small amounts only were staked. Grey Eagle's noble bearing and game-cock look, as he came up to contest in a second heat for the meed of honor and applause, was the theme of universal admiration ; so much so, indeed, that a cargo of laces, gloves, bijouterie, etc., must have been required to pay the wagers made in the Ladies' Pavilion. Second Heat. — The tap of the drum sent them away with a beautiful start, Wagner leading off with a steady, business-like stride, while Grey Eagle, as full of game as of beauty, waited upon him close up. It was instantly evident that Mr. Burbridge had changed his tactics ; the moment Stephen got Grey Eagle into straight work on the back side, he made play for the track, and after a terrific burst of speed for one hundred and fifty yards, he came in front ; keeping up his stroke, he soon after made a gap of four lengths, and though Wagner drew upon him a little in coming up the rising ground towards the stand, yet he passed it far enough in advance to warrant the warm and hearty plaudits of his friends. As if insj)irited by the cheers of the crowd, and the tokens of unalloyed gratification exhibited by the galaxy of radiant beauty in the stands. Grey Eagle kept up his murderous rate throughout the entire second mile ; Wagner lay up close, and there was no faltering, no fiinching, no giving back, on the part of either. The stride was over twenty-two feet, perfectly steady, strong, and regular, with no dwelling, no floundering, no laboring. Grey Eagle made the ]-unning to beyond the half-mile post on the third mile, and the 264 THE rioRs?:. pace seemed too good to lust, but there were " links " yet to be " let out." From this point the two cracks made a match of it, in which Queen Mary had as little apparent concern as if out of the race. Near the Oakland House, AVagner set to work to do or die. ^^JRowel him iip !^^ shouted his owner to Cato ; while Garrison, at the head of the quarter stretch, w^as waving hie hat to him to come on ! The rally that ensued down the descent to the turn, was desperate, but Wagner could not gain an inch ; as they swung round into the quarter stretch the;- were lapped ; " spur your proud coursers hard and ride ii blood ! " were the orders on this, as they are described to have been on Bosworth "lield." Botli horses got a taste of steel and catgut as they came up the ascent, and on cast- ing our eye along the cord extending across the course from the judges' to the club stands. Grey Eagle was the first under it by a head and shoulders ; at tlie turn Stephen manoeuvred so as to press Wagner on the outside, and soon after drew out clear in front, looking so much like a winner that the crowd, unable to repress an irresistible impulse, sent up a cheer that made the welkin ring for miles around. The group on Wagner's stable again bid him " go on ! " but Cato, " calm as a summer's morn- ing," was quietly biding his time ; he seemed to feel that Patience has won more dollars than Haste has coppers, and that there was but a solitary chance of winning the race out of the fire. Fully aware of the indomitable game of the nonpareil under him, he thought if he could bottle him up for a few hun- dred yards there was still another run to be got out of him. He accordingly took a bracing pull on his horse, and though it was "go along" every inch, Wagner recovered his wind so as to come again at the head of the quarter stretch. Stephen, long ere this, had become so exhausted as to be u able to give Grey Eagle the support he required ; he rode wide, swerving consid- erably from a straight line, and was frequently all abroad in his seat. From the Oakland House home, it was a terrible race ! By the most extraordinary exertions Wagner got up neck and neck with " the gallant gray," as they swung round the turn into the quarter stretch. The feelings of the assembled thou- sands were wrought up to a pitch absolutely painful — silence the most profound reigned over that vast assembly, as these SUMMARY. 265 noble animals sped on as if life and death called forth their utmost energies. Both jockeys had their whip-hands at work, and at every stroke, each spur, with a desperate stab, was buried to the rowel head. Grey Eagle, for the first hundred yards, was clearly gaining ; but in another instant Wagner was even with him. Both were out and doing their best. It was any body's race yet ! Now Wagner — now Grey Eagle has the advantage. It will be a dead heat ! " See ! Grey Eagle's got him ! "— « ]^o — Wagner's ahead ! " A moment ensues — the people shout — hearts throb— ladies faint — a thrill of emotion, and the race is over ! Wagner wins by a neck, in Y.M, the best race ever run south of the Potomac ; while Kentucky's gallant champion demonstrates his claim to that proud title, by a per- formance which throws into the shade the most brilliant ever made in his native State. Summary ; — MONDAY, Sept. 80, 1839.— Sweepstakes for all ages, 3 yr. olds carrying 86 lbs.— 4, 100—5, 110— 6, 118-7 and upwards, 124 lbs. ; mares and geldings allowed 3 lbs. Ten subscribers at $2,000 each, h. ft., to which the Proprietor added the receipts of the Stands. Four-mile heats. Jas. S. Garrison's— John Campbell's— ch. h. Wag7ier, by Sir Charles, out of Maria West, by Marion, 5 yrs. Caio. 1 1 Oliver & Dickey's— A. L. Shotwell's— gr. c. Grey JSagle, by Woodpecker, out of Ophelia, by Wild Medley, 4 yrs Stephen Welch. 2 2 Capt. Willa Viley's ch. f. Queen Mary, by Bertrand, dam by Brimmer, 4 yrs. . . .33 Bradley & Steel's ch. c. HoAJok-Eye, by Sir Lovell, out of Pressure's dam, by Jenkins' Sir William, 4 yrs. dist. Time, T.48— T.44 To say that Wagner was better managed and better jockeyed in this race than Grey Eagle, is to express the opinion of every unprejudiced individual who had the pleasure of witnessing it. What might have been the result of the race^ we cannot pre- tend to say, but we assert with perfect confidence our belief, that with Gil. Patrick on his back. Grey Eagle would have won the second heat. People differ in opinion, luckily, and were it not so we should be in a mass. Had the managers of Grey Eagle been content to bide their time, another tale might have been told. "Wait and win" carries ofi" more purses than " Take the track and keep it." Grey Eagle could outfoot Wag- ner in a brush of one hundred and fifty yards — he clearly de- monstrated that fact half a dozen times in the course of the week ; but in a run of five or six hundred yards, Wagner could beat him about the same distance. The two horses were so nearly matched that good generalship and good riding did the 2G6 THE HORSE. business. Instead of allowing him to go forw-ard and ent out the work, Grey Eagle should have been laid quietly behind, with a steady, bracing pull, until within the distance stand, and then pulled out, and made to win if he could. That was his only chance ; tiring down Wagner is like tiring down a lo- comotive. We must here break off, but not without remarking that after being weighed, Cato was put up again on Wagner, and with the stakes in his hand — $14,000 ! — he promenaded in front of the stand, preceded by a band of music, playing " Old Yiv- ginny never tire.^^ In bringing our report of this memorable race to a conclusion, we must not neglect to record the gratify- ing fact, that notwithstanding the immense throng of spectators on the ground, and the peculiar excitement of the occasion, not a solitary circumstance occurred calculated for a moment to interrupt the harmony and general good feeling which pre- vailed on all hands. We have not room to give the details of the running on the intermediate days of the meeting. Suffice to say that the tine Medoc tilly Cub, won the Post stake for 3 yrs. olds, in 3.45^ — ■ 3.44; — that the Woodpecker colt Ralph won the three-mile purse cleverly, in 5.50 each heat ; — that the Eclipse mare Mis- souri won tlie Oakland Plate, two-mile heats, in 3.50 — 3.44 — 3.50 ; — and that several other exhibitions of beauty, game, and speed, were given during the week. The first race between Wagner and Grey Eagle came off on Monday; on Saturday they again came out for the Jockey Club purse of $1,500, four- mile heats. Throughout the week the weather had been de- lightful, and the attendance good enough to realize $15,000 to the spirited proprietor ; but on this day there was an immense gathering from far and near, and the sun never shone out on a more lovel}^ morning. The attraction, it must be confessed, could not have been surpassed — Wagner and Gi'ey Eagle were again to come together! After their race on Monday, both par- ties immediately interested were willing to draw off their forces and enjoy an honorable armistice until next spring ; but the in- terference and misrepresentation of sanguine friends ultimately broke off the truce existing between them, and the high con- tracting parties set about prosecuting the war with greater zeal THE SECOND RACE. 267 and euergy than ever. Some one wrote from Louisville, direct- ly after the race, to the effect that Wagner had declined to meet Grey Eagle in a match for $10,000, fom'-mile heats ; which let- ter made its aj^pearance in the column of a Lexington journal. This statement the friends of Grey Eagle did not deny, though it was made without their authority ; and in consequence Wag- ner was forced to notice it. Li an article " by authority," from the pen of a distinguished correspondent of the " Spirit of the Times," published in the Louisville " Journal " on the 5th Oc- tober, the writer remarked to the following effect ; — " Wagner and Grey Eagle. — The re'pntation of his horse is dear to a turfman, and it is his duty to shield and defend it as he would his own honor. The contest between Wagner and Grey Eagle will long be remembered by those who witnessed it. Wagner's lionors were nobly won ; he earned them in a field where every inch of ground was closely contested ; and any one who would attempt to pluck a laurel from his brow, by false- hood or misrepresentation, deserves the scorn of every honor- able man. " The writer of this has been induced to make these remarks, from the fact that a letter has been published in a Lexington paper, written from Louisville, containing a statement that Grey Eagle had challenged Wagner for $10,000, and the latter had declined the contest. This statement is positively y«7.s<', and the owners of Grey Eagle will cheerfully bear testimony to the truth of the assertion. The facts of the case are these ; Wagner had gained a victory over Grey Eagle — a victor}^ in which even the defeated party gained the brightest laurels, and won for himself imperishable fame. Hence Wagner's friends prized his victory the more highly ; and, with that courtesy towards the friends of Grey Eagle which is ever due from the victor to the vanquished, they would have been willing to leave Kentucky, perfectly satisfied with his performance. But the communica- tion, above referred to, leaves but one course to the owner of Wagner. He is willing to run him against Grey Eagle, or any other horse in the United States, four-mile heats, for $10,000, or any amount above that sum. This offer is made with no dis- position to detract from the reputation of the game and gallant Grey Eagle, but solely on account of justice to Wagner, who 268 THK HORSE. has been placed iu a situation by some of the friends of Grey Eagle that loaves no alternative." The article just quoted made its appearance in the '' Journal " on the morning of the second race, which we are about to de- scribe ; but the friends of Grey Eagle were prepared to see it. If we are not very much mistaken, it was read to its owner, as it was to several of his friends, two days before its publication, but was delayed in the hope that Grey Eagle's friends would contradict the statement alluded to. In the mean time both horses were got in order to make another race. We saw both immediately after their first race, and on the following morn- ing ; both recovered well, and Grey Eagle especially so, exhib- iting very little stiffness or soreness. They improved from that time up to Saturday morning, and we never saw two high-met- tled racers in finer condition than they were when stripped to run their second race. In anticipation of a race, which, for severity and interest, would throw their first in the shade, both parties were wide awake to secure every honorable advantage within their reach. Wagner's rider, Cato, had become free about the time of the first race ; if he rode the second as well as he did the first, many were the odd twenties and fifties he was promised. Ste- phen Welch, Grey Eagle's jockey in his first race, weighing but 82 lbs., the managers of the horse endeavored to find a rider nearer up to his proper weight, 100 lbs. The only one on the ground preferable to their own, was Mr. McCargo's Archer, a very capital rider, with a good seat, a steady hand, and a cool head. Mr. McCargo having no interest whatever in the race, at once placed Archer's services at the disj)osal of Grey Eagle's friends ; but as his doing so might possibly place him in a position of great delicacy and embarrassment, at his own request they relieved him from it, and concluded to put up Stephen Welch again, whose only fault was that there was not enough of him ! After the i-ac-i- <>ii Monday, the topic of conversation in every circle was the prospect of a second one between the rival champions. The Wagner party were not anxious for a race, but they would not avoid one ; their horse had not only realized their expectations, but had exceeded their most san- THE SECOND RACE. 26^ guine hopes, and they were prepared to back him to " the size of their pile." And well did that noble son of a worthy sire justify the high opinion of his friends — a small circle, it is true, but they were stanch and true ; and when it came to " putting np the mopusses," there were enough of them to " suit customers " and no mistake ! The friends of Grey Eagle had every reason to be proud of the first performance of their horse, and they were so. He was the first discoverer of " the Forties " in a four-mile race, ever bred in Kentucky, and he had explored the degrees of pace to the latitude of 44, below the Equator ! All this he had done as an untried four-year-old, and if his friends backed him with less confidence now, it was on account of the severe race he had made five days previous. He was in fine health, and his look and action indicated all the spirit and courage of a game-cock, but it was thought physical- ly impossible for him to make such another race as his first in the same week. The betting consequently settled down at two and three to one on "Wagner. It will naturally be supposed that the rumor of a second four- mile race between these two cracks, attracted an immense crowd of spectators. Many persons came down from Cincinnati, while the citizens of Lexington, Frankfort, Georgetown, and the circle of towns for fifty miles about Louisville, turned out in great numbers. Again the city was crowded, and on the morning of the race every carriage and horse in town was in requisition. Many were glad to get out to the course and call it " riding," when jolting along in a bone-setter, compared with which rid- ing on a white-oak rail would be fun ! Again the ladies turned out en tnasse, to grace the scene with their radiant beauty, and " lend enchantment to the view " of the race — and themselves. The jockeys having received their instructions from the judges, " mounted in hot haste," Cato on Wagner, and Stephen Welch on Grey Eagle. The third entry was Messrs. Viley & Ward's Emily Johnson — own sister to Singleton, and half sister to Mistletoe — a four-year-old bay filly by Bertrand, out of Black-eyed Susan. She was not in prime fit, and could not, therefore, live in such a crowd. 270 THE HORSE. THE RACE. At the word " Go," AVagner went off with the lead at about three parts speed, Emily laying second, and all three under a strong pull. Grey Eagle's long, steady stride, after getting into straight work going down the back stretch, soon brought him up with the field, and opposite the Oakland House — about 300 yards beyond the half-mile post — the three were lapped. The pace now improved ; Grey Eagle drew out at the last turn, but Wagner having the inside, and beginning to get warm, made sharp running up the stretch to the stand, and on the next turn came out clear in front. Down the back stretch they each kept up a good racing stroke, but at the Oakland House Grey Eagle increased his stride and locked Wagner ; as neither was yet called upon, a very fair view was had of their relative rate of going ; Grey Eagle led down to the head of the stretch and up to the stand by half a length, and immediately after came in front. He carried on the running two lengths in advance to near the termination of the mile, when Wagner got a hint to extend himself; without ]a})ping him, Wagner waited upon him close up, and opposite the Oakland House made his run ; the rally that ejisued was a very brilliant affair, but Grey Eagle outfooted him in one hundred yards, and drew out clear amidst tremendous cheers from all parts of the course. The instant Wagner declined, Emily took his place, lapping the gray as they swung round the turn. But Wagner had yet another run left, and they had no sooner got into the quarter-stretch than Cato set to work with him. Grey Eagle had been able to pull to Emily, and accordingly when Wagner, by an extraordinary effort, reached him, half way up the stretch, he was able to outfoot him a second time, and came away home a gallant win- ner by nearly a length, Emily having the second place, amidst the waving of hats and handkerchiefs, and tumultuous cheers, that would well nigh have drowned the roar of Niagara ! The first mile was run in 2.05 — the second in 1.55 — the third in 1:56 — the fourth in 1.55 ; making the time of the heat 7.51. The heartfelt gratification and rapture exhibited at the close of the heat by the assembled thousands, knew no bounds. Kentucky's most distinguished sons, and her loveliest daughters, THE SECO^-D HEAT. 271 felt alike interested, and Grev Eagle's success was enjoyed as if eacli was personally concerned. The odds, from being two and three to one in favor of "Wagner, now changed, and Grey Eagle had the call at fonr to three. Considerable sums were staked, as Garrison declared " the old sorrel stud " had sulked, but would show his hand the next heat. The fact was. Grey Eagle for the first time had been properly managed ; instead of run- ning the whole last half mile, he had taken advantage of the ground, and made his first run down the descent from the Oak- land House to the head of the stretch, and then being braced up for three hundred yards, which allowed him time to recover his wind, he was able to come again and make a second rally, as brilliant as the first. As we before remarked, we think Wag- ner could beat Grey Eagle by a desperate rush for six hundred yards at the heel of a very fast heat, but not over a head and shoulders at that ; while Grey Eagle had so much more speed, that in a brush of one hundred and fifty yards he could let in the daylight between them. With so light and feeble a rider as Steplien on his back, it was impossible to place Grey Eagle exactly as his managers would have liked, though he is a fine- tempered horse, and runs kindly ; the result of the race, we trust, will be a caution to them hereafter, how they venture in a race of so much importance without providing that most in- dispensable of requisites to success — a suitable jockey. Both horses perspired freely, and in much less time than could have been expected they cooled out finely ; neither hung out a signal of distress, but came up for the second heat with distended nostrils and eyes of fire, betokening the most un- flinching courage. At the tap of the drum the horses were hardly in motion, and Cato drew his whip on Wagner the very first jump. The pace was little better than a hand gallop for the first half mile, but as Wagner led past the entrance gate, Gooding bid him " go along," and he increased his rate. Stephen seeing this, let the gray out a link, and in going down the descending ground below the Oakland House, went up on the inside so suddenly, that he had locked Wagner before Cato was aware of his close proximity. The run up the quarter stretch was a pretty fast thing, though neither was doing his best; the time of the 272 THE HOUSE. mile was 2.08. The crowd clieered them as they ran lapped past the stand, at which Grey Eagle pricked up his ears and set to work in earnest, shaking oif Wagner at the next turn. The race had now commenced ; Stephen braced his horse as well as he was able, and kept him up to his rate down the entire length of the back stretch. At the Oakland House Cato again called on Wagner, and steel and catgut came into play. The gallant gray led clear to the turn, and half way up the stretch, Stephen beginning to use his whip-hand, and to give the nonpareil under him an occasional eye-opener with the spur. This mile was run in 1.52. They passed the stand neck and neck, Emily being already nearly out of her distance. From the stand to the first turn the ground is descending, and here almost invariably Grey Eagle gained upon Wagner, who kept up one steady stride from end to end, without flinching or fal- tering, and able always to do a little Tnoi^e when persuaded by the cold steel with which Cato plied him ever and anon through- out the heat. We said they passed the stand on the second mile neck and neck ; when they reached the turn Grey Eagle had got in front, but no sooner had they come into straight work on the back side, than Wagner made a most determined challenge and locked him ; the contest was splendid, and was maintained with unflinching game and spirit; at the end of 700 yards, however, Grey Eagle had the best of it, for in spite of Cato's most desperate efibrts Wagner could only reach Stephen's knee ; Grey Eagle seemed able, after a brush of one hundred yards, to come again with renewed vigor, if well braced, for a dozen strides. Down the descent on the last half mile Grey Eagle maintained his advantage, but on ascending towards the stand Wagner's strength told, and they came through under whip and spur, Wagner having his head and neck in front, running this mile in 1.55. Stephen was here instructed to take a strong pull on his horse, and to " heejp him moving^' while " ram the spurs into him;' were the orders to Cato. The result was, that Wag- ner came in front, and the pace down the entire back stretch was tremendous, both being kept up to their rate by the most terrible punishment. Unfoi-tunately, Stephen was directed to " talce the track'' about opposite the Oakland House, instead of putting the issue on a brush up the last 200 yards of the heat. THE TilHiD HEAT. 2T3 Too soon the gallant Grey was called upon, but true as steel the noble animal responded to it. With the most dauntless courage he made his run down the descending ground, and though Wag- ner, like the bravest of the brave, as he is, made the most despe- rate efforts, Grey Eagle came round the last turn on the outside, with his head and shoulders in front, at a flight of speed we never saw equalled. Both jockeys were nearly faint with their exertions, and Stephen, poor fellow, lost his presence of mind. Up to the distance stand it was impossible to say which was ahead ; whips and spurs had been in constant requisition the entire mile, but at this moment Stephen gave up his pull, and unconsciously yawed his horse across the track, which broke him oif his stride, while Cato, holding Wagner well together, and mercilessly dashing in his spurs, at length brought him through a gallant winner by a neck, having run the last mile in 1.48, and the heat in 7.43 ! This was without exception the most game and spirited race we ever witnessed. The heat was Wagner's, and while we ac- cord to him all the reputation so brilliantly won after a bloody struggle of near three miles, we feel bound to express the be- lief, that for an untried four-year-old. Grey Eagle's perform- ance is without a parallel in the annals of the American Turf ! The last three miles of a second heat, in a second four-mile race the same week, were run in 5.35, and the eighth mile in 1.48 ! The enthusiasm of the spectators was now excited to the highest pitch. There was not on the ground, probably, an in- dividual who would not have been pleased to see the horses withdrawn, and the purse divided between them, rather than farther task the indomitable game and courage of these noble animals ; but no such proposition was made, and after the usual respite they were brought to the post a third time, and it would have been diflSlcult to decide which had recovered best. So much feeling was manifested in reference to the horses, that the baser impulses to bet on the result of the concluding heat were almost entirely disregarded ; odds, however, were in a few in- stances offered on Wagner. In detailing the contest for the third heat, we are compelled to record " A few of the unpleasantest words That e'er man writ on paper ! " Vol. I.— 18 274 TllK IKJKSE. At the word " Go," they broke off with a racing stride, "Wagner taking the lead by about two lengths ; the pace was moderate, for Stephen on Grey Eagle was expressly charged to pull him steady, and wait for orders. Wagner accordingly led with an easy stroke through the first mile, and being cheered as he passed the stand, he widened the gap soon after to four or five lengths. At the half-mile post Grey Eagle made play, and had nearly closed the gap as they came opposite the Oak- land House, when he suddenly faltered as if shot, and after limping a step or two, abruptly stopped ! " Grey Eagle has let down ! " was the cry on all hands, and when the spectators be- came aware of the truth of the painful announcement, the tear- ful eyes of a radiant host of Kentucky's daughters, and the heartfelt sorrow depicted in the countenance of her sons, indi- cated the sincerity of the sympathy with which they regarded the untimely accident to their game and gallant champion ? It was supposed, on a hasty examination, that Grey Eagle had given way in the back sinews of his left fore leg, but it has since been ascertained that the injury was in the coffin joint. Mr. Burbridge on the instant tightly bandaged the leg with a stout strip of dry canvas, which being kept wet, would have prevented the horse from coming down on his pastern joints even had his leaders given way. A fortnight after the race the horse j^romised to recover perfectly ; Mr. Shotwell informed us that the ankle and joint were a little swollen, but that neither the horse's pastern nor cannon bones were afi'ected, and his leaders were as sound as ever. We doubt, however, whether he will ever stand another training; a slight wrench would render him as lame as ever. We need not add, that, while his owners and managers have the cordial sympathy of their friends, and the Sporting World generally, there is no one " with soul so dead " as to withhold the expression of their ad- miration of the gallant gray, and their heartiest wishes for his Bpeedy recovery. Soon after Grey Eagle was stopped, Cato pulled Wagner out of his stride, and galloped him slowly round. The intelligence of the High Mettled Ilacer was clearly indicated by Wagner's subsequent action ; from the head of the stretch home he inva- riably went at a racing pace, and appeared as if he did not GREY EAGLE BREAKS DOWN. 276 know what was required of him, frequently bursting off in spite of his rider. On the fourth mile, as he passed his own stable, the rubbers and riders standing on its roof gave him a hearty cheer, and the gallant horse broke off, and in spite of Cato's utmost exertions, ran at the very top of his speed for near- ly 600 yards, as if plied with steel and whalebone the whole way ! We never saw a more magnificent exhibition of un- flinching game ; even the friends of Grey Eagle forgot their dis- tress for a moment, in doing justice by a cheer to the gallant and victorious champion of Louisiana ! Eecapitulation ; — Saturday, Oct. 5.— Jockey Club purse, $1,500, conditions as before, four-mile heats. Jas. 8. Garrison's, John Campbell's, ch. h. Wagner, by Sir Charles, out of Maria West, by Marion, 5 years, ......... Cato. 311 A. L. Shotwell's gr. c. Grey Eagle, by Woodpecker, out of Ophelia, by Wild Medley, 4 years, ......... Stephen Welch. 12* Willa Viley's b. f. Emily Johnson, own sister to Singleton, by Bertrand, out of Black- Eyed Susan, by Tiger, 4 years, ........ 2 dist Time, 7.51 — 7.48 — third heat, no time kept. * Grey Eagle gave way in second mOe. For more convenient reference, we repeat the time of each mile in tabular form : — riEST HEAT. 1st mile 2.05 2d mile 1.55 3d mile 1.56 4th mUe 1.55 7.51 AmeHcan Turf Register, vol. II., p. 119. SECOIO) HEAT. I THIRD HEAT. 1st mile 2.08 | No time kept, as Grey Eagle 2d mile 1.52 gave way in running the second 3d mile 1.55 mile. 4th milo 1.48 I 7.43 The event of this race is one of the things which lead me to deprecate the extremity to which four-mile heat racing is carried in America. That such races test to the utmost the pluck, the endurance, and the powers of the blood-horse, is granted. That they must kill, at last, is certain. The question is this ; Cannot a horse's game, his endurance, and his speed be tested, short of destroying his physical ability ever to prove them more ? There must be a limit even to the wear of a machine. I do think that such exhibitions as the twenty-mile race, from the ef- fects of which one mare died, and, probably, not one fully recov- ered — as Wagner's and Grey Eagle's two four-mile races within five days, and other similar performances — are to be honored in the avoidance, not the imitation. — H. W. H. PEDIGEEE, CHARACTERISTICS, AND PERFORMANCES OF BOSTON. Boston was bred by the late John Wickham, Esq., of Rich- mond, Ya., the eminent jurisconsult, and was foaled in Henrico County, in 1833. He was got by the celebrated Timoleon, out of Robin Brown's dam — an own sister to Tuckahoe, also bred by Mr. W. — by Ball's Florizel, her dam by Imp. Alderman, out of a mare by Imjj. Clockfast — her grandam by Symmes' Wild- air, etc. For a detailed memoir and a portrait of Boston, see the "Spirit of the Times," of March 7th, 1840. Boston was sold by Mr. "Wickham, in his 2 yr, old form to Mr. N'athaniel Rives, of Richmond, Ya., for $800, and was trained in 1836-7, by Capt. John Belcher, who had charge of one " cavalry corps " from Col. Johnson's stable, while Arthur Taylor had another. Cornelius, a colored lad, was Boston's jockey up to 27th April, 1839. Ever since the Spring campaign of 1838, Boston has been trained by Arthur Taylor and ridden by Gil. Patrick, until this Spring, when Craig took Gil.'s place, the latter having gone to Kentucky to ride several important races, all of which he won. In May, 1839, after the 1st heat of his race against Decatur and Yashti, Boston was sold to Mr. James Long, of Washington City, for $12,000 and half of the purse, and he is still owned by Mr. L. and Col. Wm. R. Johnson, of Petersburg, Ya. Boston is a chestnut, with white stockings on both hind feet, and a white stripe down the face. In other respects than color and marks, Boston closel}'^ resembles the British phenomenon, PERFORMANCES OF BOSTON. 27Y Harkaway. They have alike prodigious depth of chest, and im- mensely powerful loins, thighs, and hocks. Boston is a trifle only above 15^ hands high, under the standard, but to the eye seems taller, owing to his immense substance ; he is a short-limbed horse, with a barrel rather flat, or " slab-sided " than round, and well-ribbed home, while his back is a prodigy of strength ; ten pounds extra weight would hardly " set him back any," Though he has occasionally sulked, Boston runs on his courage, and is never ridden with spurs. He is no beauty, his neck and head being unsightly, while his hips are ragged, rendering him " a rum 'un to look at ; " that he is " a good' un to go," however, we imagine will be generally conceded after reading the annexed recapitulation of HIS PERFORM ANCES. 1836. April 20. Broad Rock, Va Sweeepstakes..Mile heats lost % Boston, 3 yrs. old, bolted in the first heat, when running ahead. Oct. 12. Petersburg, Ta Purse Two-mile heats won 300 Beating N. Biddle, Mary Archie, Juliana, John Floyd, and ch. £ by Henry. Nov. 3. Hanover, C. H., Va Purse Three-mile heats won 400 Beating Betsey Minge, Upton Heath, Nick Biddle, Alp, Bayard, and a Gohanna flUy. 1S37. May 4. Washington City Purse Three-mile heats won 600 Beating Norwood, Mary Selden, Meteor, Lydia, bro. to Virginia Graves. Oct. 5. Washington City Purse Three-mile heats won 500 Beating Prince George, Stockton, Mary Selden, Virginia Graves, Caroline Snowdcn, and Leesburg, in 5.50 — 5.52. Oct. 19. Baltimore, Md Purse Three-mile heats won 500 Beating Camsidel, Cippus, and Red Eat, in 5.51—^1.03. Oct. 26. Camden, X. J Purse Three-mile heats won 500 Beating Betsey, Andrew and Tipton, In 5.51 — 6.02. 183S. May 3. Union Course, L. I Purse Three-mile heats won 500 Boston, now 5 yrs. old, walked over. May 18. Beacon Course, X. J. ..Purse ..Four-mile heats won 1,000 Beating Dosoris, without extending himselfl May 25. Camden, X. J Purse Four-mile heats won 1,000 Beating Decatur, who had just distanced Fanny Wyatt, in a match for $10,000, in 7.45, at Washington. June 1. Union Course, L. I Purse Four-mile heats won 1,000 Beating Charles Carter, who broke down, in 7.40— the first three miles run in 5.-36*!!! June 8. Beacon Course, N". J.. ..Purse Four-mile heats won 1,000 Beating Duano, who won the first heat, in 7.52— 7.54— 8.30. B. sulked. 278 THE HORSE. Oct. 4. Petersburg, Va Purse Four-mile heats won |Y00 Beating Polly Green in a canter. Oct. 13. Baltimore, Md Purse Four-mile heats won 700 Beating Balie Peyton, who had won a heat from Duano in 7.42. Oct. 19. Baltimore, M(\ Purse Four-mile heats rec. 500 Boston was paid $500 out of the pnrse not to start. Oct. 27. Camden, X. J Purse Four-mile heats rec. 500 Boston was paid $500 out of the purse not to start. Nov. 2. Union Course, L. I Purse Four-mile heats won 1,000 Beating Decatur with ease in 8.00—7.57}. Nov. 9. Beacon Course, N. J. ...Purse Four-mile heats won 1,000 Beating Decatur. This year B. won nine Jockey Club Purses, and received $1,000 more for not starting. 1839. April 16. Petersburg, Va Match Two-mile heats lost. Beaten by Portsmouth, in 3.50—3.48. B. being off his foot. April 2Y. Broad Rock, Va Purse Three-mile heats won 500 Beating Lady Clifden and Brocklesby in 5.46 with ease— the best time ever mado on this course. May 9. Washington City Purse Four-mile heats won 800 Beating Tom "Walker, Black Knight, Eeliance, and Sam Brown, in 7.53— 8.06. May 24. Camden, N. J Purse Four-mile heats won 1,000 Boston, now 6 yrs., walked over, though several " cracks " wore on the ground. May 31. Trenton, N. J Purse Four-mile heats won 1,000 Beating Decatur and Vashti with ease. V. had just won a 2d heat in 7.46. June 7. Union Course, L. I Purse Four-mile heats won 1,000 Beating Decatur and Balie Peyton cleverly in 7.47-8.02. Sept. 26. Petersburg, Va P. and Stake.... Four-mile heats won 7,000 Beating The Queen and Omega in 8.02— 7.52— best time made on the course to this date. Oct. 17. Camden, N. J P. and Stake.. ..Four-mile heats won 7,000 Beating Omega in 7.49. O. had won a heat at Washington in 7.40 ! Oct. 23. Trenton, N. J Purse Four-mile heats won 1,000 Beating Decatur and Master Henry in 7.57—7.56. 1840. May 1. Petersburg, Va Purse Four-mile heats won 700 Beating Andrewetta, who won the 1st heat, in 7.50— 8.04r— the best time ever made on the course. May 8. Washington City Purse Four-mile heats won 1,000 Beating Eeliance and Cippus without a struggle. Oct. 2. Petersburg, Va Purse Four-mile heats won 700 Beating Bandit, who was drawn after 1st heat, in 7.57. Oct. 8. Broad Rock, Va Purse Three-mile heats won 500 Beating Texas, Balie Peyton, and Laneville, in 5.56—5.49. Dec. 7. Augusta, Ga Match Four-mile heats won 10,000 Beating Gano in a gallop in 7.57, after which G. was drawn. Dec. 17. Augusta, Ga Purse Four-mile heats won 800 Beating Santa Anna and Omega in 7.59—7.40. WINNINGS OF BOSTON. 279 1841. In the Spring Boston stood at Chesterfield, Va., and covered 42 mares at $100 each. Sept. 30. Petersburg, Va Purse Four-mile heats won VOO Beating Texas without an effort. Oct. 8. Alexandria, D. C Purse Four-mile heats won 800 Boston walked over though several cracks were present. Oct. 15. Washington City Purse Four-mile heats won 800 Beating Accident, Ned Hazard, and G-reenhlll with ease. Oct. 21. Baltimore, Md Purse Four-mile heats won 600 Beating Mariner, who won 1st heat in 8.00^—8.05— 8.10— course very heavy. Oct. 28. Camden, N. J Purse Four-mile heats lost Distanced by John Blount and Fashion in 7.42— Blount broke down in 2d heat, which was won by Fashion in 7.48. Boston dead amiss, and unable to run a mile under 2.10. Starting thirty-eight times, and winning thirty-five races — twenty-six of them at four-mile heats, and seven at three-mile heats — winning $49,500 Add for his earnings in the breeding stud. Spring of 1841 4,200 Boston's winnings and earnings amount to the enormous sum of $53,700« It is due to Boston to state, that in his four-year-old form he was prevented from starting for the large j)urses offered for four- mile heats, by being in the same stable with Atalanta, Lady Clif- den, Argyle and Mary Blunt. And it is no less due to him than to his liberal and high-spirited owners to add, that from a regard to the best interests of the Turf, they have frequently allowed him to remain in his stable, when by starting him they could have taken the purses without an effort. Boston, after his match with Gano, at Augusta, could have won a Jockey Club purse there, and at Savannah and Charleston. In the Spring of 1840, he started but twice, though he could have easily won every four- mile purse given between Petersburg and Long Island. His owners, in the latter instance, were personally appealed to, and consented to send him home from "Washington, while one of the JSTorthern proprietors proposed to exclude him from running. Several other occasions might be named on which Boston has been withdrawn from the contest, at the request of the pro- prietors of courses, upon a representation that his entrance would destroy the sport and disappoint the public. Boston now at the advanced age of eight years^ after a racing career of unparalleled severity is still as sound as a dollar, with legs as free from blemish as a 3 yr. old. The field of his bril- liant, never-fading victories extends from New York to Georgia, and he has not only beaten, one after another, every horse within 280 THE UOKSE. his reach, but he has challenged all others, oiFering to meet them on their own ground. Napoleon found a Waterloo and so has Boston, but the latter is beaten, not defeated ; like the former, it will be found that " he is never more to be feared than in his reverses." When dead amiss he was beaten, it is true ; the race was a splendid one — one of the best ever run in America — but Boston had no part in it ; he could not have beaten a cocktail on that occasion, and instead of being backed as usual at " 1,000 to 300, nineteen times over," his owners did not lay out a dollar on him ! Since he was taken up this Fall his owners determined to give him a trial, to see whe- ther his speed or game had been aifected by his services in the breeding stud. An eye-witness of this trial, who went over two hundred miles to see it, has assured us that it was not only the best trial Boston ever made, but it was the best trial ever made over a course which has been trained on for half a century ! Since that event, Boston has offered to run four-mile heats " against any two horses in the world^'' for $45,000, which was not accepted, and since his defeat at Camden, by Fashion, he has challenged her to run him next Spring for $20,000. The winner of this match will richly merit and most assuredly re- ceive the proud title of Champion of the American Tuef ; let us hope, therefore, that each will come to the post in tip-top condition, and we may confidently anticipate witnessing the best race without exception ever run in America. Boston's pedigree in extenso^ as given in the 13th volume of the " American Turf Eegister ; " — 1833. Boston, ch., h., by Timoleon, out of Eobin Brown's dam, own sister to Tuckahoe and Eevenge, by Florizel ; her dam — ^the grandam, too, of Luda, — by English Alderman ; great grandam by English Clockfast, and her dam by Wild air. The residue of the maternal line lost ; but of the purity of the blood no doubt. 1813. Timoleon, by Sir Archy, dam by English Saltram, grandam by Wildair, &c. — See Genealogy, 2. 1805. Sir Archy, by English Diomed, dam by English Kock- ingham, grandam Tabitha, own sister to Miss Kingsland — out of Pegasus's dam— by Trentham.— See Genealogy, 3. boston's anoestky. 281 1781. Eockingham, as a race-horse, the best son of High- flyer — Herod's best son — out of Purity, by Matchem, &c. 1Y80. Saltram, by Eclipse, out of Yirago by Snap — ^Kegu- lus, &c. 1801. Florizel, by English Diomed, dam by English Shark, grandam by Harris's Eclipse — son of English Fearnought, out of English Stella, by Shaksj^eare — Cassandra, &c. ; — Fearnought — Jolly Roger, &c. Like English Eclipse, Florizel, in his bril- liant career, was neither touched by whip nor spur, no competitor being able to come near him ; yet Sir Ai'chy is regarded as the best son of Diomed. 17Y7. Diomed, ch., by Florizel — son of Herod — dam by Spectator — Blank — Childers — Miss Belvoir, &c. 1787. Alderman, by Pot8os, out of Lady Bolingbroke, by Squirrel, out of Herod's dam, Cypron, by Blaze. 1774. Clockfast, by Gimcrack, out of Miss Ingram, by Eegulus. 1777. Wildair, by English Fearnought, dam, by English Jolly Koger, out of English Kitty Fisher, by Cade. 1755. Fearnought, by Regulus — son of the Godolphin Ara- bian — dam by Whitenose — Darley Arabian — Bay Arabian — Helmsley Turk, &c. 1741. Jolly Roger, by Roundhead — son of Childers, — dam by Partner, &c. Those conversant with English pedigrees, will at once see how largely Boston's blood partakes of that of the Darley and Godolphin Arabian, and of the Byerly Turk, through their most renowned descendants. Flying Childers, Eclipse, Snap, Herod, Highflyer, &c. We will here take a review of some of these patriarchs of the Turf connected with Boston's pedigree, and of some others as found in Fashion's pedigree. It is deemed unnecessary more than to mention Childers, Eclipse, and Highflyer — the norvpareils of their respective eras. 1718. Partner, by Jig — son of the Byerly Turk, — dam by the Ourwen Bay Barb, &c., succeeded Flying Childers as the best race-horse at Newmarket. 1734. Cade, by the Godolphin Arabian, out of the famed 282 THE HORSE. plate mare Koxana, l)y the Bald Galloway, gained especial ce- lebrity as the sire to Match em. 1739. Regulns, by the Godolphin Arabian, out of the famous Gray Robinson, by the Bald Galloway, was the best race-horse of his day — the sire of Fearnought, of Eclipse's dam, and others of note. 1748. Matchem, the best horse of his era, was got by Cade, dam by Partner, &c. 1749. Spectator, by Crab, dam by Partner ; he was the only horse, except Mirza, that beat Matchem. 1750. Snap, by Snij) — son of Childers — dam by Fox, &c., was the best race-horse at Newmarket succeeding those above named. He twice beat Marske, of the same year, the sire to Eclipse ; was distinguished, too, for beauty and symmetry, and as a stallion of the lirst celebrity — sire of twenty-one noted brood mares, including the dams of Sir Peter, Medley, Saltrara, Shark, &c. 1758. Herod, by Tartar, dam by Blaze, &c. Because of Herod's renown on the Turf and in the stud, no comment is re- quired. 1760. Gimcrack, by Cripple, out of Miss Elliott, by Partner, &c. Of 37 races he won 28 — matches and plates to an immense amount. 1771. Shark, by Marske, sire to Eclipse, dam by Snap — Marlborough — son of the Godolphin Arabian — IS'atural Barb mare. This extraordinary horse won upwards of 20,000 guineas in stakes, &c., beating the best horses, DorimaVit, &c. ; " equally good for speed and stoutness, beating the best of his contem- poraries at their own play." He was sire to the dams of Am. Florizel, of Am. Maid of the Oaks, Lady Lightfoot, &c. 1773. PotSos, ch., by Eclipse, Sport's-mistress, &c. He was the rival to Dungannon, as the best race-horse of Eclipse's get, and to King Fergus as the best stallion. Lineally, Waxy, Whalebone, Camel, Touchstone, &c., are descended from Pot8os. 1776. Medley, gr. by Gimcrack, out of sister to Sir Peter's dam by Snap. He was an excellent and stout runner, frequent- ly beating the celebrities of his day. But he was most renowned in the stud of Virginia. boston's ancestry. 283 1Y7T. Diomed, pedigree given above, being so distinguished on both sides of the Atlantic, little more need be said of him. He won the Derby, the Claret, the Fortescue Stakes, &c. In England his blood has been widely diffused through Young Giantess, &c. As sire to Sir Archy, Florizel, Potomac, Duroc, (fee, Diomed has been a Turf patriarch in America for more than half a century. Yery few race-horses are now on our Turf that have not some of Diomed's blood. — See Genealogy, 2. 1Y80. Saltram, a favorite race-horse of the Prince of Wales, since George lY., won the Derby, beating in his career all com- petitors, Dungannon, Phenomenon, &c., and was beat but once, when Dungannon won. 1781, This year produced Rockingham and Miss Kingsland — see Sir Archy's pedigree above — the best race-horses of their year, Rockingham won thirty-two prizes. 1784. Citizen, by Pacolet, out of Princess, by Turk. Citizen was a good and stout runner. PEDIGEEE, CHAKACTERISTICS, AND PERFORMANCES OF FASHION. Fashion was bred by William Gibbons, Esq., of Madison, Morris County, IST. J., where she was foaled on the 26tli April, 1837. It would be difficult to sit down over the Stud Book and compile a richer pedigree than hers, and the same remark will apply to Boston. Each is descended from the most eminently distinguished racing families on the side o both sire and dam, that have figured on the Turf for a hundred years. Fashion was got by Mr. Livingston's Imp. Trustee, out of the celebrated Bonnets o' Blue by Sir Charles, and she out of Eeality — " the very best race-horse," says Col. Johnson, " I ever saw." Eeality was got by Sir Archy, and her pedigree extends back through the imported horses Medley, Centinel, Janus, Monkey, Silver- Eye and Spanker, to an imported Spanish mare. Trustee, the sire of Fashion, was a distinguished race-horse in England, and sold at 3 yrs. old for 2,000 guineas, to the Duke of Cleveland, after running 3d in the race for the Derby of 101 subscribers. He was subsequently imported by Messrs. Ogden, Corbin and Stockton. Trustee was foaled in 1829, and was got by Catton out of Emma, by Whisker, and combines the blood of Hermes, Pipator, and Sir Peter, on his dam's side, with that of Penelope, by Trumpator, and Prunella, by Highflyer, on the side of his sire. Trustee is not a chance horse ; in addition to other winners of his family, in 1835, his own brother, Mundig, won the Derby of 128 subscribers. — See Genealogy, 7. Fashion is a rich satin-coated chestnut, with a star, and a PERFORMANCES OF FASHION. 285 ring of white above the coronet of her left hind foot ; on her right quarter she is marked with three dark spots, like Plenipo, and other " terribly high-bred cattle." She is about 15 J hands high under the standard, rising high on the withers, with a light head and neck, faultless legs, an oblique, well-shaped shoulder, and a roomy, deep, and capacious chest. She has good length of barrel, which is well ribbed out, and her loins are well arched and supported by strong fillets. Though finely put up forehanded, her great excellence consists in the muscular developments of her quarters, thighs, and gaskins. As in the greyhound and the hare, the seat of the propelling power in the horse, which enables him to move with a great degree of velocity, is centred in his hind quarters ; necessarily in propor- tion to their strength there, will be the impulse which impels the whole mass forward. Fashion has been trained for all her engagements by Mr. Samuel Laird, of Colt's Neck, N. J., and ridden by his son Joseph, the best jockey at the North. Mr. Gibbons, her owner, having been unfortunate with his former trainer — who nearly ruined Mariner in breaking him — and who is opposed to the general plan of training colts at 2 yrs. old, resolved that Fashion should not be taken up until her form had attained a greater degree of maturity ; consequently she was not brought out until the Fall of her 3 yr. old year. Fashion goes with a long rating stroke, gathers well, and moves with the utmost ease to herself ; what is rather singular, she runs with a loose rein ; she is true as steel, has a remarkable turn of speed, can be placed any where, and nothing can be finer than her disposition ; a more bloodlike, honest mare, was never brought to the post. Being in a public training stable, with Clarion and Mariner, her half- brother, both of them winners at three and four-mile heats, Fashion has been compelled to " take her turn " in running for " the big things," else the amount of her winnings might have been increased as well as the number of HER PERFORMANCES. 1S40. Oct. 21. Camden, N. J Sweepstake Two-mile heats won $800 Beating Amelia Priestman In the mud ; two paid forfeit. Oct. 27. Trenton, N. J Sweepstake Two-mile heats won 1,100 Beating Fleetfoot and Nannie ; two paid forfeit. 286 THK HORSK. 1S41. May 5. TJnion Course, L. I Purse Three-mile heats won 600 Beating Sylphide, Prospect, Fleetfoot, and Meridian. May 19. Camden, N. J Purse Two-mile heats lost Beaten by Tyler, after winning 2d heat. Trenton won the 1st, and Tyler the 8d and 4th. Fashion 2d in 4th heat, Telemachus being ruled out- time, 4.06-3.52— 3.51f-35.6. Oct. 1. Union Course, L. I Purse Two-mile heats won 200 Beating Trenton in 3.51 — 3.46J, on a heavy course. Oct. 20. Baltimore, Md Purse Three-mile heats won 400 Beating John Blount, Lady Canton, and Stockton ; course slippery. Oct. 28. Camden, N. J Purse Four-mile heats won 800 Beating John Blount, who broke down in 2d he.at, after winning the 1st, and distancing Boston in 1st heat; time, 7.42 — 7.48. Starting in three trainings, seven times, and winning six races, one at four, and two at three-mile heats, winning S3,800 We have noticed the fact of her not having been trained in the SjDring of her 3 yr. old year ; last Spring, too, nnfortunately, after her race at Camden, she went amiss, and was prudently turned out until the Fall, when she came out again, and won not only at two and at three-mile heats, but at four. Her last race is one of the best, at four-mile heats, ever run in the United States. In the only race she ever lost — it will be seen that she was beaten by Tyler after winning the 2d heat ; Tyler won the 3d and ith heats, in the last of which she was 2d, having beaten Ti-enton — who won the 1st heat — and Telemachus. From the fact of being turned out after this race, and of her having since twice beaten John Blount, who easily defeated Tyler in a match for $5,000, it is fair to conclude that on the occasion al- luded to she was out of condition. The brilliant reputation she acquired by her last great performance, added to the confident impression every where entertained of her surpassing speed and extraordinary powers of endurance, are such, however, as to render quite gratuitous any explanation as to the cause of her having once been defeated. As Fashion's friends have accepted the match ofiered by Boston, it is to be hoped that each will come to the post in con- dition to run for a man's life. Fashion will be trained as usual by Mr. Laird, and Boston by Arthur Taylor ; Joe, no doubt, will throw his leg across the jDig skin on the mare, while Gil. Patrick, who has more strength, though not more science or coolness than Craig, will probably be put up again on Boston. PEDIGREE OF FASHION. 287 The latter being an aged liorse — 9 yrs. old — will have to carry 126 lbs., while the mare's appropriate weight, being then 5 yrs. old, will be 111 lbs. ^o match, the South against the l^orth, has been made up at all comparable to this in interest, since that between Eclipse and Hemy, which came off over the Union course on the 2Tth of May, 1828. Each champion has, and is worthy of, troops of confident friends, and each is in good hands. Let them come together in good condition — give them a fair field and no favor, and — who can name the winner ? Fashion's pedigree i7i extenso is as follows ; — 1837. Fashion, ch. m., by English Trustee, out of Mariner's dam, Bonnets o' Blue — own sister to Slender — by Sir Charles, grandam Reality — own sister to Yanity and dam to Medley — by Sir Archy, great grandam by English Medley, her dam by English Centinel — English Janus — English Monliey- -English Silver-Ej^e, &c. 1829. Trustee, ch., a celebrated race-horse of Lord Darling- ton's — since Duke of Cleveland — was got by Catton out of Emma, b}' Whisker, &c., a famous pedigree, own brother to Mundig, a Derby winner, and out of the dam — Emma dam of Ootherstone, the winner of the Derby, who ought also to have won the St. Leger. There is nothing superior to the pedigree of Trustee's maternal ancestry in the English Stud Book. Catton, the sire of this brace of distinguished brothers, was a capital performer at all distances, winner of twenty-one races at N^ewmarket, Don- caster, and York. Honest Trustee, as he was termed, beat Mar- grave, the St. Leger winner, in the Derby race, and again as a four-year-old, though beat by him for the St. Leger. He had mostly la place d'honneur at Epsom, York, Don caster, and New- market. Trustee was sire to Revenue, Reube, the trotter Trus- tee, besides Fashion, and others of distinction. Bonnets o' Blue and Slender were first-rate at all distances, and their half-brother Medley, by Sir Hal, ran with distinction. 1816. Sir Charles, ch., the best race-horse of his year, was got by Sir Archy, dam by English Citizen, grandam by Com- mutation, son of Wildair, &c. Sir Charles's most distinguished get were Wagner, Andrew, and Trifle. 288 THE HORSE. 1776. Medley, gr., by Gimcrack, out of own sister to the renowned Sir Peter's dam, by Snap — Eegulus, &c. 1758. Centinel, by Blank — son of the Godolphin Arabian, out of a Bartlett's Child ers mare, — dam by Cade — Partner, &c. Janus, son of the Godolphin Arabian's son, Janus, dam by Fox — Bald Galloway, &c. Imported into Yirginia 1752. 1725. Monkey, imported 1747, by the Lonsdale Bay Ara- bian — Curwen's Bay Barb — Byerly Turk, &c. Silver-Eye, by the Cullen Arabian — Curwen's Bay Barb, &c., to old Yintner mare. The pedigrees of Boston and Fashion will serve as examples of the best modern blood in " the States." Boston and Fashion's dams were bred in Yirginia, when decidedly our " race-horse region." Their ancestors, Timoleon and Eeality, nobly con- tended against each other as the best two of their year, and among the best, as well as the earliest, of Sir Archy's distin- guished get. For many years we have rarely had a first-rate race-horse that was not descended from Sir Archy. RACE OF BOSTON AND FASHION, MAT 10, 1842. THE BEST RACE THEN EUN IN AMERICA. The great sectional match for $20,000 a side, four-mile heats, between the N'ortli and the South, came off on Tuesday last, the 10th instant. Since the memorable contest between Eclipse and Henry, on the 27th of May 1823, no race has ex- cited so much interest and enthusiasm. It attracted hundreds of individuals from the remotest sections of the Union, and for months has been the theme of remark and s]3eculation, not only in the sporting circles of this country, but in England, where the success of the Northern Champion was predicted. It was a most thrilling and exciting race — one which throws in the Bhade the most celebrated of those wonderful achievements which have conferred so much distinction upon the high-met- tled racers of America ! At an early hour on Tuesday morning our streets were filled with carriages of all descriptions, wending their way to the fer- ries, while thousands upon thousands crossed over to the cars of the Long Island Railroad Company. But after eleven o'clock the Company found it impossible to convey to the course the immense crowd which filled and surrounded the cars, thouofh they continued to sell tickets after they were fully sensible of the fact. Indeed from the first the arrangements of the Com- pany were an imposition. They charged the most extravagant price for the transportation of passengers, and their prepara- VoL. L— 19 290 THE HOESE. tions were in no way equal to the occasion ; above all, they con- tinued to sell tickets after they knew that several thousand more persons had purchased them than they could transport. A train, bearing over two thousand passengers, did not reach the course until after the first heat, and hundreds who had pur- chased tickets, despairing of reaching the course in the cars, started on foot, and reached it before them. At half-past eleven o'clock there were not less than five thousand persons waiting a conveyance by the cars at the Brooklyn terminus, all of whom had purchased tickets. Under these circumstances, it will not be very surprising to any one to hear that upon the return of the cars after the race, the indignant passengers rolled several of them off the track over the hill, and smashed others, while " a perfect mash " was made of the ticket office. The race was a golden harvest to the hack, cab, and omnibus proprietors. The anxiety to reach the course was so great that ten dollars were offered for a standing-up place in a charcoal cart ! Our contemporary of the " Couriei- and Enquirer " thus pleasantly describes his own " peculiar position ;" — " Finding that our tiohet was valueless, we engaged a dech passage on an omnibus ; and never have we witnessed so curi- ous an exhibition as the road to the course presented. We have neither space nor time to describe it ; but the reader may form some idea of the anxiety to get ahead, when we state that be- side the thousands that were footing it with railroad tickets in their pockets, and the immense number in all sorts of vehicles, we overtook a charcoal cart, from which the cry of ch-a-r-co-al was heard to proceed in full chorus ; and on getting alongside some twenty heads were obtruded, presenting faces which we readily imagined had once been white, but which were now of the most perfectly sable hue. Tliey were a set of very clever fellows, who deemed themselves fortunate to have procured even this mode of conveyance to the race-course." Having engaged a carriage the day previous, we were ena- bled to reach the course at an early hour. The roads from town were thronged almost the entire distance with a procession of carriages and frequently with several abreast, all crammed. It would require the pen of the " Troubadour of the Corporation Dirt Carts " to give a description of them. Flatbush wagons THE RACE COURSE. 291 and sixpenny bone-setters were jammed in between fonr-in- liand landaus, fast crabs in match carts, elegant stanhopes, and the superb turn-outs of our wealthy cits. The Communipaw clam-boxes, stylish cabs, and every variety of barouche were in- extricably mixed up and jostled by great lumbering omnibuses and thousands of fancy go-carts, wagons, and hackney coaches. Upon reaching the course such a tableau was presented as we never saw before. The field inside of the course was thronged with carriages and equestrians, while the fences, booths, and trees, were densely covered, §o much so that several accidents occurred from their breaking down. It is stated that there were no less than eight thousand persons in the stands, and yet there were nearly as many more who could obtain but a partial view of the race, while many could not see it at all. The number of spectators in attendance is variously estimated at from fifty to seventy thousand. Among them the U. States Senate and House of Representatives, the British Army and Navy, as well as our own, the Bench and the Bar, and the Beauty and Fashion of New York were all represented. The Ladies' stand was appropriately graced by the presence of a large number of the most brilliant of our city belles, who, with hardly an exception, gave the suffrage of " their most sweet voices " to the beautiful daughter of Bonnets o' Blue. The en- closed " privileged space " in front of the stands, reserved for the members of the Jockey Club, and strangers — who were charged $10 for admission, without distinction — was thronged with turfmen, breeders, and amateurs. At one o'clock, how- evei*, owing to the want of an efiicient police, and their inability to see the race, more than a thousand persons climbed over the pickets, from the field, into the enclosed space, while a mob on the outside tore down a length of fence, and stove through a door in the stand, and swarmed into the cleared space. For a time it seemed impossible for the match to take place at all. A crowd of loafers made a rush up the stairs leading to the Club stand, but they were summarily ejected. At length Yankee Sullivan, Jeroloman, Rynas, and several other distin- guished members of the fancy, undertook to clear the course, which they did in an incredibly short time, by organizing a party of their friends, who formed in line, with clasped hands. 292 THE HORSE. quite across the space, and marched from one end to the other, thereby driving outside of the gate every person witliout a badge. Of course there were among this mob several ugly customers, but Yankee Sullivan had only to " let fly with his right," or Jeroloman give any one of them " a teaser on his smeller," to fix his business ! On the whole, the mob conducted themselves very well under the circumstances ; the great majority were in perfectly good humor, and had the proprietors taken the pre- caution to paint the tops of the pickets with a thick coat of tar^ and engage a strong body of j)olice, no such disgraceful scene would have occurred. The race commenced about 2 o'clock. For more than a quarter of a mile in front of the stands, the spectators ranged on the side of the course and of the field presented one dense mass of thousands, through which the horses ran the gauntlet. The course itself, owing to the rain of Sunday night, was not deemed quite so well adapted for speed as upon some other occasions ; still it was in fine order. The prospect of the weather, in the morning, was unfavorable, but though at 10 o'clock there was a slight sprinkling of rain, it soon cleared off. The day was warm and pleasant, but with scarce a glimpse of the sun. The betting was a shade in Boston's favor. Before the race came off, however, his friends were obliged, in order to get on their money, to lay 100 to 60, and in some cases 2 to 1. "We never saw so little money bet on a race here of any impor- tance; oi heavy betting we did not hear of a solitary transac- tion, though the backers of each were sanguine. Having previously given in the preceding pages complete memoirs of the rival champions, with their pedigrees, character- istics, and performances, in detail, we have only to speak of their fine condition. Both stripped well. Boston was drawn unusually to our eye, but his coat looked and felt like satin. Fashion's curb, though quite prominent, did not seem to affect her a jot ; otherwise she was in condition to run for a man's life. We need hardly say that she was admirably trained by Mr. Laird, nor that slie was splendidly jockeyed by iiis son Joseph — a chip of the old block — Mr. Laird liaving formerly been a conspicu- ous jockey. Boston of course was managed by Col. Johnson, and ridden by Gil. Patrick in his usual superb style ; Arthui THE RACE. 293 Taylor brought him to the post in unusually fine order. Gil. Patrick rode the first heat without a spur. The jockeys having received their orders, mounted, and had their girths taken up another hole, brought their horses up in fine style without any assistance whatever from their trainers, and were off with a run- ning start for the race. First Heat. — Boston on the inside went away with the lead at a rattling pace, the mare laying up within two lengths of him down the straight run on the back stretch ; the half mile was run in 55 seconds. The same position was maintained to the end of the mile — run in Im. 53s. — but soon after Fashion made play and the pace improved. Both made strong running down the back stretch, over the hill — opposite the half-mile post — and down the slight descent which succeeds, and though this seemed favorable ground for Boston, the mare gained on him, at tliis place, in this mile, and placed herself well up. Boston threw her off on the turn, and led through clear, running this mile in Im. 50 s. Tlie pace seemed too good to last, and Bos- ton's friends as he led cleverly down the back stretch, were " snatching and eager " to take any thing offered. Again, Bos- ton led through this mile— the third — ^being run in Im. 54:S., Fashion keeping him up to the top of his rate. The contest was beautiful and exciting beyond description ; there was no clambering, no faltering, no dwelling on the part of either ; each ran with a long rating stroke, and at a pace that kills. Soon after commencing the fourth mile, Joe Laird shook his whip over her head, and gave Fashion an eye opener or two with the spur, and not 100 yards from the ground where Boston took the track from Charles Carter, she collared and jyassed Mm in Tiolf a dozen strokes^ at a flight of speed we never saw equalled, except in the desperate brush at the stand between Grey Medoc and Altorf, in their dead heat. When Fashion re- sponded to the call upon her and took the track in such splendid style, the cheers sent up from the rude " throats " of thousands might have been heard for miles. Fashion made her challenge after getting through the drawgate, and took the lead opposite the quarter-mile post. Boston, however, like a trump, as he is, did not give back an inch, and though it was manifest the "Northern Phenomenon had the foot of him, he gave her no re- 294 THE HORSE. spite. He lapped her down the back stretch for 300 yards, when Gil. Patrick very sensibly took a strong bracing pull on him and bottled him up for a desperate brusli up the hill, where Eclipse passed Henry. Here Gil. again let him out, but unfor- tunately he pulled him inside so near the fence that Boston struck ]iis hij) against a post, and hitting a sharp knot or a nail, cut through the skin on his quarter for seven or eight inches. He struck hard enough to jar himself very much, and we ob- served liim to falter ; but he soon recovered, and though at this moment Fashion led him nearly three lengths, he gradually closed the gap round the turn to within a few feet. At this moment the excited multitude broke through all restraint in their anxiety to witness the termination of the heat, and the course was nearly blocked up. On coming out through a nar- row gauntlet of thousands of spectators excited to the highest pitch, both horses very naturally faltered at the tremendous shouts which made the welkin ring. Up the quarter stretch Gil. made another desperate effort to win the race out of the fire. He applied his thong freely, while Joe Laird drew his whip on the mare more than once, and tapped her claret at the same time. Inside of the gate it was a "hollow thing," though Boston nearly closed the gap at the distance stand. Gil. fairly caught Joe by surprise, but the latter, shaking his Avhij) over her head, gave Fashion the spur, and she instantly recovered her stride, coming through about a length ahead, with aj^pa- rently something in hand to spare, closing the heat in 7m. 32|s. — the fastest by all odds ever run in America. The time was kept on tlie Jockey Club stand by Messrs. Robert L, and James Stevens, and in the Judges' stand by Sen- ator Barrow, of Louisiana, Hon. Mr. Botts, of Virginia, J. Hamilton Wilkes, Esq., and the official timers. We took the time of each mile from the Messrs. S., between whom we stood. Mr. IS; eill. Major Einggold, and other gentlemen of acknowledged accuracy as timers stood in the same circle, and there was bat a fraction of difference in the time each declared " by watches too, not made in Kentucky." Messrs. Stevens made the time 7m. 33s., but as they kept the time of the half, and in some cases, of the quarter, miles, their difference of but half a second THE FIRST HEAT. 295 from tlie timers in the Judges' stand, demonstrates the remark- able accuracy of the parties. The result of the heat was the more astonishing to a few of Boston's friends, as no one ever supposed Fashion could make this time, though she might heat him. "We were prepared to expect the best time on record, not only from the fact that we had been informed of the result of 'Fn^lvionh private trial on the 25th ult., but from a circumstance which we shall be excused, we trust, for alluding to here. After retiring to our room at the Astor House on Monday night, at a late hour, we had the plea- sure of a " domiciliary visit " from Mr. Long, the owner of Bos- ton, and several mutual friends. The " party " were attired in costumes that would be esteemed somewhat unique out of the circle of the Marquis of Waterford's friends, who ride steeple chases in their shirts and drawers. Nevertheless there was no lack of fun nor spirit ; in the course of an interesting " horse talk," Mr, Long gave us several " items," one of which was that Boston would run the first heat, " sure," in Ym. 348. Said Mr. Long, " he will run the first mile in about Im. 53s., the second in Im. 52s., the third in Im. 54s., and the fourth in Im. 55s." After he retired we made a memorandum of the time, as a curi- osity after the race. And we refer to it now, to show that, though beaten by the ISTorthern Phenomenon, the gallant Bos- ton amply sustained all the expectations formed of him from his trials and previous performances. He not only made vastly better time than he ever did before, but better time than ever had been made — time that quite eclipses the most wonderful achievements on the American Turf. The vaimted perfor- mances of the Southern "cracks" at New Orleans, are almost thrown in the shade, wonderful as they are. Had any one of- fered to beat the time of Eclipse and Henry on the Union course, 3 to 1 would have been laid against it; or had the friends of Boston been assured that he could run, as Mr. Long told us he could, in 7m. 34s., his friends would have staked a million of dollars upon his winning the match. For the first two miles Boston in the opinion of many shrewd judges had the foot of the mare, and it is thought that had he trailed her as he did Charles Carter, the result of the first heat might have been difi'erent. But what shall be said of the incomparable Ji90 THE HOKSE. daughter of Trustee and Bonnets o' Blue. Too much cannot be said of her, or of her jockey. She ran as true as steel, as game and honest a race as was ever recorded of a high-mettled racer. Both horses cooled out well. Boston always blows tremen- dously, even after a gallop, but he seemed little distressed. Neither was Fashion ; her action is superb, and as she came through on the fourth mile, it was remarked that she was play- ing her ears as if taking her exercise. She recovered sooner than Boston, and though her friends now offered large odds on her, Boston's were no less confident ; the seventh mile they thought would " fetch her." We should not have been sur- prised to have seen both swell over the loins, nor to have found them greatly distressed. We examined them carefully after the heat, and state with great pleasure, that though tliey "blowed strong," they recovered in a few minutes, and came to the post again comparatively fresh. After the heat was over, the crowd rushed into the enclosed space en masse y an endeavor was made to clear a portion of the track of the multitude who had now taken possession of it, and after great exertions, a lane was formed, through which the horses came up for the Second Heat. — Fashion led off with a moderate stroke, and carried on the running down the back stretch with a lead of about three lengths. After making the ascent of the hill Bos- ton challenged, closed the gap, and lapped her. A tremendous shout arose on all hands at this rally, but as it subsided on the part of Boston's friends, it was again more tumultuously caught up by the friends of the mare, as she outfooted him before reaching the head of the quarter stretch. She came through — in Im. 59s. — three or four lengths ahead, and kept up her rate down the entire straight stretch on the rear of the course. After getting over the hill, Boston, as before, made a rush, and suc- ceeded in collaring the mare, while she, as before, again threw him off, and led through by two or three lengths in Im. SYs. Gil. relieved his horse for the next 600 yards, but instead of waiting for Fashion to ascend the hill, at the half mile post, alone, he called on Boston just before reaching it, and the two went over it nearly together ; no sooner had they commenced THE SECOND HEAT. 297 the descending ground, than gathering all his energies for a final and desperate effort, Boston made a dash, and this time he succeeded in taking the track. TJie scene which ensued we have no words to describe. Such cheei-ing, such betting, and so many long faces, was never seen nor heard before. After be- ing compelled to give up the track, Joe Laird, with the utmost prudence and good sense, took his mare in hand, and gave her time to recover her wind. This run took the shine out of Bos- ton ! Instead of pulling him steadily, and refreshing him with a slight respite, Gil. Patrick kept him at his work after he took the track, and ran this mile — the third — in Im. 51|s. The pace was tremendous. Nothing short of limbs of steel and sinews of catgut could stand up under such a press. On the first turn after passing the stand, Fashion, now fresh again, made a dash, and as Boston had not another run left in him, she cut him down in her sti-ide, opposite the quarter mile post, and the thing was out. The race, so far as Boston was concerned, was past praying for ! If any thing can parallel Fashion's turn of speed it is her invincible game. She now gradually dropped him, and without another effort on his part to retrieve the fortunes of the day, she came home a gallant and easy winner in 7m. 45s. Boston pulled up inside of the distance stand, and walked over the score ! As she came under the Judges' cord extended across the course, Boston was exactly sixty yards behind, though he could have placed himself in a better position had Gil. called upon him. As Joe Laird rode Fashion back to the stand, the shouts were so deafening, that had not the President of the Club and another gentleman held on to her bridle, she would have not only " enlarged the circle of her acquaintance " very speedily, but " made a mash " of some dozen of " the rank and file " then and there assembled. She looked as if another heat would not " set her back any." And thus did the E'orth settle its account with the South, for the victory achieved by Bascombe over Post Boy. It was a magnificent race — one which will be remembered by every one who witnessed it " while memory holds her seat." Though beaten, it is conceded on all hands that Boston has acquired a more " vast renown " by this wonderful race than by his thirty- five previous victories combined. He is worth more since, than 298 THE HOKSE. he was before the match. " All that can be said is, that Boston has beaten himself, and Fashion has beaten Boston ! " The spirit of his owners on this as upon a like memorable occasion in May, 1823, is worthy of them and of the Old Dominion. Of one of them it has been well said, that, " like another Napoleon, he is never more to be feared than in his reverses ! " In congratulating each other upon the brilliant triumph achieved by the ]S"orthern Champion — now. the Champion of the American Turf — let no one forget to do honor to those to whose admirable skill and judgment the ]N"ortli is mainly in- debted for its victory. To Mr. Samuel Laird, the trainer and manager of Fashion, and to his fine spirited son, who jockeyed her in a style that would have conferred credit upon Jem Rob- inson, too much credit cannot be given. IS^ox let us forget that to the gallant Boston we are indebted for ascertaining the in- domitable game and surpassing speed of our Champion. What else could have displayed it in such bold and beautiful relief? Arthur Taylor brought him to the post in the very finest possi- ble condition, and Gil. Patrick, his jockey, rarely distinguished himself more than upon this occasion. Most of our contempo- raries state that he rode with spurs. He wore one only, and that only in the second heat. It is peculiarly gratifying to ourselves, though we have the pleasure of numbering all the parties among our jjersonal friends, that Mr. G-ibbons, the owner of Fashion, is among the oldest, most stanch, and most generous of the number. Un- fortunately he was prevented from witnessing the race, in con- sequence of an accident which for some time has confined him at home. In his absence, another tried friend, "Walter Livings- ton, Esq., the owner of Trustee — the sire of Fashion — was con- gratulated on all hands ; he has never doubted Fashion's suc- cess from the first. Col. W. Larkin White, of Virginia, who was also in attendance, came in for a liberal portion of the good feeling displayed. N"or should it go unrecorded that Col. John- son was by no means forgotten in the general outburst of con- gratulation. He " sold the stick which broke his own head," and no mistake, for after breeding Bonnets o' Blue from his own Sir Charles, and running her with great success, he parted with her to Mr. Gibbons, who bred from her a filly, which has beaten RECAPITULATION. 299 the best horse Col. Johnson has ever had in his stable, since the days of his favorite Eeality, the renowned grand-dam of Fashion herself. EEC APITU L ATION. $5,000 ft, four-mile TUESDAY, May 10, 1842.— Match, the North vs. the South, $20,000 a heats. Henry H. Toler's— "William Gibbons,— ch. m. Fashion, by Imp. Trustee, out of Bonnets o' Blue — Mariner's Dam — by Sir Charles, 5 years. 111 lbs Joseph Laivd. Col. "Wm. E. Johnson's and James Long's ch. h. Boston, by Tlmoleon, out of Eobin Brown's dam by Ball's Florizel, 9 yrs., 126 lbs. Oil. Patnck. FiBST Heat. Time of First mile, " '• Second mile, " " Third mile, " " Fourth mile, TimeofFrst Heat, 1 53 1 50i 1 54 1 55 T 32i Second Heat. Time of First mile, " " Second miie, " " Third mile, " " Fourth mile. Time of Second Heat, 1 59 1 5T 1 51i 1 57* T 45 At the Jockey Club Dinner, after the match, Mr. Long of- fered to run Boston against Fashion, for $20,000, $5,000 for- feit, four-mile heats, at any time to be agreed upon by the par- ties between the 25th of September and the 25th of October, next. He also authorized us to state in our Extra., that he would bet $1,000 he wins with Boston the regular Jockey Club purse, four-mile heats, on Friday, on the Union Course, — $1,000 that Boston -wins the Jockey Club purse at Ti-enton, and $1,000 that Boston wins the Jockey Club purse at Camden, the week fol- lowing. Last Day. — ^The attraction of three races, in one of which Boston was to contend with a son of Bonnets o' Blue, drew a large assemblage to the course, and they were amply entertained by a race — if not so brilliant as that of Fashion on Tuesday — at least as critical and apparently more doubtful. The sport commenced with a trial of speed at mile heats be- tween Tempest and Prima Donna, the colt winning in two heats, the latter of which was particularly interesting. Time, 1.55 — 1.55. Joe Laird jockied the winner, who, we regret to Bay, was sold at auction after the race, and was knocked down for the paltry sum of $180, to Capt. Shirley, of the 7th Hussars, B. A., who has been in attendance upon our races. Other stock was offered, but we learn was bid in. 300 THE HORSE. Now came otf the great race of the day — the struggle be- tween Boston and Mariner. The former was backed in the morning at 100 to 30, and before the start at 100 to 20, which were not taken with alacrity. Boston had the pole, but retained it for a few yards only, Mariner going to the front, on the first turn, and leading by several lengths. The pace for the first mile was so slow as 2.13, Mariner cutting out the work ; he in- creased his rate in the second mile, which was run in about 2.05, opening the gap on the backside between Boston and him- self, while Boston lessened it a little in the straight, running in front. In the third mile, the pace was still further improved, both horses tasting the persuaders freely ; the fourth mile was yet more desperately contested, though without much change in the position of the horses. Boston, who was ridden by Gil. without spurs, was most severely scored in coming home ; but as it was all in vain, he pulled up inside the distance stand. Mariner came in amidst the most tremendous shouts in 8.13. The friends of Old Whitenose were undismayed by the loss of the heat, and he still retained the call in the betting at about 100 to 80. As in the former heat Joe Laird went away with the lead, and driving his horse at a much better pace than before. At the south turn, in the commencement of the second mile, the old horse showed a taste of his old style of going, chal- lenged for the lead and gained it in a twinkling. ISTo respite however was given by Joe to Mariner, who ran well up through- out that and tlie following mile, though the running was strongly forced by Gil. Patrick. In the first quarter of the fourth mile, in very nearly the j)lace where Fashion made her run, Joe went up with a rush, took the track with apparent ease, continued to urge his horse with whip and spur, and widening the gap with every stride. Before they came into straight running home, he was leading by six or eight lengths, and the race was apparently safe. But here Gil. Patrick brought uj) his nag in a style quite incomparable ; such a rush we do not remember ever to have seen made ; the old horse appeared to sympathize with his eager rider, and showed all of that speed which has won for him his great renown. Joe did not appear to be aware of his close proximity till he came within the gates, when he too found his whip and plied it lustily. The thing was out, how- THE THIKD HEAT. 301 ever, for nothing but a locomotive could have held its way with Boston, who in his turn came home, amid the enthusiastic cries of the populace, in 7.46. Many watches made the time a half second quicker ; the heat, which was won by a length, was the most interesting we recollect ever to have seen. We have heard the riding of Joe in the last mile criticised ; it is said he took too much out of his horse after he had passed Boston, by forcing the running as he did. Our impression is that he pur- sued the safer course, and that he lost the heat, only, in conse- quence of the tremendous speed which his antagonist exhibited in the quarter stretch. There is no difterence of opinion as to the masterly style in which Gil. took the heat ; it would com- pare favorably with any performance of Chifney or Robinson. The third heat was scarcely less interesting than the previous one. Boston took up the running early, but was followed by Mariner at the best pace steel and catgut could get out of him. This severe chase continued throughout three miles and a half, when Mariner closed up a little. In coming into the quarter stretch home, Gil. gave the pole a wide birth, and Joe imme- diately took advantage of it, and made a rush to take the lead on the inside. The struggle was now most exciting, as Mariner was evidently drawing rapidly upon his antagonist. At about the distance stand he lapped on to him, when Gil appeared to pull his horse toward the pole again, and thus crossed the path of Mariner, and interrupted his stride. Tlie pace was terrific, however, till the finish, Boston taking the heat, with his tail flirting directly in the face of his competitor, time 7.58^. A complaint was then made of foul riding against the winner, but it was not deemed by the judges to be substantiated, and the race and purse were accordingly awarded to Boston. All know how critical and hazardous is the attempt to pass a leading horse on the inside. Many believe that Joe Laird was author- ized by the position of Boston to make the effort he did, and that but for being crossed and crowded he would have won the race by it. The rightful authorities decided otherwise, however, and we acquiesce in their decision without hesitation. The race will be long remembered as one of the most inter- esting that ever came off on Long Island ; the performance of Mariner surprised all his friends by the unwonted sjpeed which 302 THE HORSE. he dispLayed, while he ran as gams a race as any horse that ever made a track. After the wonderful j^erformance of Boston on Tuesday last, his race of yesterday will, we have no doubt, be esteemed one of the most remarkable in the annals of the Turf. — Spirit of the Times, vol. xii., 124. Those superb animals, Boston and Fashion, never met again, though both fully maintained their distinction. Fashion's races with Peytona have been elsewhere described. In the end, she was trashed off her feet, and beat by Passenger, when she was not in a condition to start against a cocktail. Boston, as a stallion, has done as nobly for the country in the stud as he did on the track, as a racer. Fashion is, as yet, untried, but I am happy to announce on the authority of her owner, Mr. Reber, of Lexington, Ohio, that she was never better, and, is this fall, as fine as a four-year-old. H. W. H. PEDIGKEE, CHARACTERISTICS, AND PERFORMANCES OF LEXINGTON. Lexington was got in 1851, by Boston, dam Alice Carneal bj Sarpedon, gd. Eowena by Sumpter, g. gd. Lady Gray by Eobin Gray, g. g. gd. Maria by Melzar, g. g. g. gd. by imp. High- flyer, g. g. g. g. gd. by imp. Fearnongbt, g. g. g. g. g. gd. by Ariel, g. g. g. g. g. g. gd. by imp. Jack of Diamonds out of the imp. mare Diamond, both imported by General Alexander Spotteswood of Virginia. Boston. — See his pedigree m extenso at p. 280. Sarpedon was by Emilins, dam Icaria by the Flyer, gd Parma by Dick Andrews, g. gd. May by Beningborough, g. g gd. Primrose by Mambrino, g. g. g. gd. Cricket by Herod, g g. g. g. gd. Sophia by Blank, g. g. g. g. g. gd. Diana by Second g. g. g. g. g. g. gd. Hanger's Br. mare by Stanyan's Arab, g. g, g. g. g. g. g. gd. Gipsey by ]S"o-tongued Barb, Makeless, Royal mare. Emilins was by Orville out of Emily. — See Genealogy 5, of Priam. Dick Andrews was by Joe Andrews, dam by Highflyer, Cardinal Puff, Tatler, Snip, Godolphin A., Frampton's White- neck, Pelliam Barb mare. Joe Andrews was by Eclipse, dam Amaranda by Omnium, Cloudy by Blank, Crab, Widdrington mare by Partner. Beninborough, — His pedigree entire in Priam's genealogy, 5. Mambrino was got by Engineer, dam by Cade, Bolton Lit- 304 THE HORSE. tle-Jolm, Favorite, son of the Bald Galloway, dam of DaiFodill by Sir T, Gascoigne's foreign horse. SuMPTER was by Sir Arcliy, dam by Robin Redbreast, own sister to the dam of Rattler, Childers and Flirtilla, g. d. by imp. Obscurity, g. g. d. by Slamerkin, by imp. Wildair, g. g. g. d. Delancy's Cub mare. Robin Redbreast, imp., was by Sir Peter Teazle, dam Wren, by Woodpecker, grand dam Sir Peter's dam. There are seven Rattlers in Mason, one in Edgar. Robin Gray was by imported Royalist, dam by Grey Dio- med, grand dam imp. St. George, g. d. Cashier. Royalist was by Saltram, dam a Herod mare, Carina, by Maske, Blank, Dizzy by Driver, Smiling Tom, Miss Hip by Oysterfoot, Merlin, Commoner, Copper Mare. Saltram was by Snap, dam Yirago, Regulus, sister to Black and All Black. Grey Diomed was by Medley, Sloe, Yaliant, imp. mare Ca- lista. She is not in the Stud Book. St. George was by Highflyer, dam sister to Soldier by Eclipse, Miss Spindleshanks, Omar, Starling, Godolj^hin. Cashier, his sire, is unknown ; and his dam, imp. Mary Gray, is not in the Stud Book. Melzar was by imp. Medley, dam by Wildair, gd. by imp, Yampire, dam imjD. Kitty Fisher. Medley was .by Gimcrack, Arminda by Snap, Miss Cleve- land by Regulus, Midge by a son of Bay Bolton ; Bartlett's Childers, Honeywood's Arabian, dam of the two True Blues. Yampire was by Wilson's Arabian out of Wildair's dam. Kitty Fisher was by Cade, her dam by the Godolphin, and said to be out of Bald Charlotte ; but the last point cannot be established. Imp. Highflyer was by Highflyer, out of Angelica by Snap, Regulus, BartJett's Childers, Honeywood's Arabian, dam of the two True Blues. Fearnought was by Regulus, Silvertail by WhitenosCs Rattler, Darley Arabian, Old Child mare, Gresley Arabian, Yixen, Helmsley Turk, Dodworth's dam. Ariel was by Moreton's Traveller, out of Tasker's imported mare Selima. This Ariel is not to be found in Edgar's Stud Book. DESCRIPTION OF LEXIXGTON. 305 Imp. Traveller was by Croft's Partner, Bloody Buttocks, Greyhound, Makeless, Brimmer, &c. Tasker's Selima was by tlie Godolpbin, her dam unknown. Selim. — ^There are six Selims in Edgar besides the English Horse by Black and All Black, also Othello, out of Selima, which is, I presume, the horse intended. Jack of Diamonds, said to be by the CuUen Arabian, Darley Arabian, Byeiiy Turk, Taffolet Barb, White Tm-k, jSTatural Barb mare ; said also to have been imported by Col. Spottes- wood, of Virginia. But there is no evidence whatever that there ever was any such horse, by the English books. The same may be said of the imported mare Diamond. There is no such mare in any English record, nor any cer- tainty that she ever existed. Diamond has always been a horse's name. She is said to have been got by Hautboy out of a Eoyal mare. This pedigree of Lexington is, it seems to me, susceptible of considerable doubt, in several points, connected with the descent of his dam Alice Carneal. She was foaled in Kentucky, in 1836, never seems to have won a race, but ran second in the first heat of a four-mile race to Miss Foote, in 7.42, the best time ever made in Kentucky, though she was distanced in the second heat. It is, however, not to be doubted that she is thoroughbred, Lexington's performances making it impossible that it should be otherwise ; although the record of her ances- try is, I presume, irrecoverably lost. It seems to me, that it would be far better to own up frankly that such is the case, than to endeavor to trump up such questionable pedigrees as much of the above. I do not intend this remark to apply in the least degree to the owner, but to the compilers of spurious pedi- grees, sent for admission to respectable publications, periodical or other, in which publication is held to imply undoubted au- thenticity. This noble racer is well described, as follows ; — CHAEACTEEISTICS OF LEXINGTON. Lexington is a blood bay, about fifteen hands three inches high, with fore and hind feet and pasterns and a small portion of his hind legs above pasterns white. His bones are not par- VoL^I.— 20 306 THE HORSE. ticularly large, except the back bone, which is unusually so. His muscle is abundant, dry and sinewy, without any cumbrous flesh ; his ears, which are handsome and wide apart, are beauti- fully placed ; his head, though not small, is bony, clean, and handsome. His nostrils being large, the jawbone is uncommon- ly wide, and the jaws wide apart, affording abundant room for a clear and well detached throttle. His left eye full and mild, though animated ; his right eye has lost its convexity from disease ; "" he has a noble countenance, indicating good temper and disposition, for which he is remarkable. His neck rises well from his shoulders, and joins his head admirably. His shoulder has a very wide bone, very strong, well displayed, particularly oblique, and rises sufficiently high at the withers, without any of that superfluous neck so frequently seen to surmount the shoulders two or three inches, which cannot add to power or easy motion. His arms come out well from the body, are suf- ficiently wide apart for a good chest, and are long, muscular, and strong. His back of medium length, coupling pretty well back, a loin wide, slightly arched and very powerful. His body will bear the most rigid scrutiny — it looks pei'fection, being ribbed in the best possible manner, and very deep throughout, which makes his legs appear shoi't, while at the same time he has a great reach. His hips are not remarkably wide, though strong, and in the sweep down to and embracing the hock, he has rarely an equal. His feet though mostly white, are excel- lent, as are his logs, with good bone, clear, strong tendons, and good proportion:^, uniting in their motion great ease and cor- rectness. His action cannot be surpassed ; bold, free, elastic, and full of power ; and with his elegance of action, and a re- markable racing-like form throughout, he unites great beauty and grandeur. The above description, taken from the New Orleans Dail}'- Picayune, is said to be strikingly correct ; while the portrait accompanying these pages, engraved on steel by Mr. Duthie, from an original lithograph published by Mr. Currier of this city, with the authority and approbation of his owner, Mr. Tenbroeck, is admitted to be a very lifelike representation of this truly high-flnished racer, when in training to run. • He has, since this was written, I regret to say, gone blind. — H. W. H. PERFOK:\rAXCKS OF LEXTXGTOX. SOT I have recently seen another likeness by Mr. Trove, which depicts him as a stouter, heavier-bodied, and shorter-legged ani- mal than our picture, but I understand that it was taken when he was fat and out at grass, which every horseman knows has a tendency to let down the belly and make the frame grosser and more fleshy. The points, however, in both, so closely agree, that the one portrait confirms and authenticates the other. Up to the date of the remarkable contests of which a descrip- tion immediately ensues, Lexington's performances were as follows. PEEFOKMANCES OF LEXINGTOK. His first appearance, under his present name,* was in his three-year-old form, on the Metairie Course, l^ew Orleans, on which all his laurels have been won, Dec. 2d, 1853, in a match- race, on the following terras ; — Match for |S,500— $5,000 on Sally Waters against $3,500 on Lexington. Three-mile heats, h. a. E. Ten Broeck's b. c. Lexivgton, by Boston, out of xVlice Carneal, by Sarpedon, 3 years. 1 1 L. Smith's b. f. Sally Waters, by Imp. Glencoe, out of Maria Black, 4 years. . . 2 dist Time, 6m. 23is.— 6m. 24is. Track heavy. Such was the promising commencement of an extraordinary career, which, for its short duration, has been unequalled in the history of the American Turf. His second appearance was in three-year-old stakes on the Metaii-ie Course, at New Orleans, January 7, 1854, two-mile heats, four subscribers, when he paid forfeit to Conrad the Cor- sair, Argent, and Hornpipe. On the 1st of April of the same year, and on the same course, he started for the great State Post Stakes for all ages — 3 yr. olds, 86 pounds ; 4 yr. olds, 100 pounds ; 5 yr. olds, 110 pounds ; 6 yr. olds, 118 pounds ; Y yrs. old, and upwards, 124 pounds ; allowing three pounds to mares and geldings. Four-mile heats. ENTRIES STARTED FOR THE SWEEPSTAKES. For Kentucky, b. c. Lexington, by Boston, out of Alice Carneal, by Imp. Sarpedon, 3 years old, 11 For Mississippi, ch. c. Z«f HOOMES. But I cannot find that Lord Egremont's Highflyer mare ever had a foal to Phlegon, or that any Woodpecker mare had one to Alexander. H. W. H. Amanda, b. m. — Foaled 1828. By Morisco, dam Mantua, by Woful, grand dam Miltonia, by Patriot, son of Whiskey ; g. g. d. by King Fergus, g. g. g. d. by Espersykes, «S:c. Morisco was by Muley, son of Orville, out of Aquilina, by Eagle, Precipitate, Woodpecker, &c. Imported into Alabama by E. H. Boardman. Amixa, b. m. — Foaled 1882. By Gaberlunzie, dam Luna, by Wan- derer, grand dam by Canopus, son of Gohanna, g. g. d. by Teddy the Grinder, son of Asparagus, g. g. g. d. Precipitate, g. g. g. g. d. by Pumpkin, out of Fleacatcher by Goldfinder. Gaberlunzie was by Wanderer, dam by Selim, grand dam Maiden, by Sir Peter, Phenomenon, Florizel, Matchem, &c. Amcrath Filly, ch. f. — Foaled 1842. By Amurath, dam by Kecovery, grand dam The Nun, by Blacklock. Messrs. Cammack & Co., Neiv Orleans. But The Nun had no filly by Recovery so late as 1835. H. W. H. Amurath Filly, ch. filly — Foaled 1842. By Amurath, son of Langar, dam ch. mare by Champion, grand dam by Cestrian, g. g. d. Pau- lina, by Orville. Messrs. Cammack & Co. Anviltna, b. m. — Foaled 1794 or 1796. By Anvil, dam Augusta, by Eclipse, out of Hardwicke's dam by Herod. Bred by O'Kelly, presented by him to Colonel Tayloe. 490 THE hokst:. Augusta — Foaled 1802. By Saltram, dam by Wildair, g. d, by Clockfast, g. g. d. by Apollo, g. g. g. d. by Janus, g. g. g. d. by Jolly lloger. William Rives. I quote this from Mason's Farrier, but cannot verify the mare, and it is clearly an American, not English, pedigree. H. AV. H. Augustus Filly, br. f. — By Augustus out of Toso, by Rainbow. Im- ported 1839. Pouter's T. E., vol. ix. old ed. AuRELiA, b. f. — Foaled 1794 or 1796. By Anvil, dam Augusta by Eclipse — own sister to Anvilina, above. Both these mares seem to have been named after their importation. H. W, H. Bay Malton Filly. — Foaled 1837. By Bay Malton, dam by Whisker, grand dam I'm Sure He Shaut, by Coriolanus, g. g. d. Warrior's Dam by Young Marske, g. g. g. d. Matchem, g. g. g. g. d. Tarquin, g. g. g. g. g. d. Young Belgrade. J. Maxwell, S. Carolina. Bashful, b. f.— Foaled 1831. By St. Patrick, dam Spavina, by Orville, grand dam Mirandola, by Haphazard, g. g. d. Allegretta, by Trumpator, g. g. g. d. Y. Camilla, by Woodpecker, g, g. g. g. d. Camilla, by Trentham, g. g. g. g. g. d. Coquette, by the Compton Barb, out of Sister to Regulus. Sent to America in 1835. Weatherby's S. B., vol. iv., 302. Battledore Mare — Foaled 1833 By Battledore, out of Miua, by Gen. Mina, out of Maid of Lorn, by Castrel, Richardson's Marske, Buckingham, Eclipse, &c., &c. E. H. Boardman. Belzoni Filly, ch. f. — Foaled 1837. By Belzoni, out of Amanda, by Morisco. See above, p. . E. H. Boardman. BiRDCATCHER FiLLY, b. f. — Foaled 1838. By Birdcatcher — dam the dam of Jacob Faithful, by Rubens, grand dam the Hipped mare, by Meteor, g. g. d. Petrowna, by Sir Peter. Birdcatcher was by St. Patrick out of Pick Pocket's dam. BiRDCATCHER FiLLY — Foalcd 1836. By Birdcatcher, dam by Phan- tom, out of Breeze, by Soothsayer, out of Blowing, by Buzzard, Pot8os, Maid of All Work, &c., &c. Black Bess — By Belzoni, out of Livonia, by Smolensko, g. d. Stella, by L' Orient, ivuler, Magdalena, by Highflyer, &c., &c. Imported into Louisiana. Blacklock, Young, Mare — By Y. Blacklock, out of Spermaceti, by Whalebone. Sold for $1,000 by A. D. Shepherd to Rouzau du Plantier, of New Orleans, La. niPOKTED MARES AND FILLIES. 491 Blossom — By Old Sloe, dam by Kegulus, the sire of Fearnought. Thos. Nelsox, Virginia. This mare is not to be identified in the S. B. H. W. H. Bonny Lass, b. f. — Foaled 1723. By Bay Bolton, dam by Darley Ara- bian, grand dam Byerly Turk, g. g. d. Taffolet Barb, g. g. g. d. Plaice's W. Turk, g. g. g. g. d. Barb mare. Bonny Lass was the dam of — 1730. Merry Andrew, by Fox. 1731. Bay Colt by Partner. 1735. Spectator's dam by ditto. 1736. Paragon, Mystery's dam, by Snip. 1738. Zamora's grand dam by the Lonsdale Arabian. And in 1739 a second b. c. Merry Andrew, by Fox. I find no evidence that this mare ever came to America, and greatly doubt it. If so, she must have been 18 or 19 years old when imported. H. W. H. Britannia, b. f. — Foaled 1800. By Pegasus, dam Peggy, by Trum- pator, grand dam Peggy, sister to Postmaster, by Herod, g. g. d. by Snap, g. g. g. d. by the Gower Stallion, g. g. g. g. d. by Chil- ders. She was imported in her dam's belly. Peggy being also imported by Col. Tayloe. — Weatherby's S. B., vol. i., p. 419. Britannia was very fast, but invariably bolted. Britannia, 2, b. m. — Foaled 1836. By Actseon, dam Scandal by Selim, g. d. by Haphazard, g. g. d. by Precipitate, g. g. g. d. Colibri, by Woodpecker. She was bred by King William IV., and ran a winner in Amer- ica. There is yet a Britannia 3, named in Mason's Farriery, by Muley, out of Nancy, by Dick Andrews ; but it does not appear from the Stud Book that Nancy ever bore a foal to Muley. Her produce are given in vol. iii. Weatherby's Stud Book, down to 1827, and she does not appear in vol. iv. H. W. H. Brown Filly — Foaled 1802. By Sir Peter Teazle, dam by Wood- pecker, grand dam by Sweetbrier, out of Buzzard's dam. The Woodpecker mare, dam of this filly, was own sister to the dam of Horns, by Precipitate, who was imported into Virginia by Colonel Hoomes. The filly was imported into South Carolina by General McPherson. In Mason's Farriery this filly is erroneously stated to be out of the dam of Horns. H. W. H. 492 THE HORSE. Camel Filly, br. f. — Foaled 1835. By Camel, sire of Toucbstone, dam Codicil, by Smolensko, grand dam Legacy, by Beninbrough, g. g. d. Koxana, by Sir Peter. Bred by King AVilliam IV. Camel Filly, br. f. — Foaled 1837. By Camel, dam Miranda, by Woful, grand dam by Beninbrough, g. g. d. the dam of Blackiock, by Coriander, g. g. g. d. Wildgoose, by Highflyer, g. g. g. g. d. Co- heiress by PotSos, &c. Imported into Alabama. E. H. BOARDMAN, Camilla — Imported. By Dove, &c. There is no such mare in the Stud Books as Camilla by Dove, nor any such stallion that I can discover as Dove. There is a Camilla by a son of Bay Bolton, foaled in 1746. But it can scarce be she. H. W. H. Castiaxira, br. m. — Foaled 1796. By Rockingham, dam Tabitha, by Trentham. She was the dam of imported Sir Archy, by imported Diomed. See G-enealogical Table, No. 3. Champion Mare, ch, m. — Foaled 1832. By Champion, son of Selim, dam by Cestrian, grand dam Paulina, by Orville. 1843. Imported into Louisiana. Lewis and Clayborne. Chance, ch.m — Foaled 1832. By Patron, dam Ramoua by Whisker, grand dam Lady Cramfeazer, by Stamford, son of Sir Peter, g. g. d. Mrs. Barnet, by Waxy, sou of PotSos, g. g. g. d. by Woodpecker, Squirrel, Black, &c. Imported into Alabama by E. H. Board- man. Chateau, b. f. — Foaled 1835. By Chateau Margaux, dam Cuirass, by Oiseau, grand dam Castanea, She ran a winner in the United States. Cinderella, b. f. — Foaled 1801. By Sir Peter, dam Lord Egremont's Mercury mare, dam of Vivaldi, grand dam Cytherea, by Herod. Sent to South Carolina. Weatherby's S. B. Colonel Mare, ch. f. — Foaled 1835. By the Colonel, dam Peri, dam of Sir Hercules and Langford, &c., by Wanderer, grand dam Thalestris by Alexander, g. g. d. Rival, by Sir Peter. Owned by King William IV. Colonel Filly, ch. f— Foaled 1836. By The Colonel out of Miss Clifton, by Partisan, her dam Isis, by Sir Peter, out of Ibis, by Woodpecker, Isabella, by Eclipse. Col. W. Hampton, South Carolina. nvrPORTED MARES AND FILLIES. 493 Colonel Filly, ch. f.— Foaled 1838. By The Colonel, out of Variella. L. J. Polk, Tennessee. CoMus Mare, ch. m. — Foaled 1834. By Comus, dam by Partisan, grand dam Fawn by Trumpator, own sister to Penelope, g. g. d. Prunella by Highflyex-. Imp. by Com. Stockton. Cora, ch. m. — By Muley Molock, dam by Champion. Has run a win- ner in the United States since 1839. Mason's Farrier. Cdb. — This is the famous Cub mare imported by Colonel Delancy. Foaled 1762, dam of Mr. Gribson's Cub mare, killed on the race- course at Lancaster. She is not to be identified in the Stud Book, but her pedigree may be held unquestionable. By Cub — Son of Old Fox, dam by Torismond, son of the Bolton Starling, grand dam by Second brother to Snip. Her dam is not known ; but there is no question of her blood. Slie was imported in 1767 by the owner of Lath and AVildair, and is one of the few famous mares before the B evolution, which stand as the Royal Mares in the English Stud Books. H. W. H. Delphine — Foaled 1825. By Whisker, out of My Lady by Comus, out of the Colonel's dam. Imported by Col. W. Hampton, South Carolina. Design, ch. m. — Foaled 1827. By Tramp, dam Defiance by Eubens, grand dam Little Folly by Highland Fling, g. g. d. Harriet by Volunteer, g. g. g. d. by Alfred, &c. Imported in 1840 by E. H. Boardmau. Diana, b. m. — Foaled 1828. By Catton, dam Trulla by Sorcerer, grand dam by Weathercock, g. g. d. Cora by Matchem, g. g. g. d. by Turk, g. g. g. g. d. by Cub. Doris — Foaled 1834. By the Colonel, dam Arethusa by Quiz, Persep- olis by Alexander, Sister to Tickle Toby, by Alfred, Celia by He- rod, Proserpine, sister to Eclipse, by Marske, Spiletta by Regulus, &c., &c. Allen J. Davie, N. C. Duchess, b. m. — By Grouse, son of Highflyer, dam by Babraham, grand dam by Partner. Imported into Virginia ia 1801. John Randolph. Duchess of York, ch. f. — Foaled 1821. By Catton, dam by Sancho, Blacklock's dam, grand dam by Coriander, g. g. d. Wildgoose, sis- ter to Hyperion by Highflyer. Imported into Virginia. R. D. Shepherd. 494 THE HORSE. Ebony or Young Ebony, gr. f. — Foaled 1762. By Panton's Arabian — called Muley — dam his Old Crab mare, grand dam by Childers, g. d. Confederate Filly by Grantham, g. g. d. by Rutland Black Barb, Bright's Roan. She was probably named in America, and must not be con- founded with Young Ebony by Crab, out of Old Ebony by Basto. See Panton's Crab Mare — Weatherby's Stud Book, vol. i., p. 56 — the date, however, is wrong. Panton's Crab Mare bore no foal to Muley between 1755 and 1770, unless it were iu 1756, 1759, or 1761, in none of which years has she any foal recorded. After 1770 she is not named in the books. H. W. H. EfflLY, b. f. — Foaled 1834. By Emilius, dam Elizabeth by Rainbow, grand dam Belvoirina by Stamford, g. g. d. sister of Silver by Mercury. Owned by King William IV. Sent to South Carolina. Ran a winner in the United States. — Mason's Farrier. Weath- erby's Stud Book, vol. iv., 102. Ella — Foaled 1835. By Emilius, out of Ada, sister to Augustus, &c. Col. W. Hampton, S. G. Emilius Filly b. f— Foaled 1836. By Emilius, out of Polly Hopkins, «fec. R. L. Stevens, N. Y. Equity — Foaled 1835. By Humphry Clinker, out of Justitia by Cer- vantes, grand dam Lady Racliel by Stamford, &c., &c. Imported into Louisiana, Fair Charlotte, b. f. — Foaled 1808. By Teddy the Grrinder, dam by Precipitate, grand dam Colibri by Woodpecker, g. g. d. Camella by Trentham, g. g. g. d. Coquette by the Sedley Arabian. Sent to America. — Weathers y, vol. ii., 290. Falconet, b. h. — Foaled 1830. By Falcon, dam by Catton, grand dam Hannah by Sorcerer. Imported by Messrs. Clay into Kentucky in 1841. Favorite, b. m. — Foaled 1790. By Volunteer, dam Matchem, grand dam by Dainty Davy, son of Mogul, g. g. d. by Crab, g. g. g. d. Bay Bolton, g. g. g. g. d. Curwen Bay Barb. Named after impor- tation into Virginia, 1796. John Hoomes. FiLHO DA Puta Mare, '< The Nun's daughter," br. ni. — Foaled 1834. By Filho da Puta, dam The Nun, by Blackloek, grand dam by Whis- ker, g. g. d. by Orville, g. g. g. d. by Expectation, g. g. g. g. d. Cala- bria by Spadille, Alfred, Changeling, Cade, &c. Imported into A.labama, 1838. E. H. Boardman. IMPORTED MARES AND FILLIES. 495 FiLHO DA PcTA Mare, b. m. — By Filho da Puta, dam sister to Spartan by Milo, grand dam Pamela by Whiskey, g. g. d. Lais by Diomed, g. g. g. d. Grace by Snap. Imported into Louisiana. A. D. Shepherd. FiLHO DA Puta Mare, b. m. — Foaled 1833. Dam by Rubens, grand dam The Hipped mare by Meteor, g. g. d. Petrowna by Sir Peter, g. g. g. d. Georgiana by Sweetbrier, g. g. g. g. d. Capella by Ze- rod, &c. Imported into Louisiana. E. H. Boardmax. FiLHo DA Puta Mare — Foaled 1833. By Filho da Puta, out of Ze- phyrina by Middlethorpe out of Pagoda. Charlestox, S. C. Florestixe— Foaled 1829. By Whisker, out of Flora by Camillus, her dam by Ruler, out of Treecreeper by Woodpecker, Trentham. H. KiRKMAX, La. FoRTUNA — Foaled 1837. By Langar, dam by Whisker, grand dam by Orville, out of Ottrington's dam by Expectation, Calabria by Spadille, «fcc., 2 Chateau Margaux, 3 3 6 18 !ciiorister, 2 3 7 19 Consul, 8 6 IC. 32Clil'ton, 1 1 4 Emancipation, 5 5 11 ISIjCollier, 3 3 8 8 Got by Sir Archy. TABLE OF STOCK. WINNING HORSES FOR l8iZ— Continued. 535 r BY EMPOETED SIKES. BY NATIVE SIEES. Stallions. a s «• 1 1 i Stallions. c 1 m 1 Foreigner, ~\ 2 4 4' Columbus, 2 5 7 Glencoe, 12 13 32 67! Count Badger, 2 2 Hedgford, 4 1 21 30 Critic, 1 1 Jordan, 1 2 5 5' Cymon, 1 2 Leviathan, 21 26 67 97 Davy Crockett, 6 6 Luzborough, 5 8 20 3l! Dick Singleton, 3 3 Margrave, 5 10 23 49, Dr. Syntax, 2 2 Mercer, 2 2 4 8! Drone, 12 22 Merman, 1 1 3 •^i Duke of Wellington, 2 4 Priam, 17 21 50 105^ Eclipse, 10 31 55 PhiUp, 1 1 4 8| Envoy, 5 5 Rowton, 5 6 17 31 Francis Marion, 2 4 Sarpedon, 2 4 8 Frank, 4 4 Skylark, 1 1 2 6 Garrison's Zinganee,* 7 28 Tranby, 3 4 8 20 Grey Eagle, 4 4 Trustee, 10 11 42 77 Hugh L.^Vhite, 2 4 Valentine, 1 I 4 4 Industry,* 2 2 Zinganee, 3 3 14 Ivanhoe, Jerry, John Bascombe, John Belcher, John Dawson, Lafayette, Longwaist, Lord Byron, Mazeppa, Marion,* Marmion, 1 2 9 3 6 2 7 3 4 . 3 2 3 2 13 6 12 2 14 3 6 6 2 Medoc, 10 10 26 52 Mingo, 8 11 Monmouth Eclipse, 16 21 Ocean, 4 4 Othello, 4 4 Pacific,* 8 8 Plenipotentiary, 4 10 Pressure, 2 2 Red Tom, 3 3 Robin Hood, 2 4 Sir Leslie, 2 2 ITimoleon,* 13 44 [Tom Fletcher, 2 2 ' Trumpator, 2 2 Wild Bill,* 1 1 Woodpecker, 2 4 Yorkshire, 6 6 Young Virginian, 2 12 12 28 138 152 381 682 56 108 126 316 540 * Got by Sir Archy. 536 TABLE OF STOCK. WINNING HORSES FOR 1844. BY IMPORTED SIEE3. BT NATIVE SIEES. Stallions. i i ^ 1 Stallions. c a 11 21 Sterling, Stockholder,* 1 2 2 2 7 5 25 13 Stumps, Tarltoii, 1 1 2 1 4 6 2 TarquiD, Tclamon, 2 2 2 2 4 6 6 6 Wagner, West Wind, 4 1 5 1 ". 21 2 Wild Bill,* 1 1 3 3 Woodpecker, Zingauee,* 1 1 1 4 2 4 2 23 81 116 268 508 ■47 1 71 123 313 491i WINNING HORSES FOR 1847. BY IMPORTED SIEES. BY NATIVE SIEES. Stallions. 1 t ■f S StaUions. S P s S ^ & fS S i M w s Ainderby, 3 3 6 11 Altorf, 2 5 12 23 Belshazzar, 3 9 22 49 Andrew, 1 1 2 4 Doncaster, 1 1 2 2 Balie Peyton, 1 2 4 12 Foreigner, 1 1 1 1 Beau, 1 2 H Glencoe, 11 34 81 154 Billy Harris, 1 2 4 Langford, 2 3 6 7 Birmiugham, 6 12 29 58 Leviathan, 12 17 39 65 Blacklock, 1 1 0^ Margrave, 8 7 17 36 Boston, 8 16 36 72 Mercer, 2 4 7 11 Cadmus,* 1 3 3* Monarch, 4 6 13 23 Chorister, 1 2 4 Priam, 8 9 17 31 Clarion, 1 2 4 Riddlesworth, 4 9 27 27 Convention, 4 14 20 Sarpedon, 4 4 9 18 Dan. O'ConneU, 1 3 H Shamrock, 3 5 12 27 Decatur, 1 2 2 Sovereign, 1 1 2 8 Dick Chinn, 1 8 3 Trustee, 8 12 38 65 Earl of Margrave, Ecliptic, 1 1 2 1 2 1 ! Eclipse, 6 8 17 19 Frank, 2 ' 7 7 • Got by Sir Archy. 540 TABLE OF STOCK. WINNING HORSES FOR ISil— Continued. BY IMPORTED SIRES. BY NATIVE SIRES. Stallions. i a . £ « Stallions. T 2 CO a & 2 % H 1 Gano, 4 12 16 Grey Eapjle, 10 36 39 Grey Medoc, 6 15 22 Hualpa, 3 7 22 Jim Bell, 1 3 3 John Dawson, 3 9 9 John R. Grymes, 10 20 Manalopan, 1 1 Mark Moore, 3 6 Masaniello, 9 2 Medoc, 3 3 Mirabeau, 4 14 Monmouth Eclipse, 2 2 Mons. Tonson, 13 31 Norfolk, 4 4 Pacific,* 7 9 Pete Whetstone, 2 8 Reveille, fi 6 Rolla, 1 3 Steel, 2 2 Sterling, 9 27 Sthreshley, 2 2 Stockholder,* <) 13 Tattersall, 3 3 Wa-ner, 14 20 43 74 Winfiild, 2 2 Zenith, 3 6 Zinganee,* 2 4 16 70 125 289 535 47 90 146 357 57 5f WINNING HORSES FOR 1848. BY IMPORTED SIRES. BY NATIVE SIRES. Stallions. .2 1 & 1 1 Stallions. t 1 i 1 J S Ain derby, 4 5 11 15 Altorf, 3 4 9 16 Belshazzar, 4 7 16 36| Argyle, 2 3 6 10 Blacklock, 1 1 2 2: Balic Peyton, 2 2 5 15 Doncaster, 1 1 2 2 Bengal, 1 1 2 2 Glencoe, 9 15 32 79 Bertrand, Jr., 1 1 1 2 Jordan, 2 4 1] 15, Birmingham, 2 9 16 84 ■ Got by Sir Archy. TABLE OF STOCK. WINNING HOESES FOR 1848. Ml BY IMPORTED SIRES. BY NATIVE SIRES. Stallions. 1 f 1 StalTions. M 1 J Langford, 1 1 3 9 Black Prince, 1 1 2 4 Leviathan, 11 19 4*7 70 Bob Letcher, 2 2 4 10 Margrave, 2 5 12 23 Boston, h 13 25 63 Meux, 2 2 3 4i Broker, 1 1 3 3 Mercer, 2 3 •7 13 Chorister, 1 1 4 4 Monarch, 1 1 2 2 Clarion, 1 2 5 10 Priam, 1 15 30 41 Conflagration, 1 2 4 6 Riddlesworth, 2 3 10 10 Cripple, 2 4 12 19 Sarpedon, 4 6 10 23 Decatur, 1 2 7 9 Shamrock, 1 4 9 15 Eclipse, 5 6 16 28 Sorrow, 1 1 1 1 Emigrant, 2 2 2 If Trustee, 8 19 40 90 Epsilon, 2 3 8 14 Frank, 2 4 14 14 Gano, 1 1 3 3 Grey Eagle, 5 11 30 40 Grey Medoc, 2 4 9 18 Hamlet, 1 4 13 18 Jim Jackson, 1 1 2 4 John Dawson, 2 3 5 7 Mazcppa, 1 1 2 4 Mons. Tonson, 1 1 1 3 Oliver, 2 2 7 7 Othello, 1 2 3 8 Pete Whetstone, 1 3 6 6 Robinson, 2 2 9 9 Santa Anna, 2 2 5 5 Shark, 1 2 5 17 Sterling, 2 2 4 14 Tattersall, 2 3 5 7 Telamon, 1 1 3 3 ThornhiU, 1 1 2 2 Wagner, 11 15 35 97 Zenith, 1 1 2 4 18 53 112 248 4501 39 80 125 296 544f TABLE OF STOCK. WINNING HORSES FOR 1849. BY IMPORTED SIRES. BY NATIVE SIRES. Stallions. 1 1 4 a s a Stallions. a Pi 1 a s S Ainderby, 2 5 11 11 Altorf, 1 2 2 Belshazzar, 4 9 2« 32 Ambassador, 5 n 11 Doncaster, 2 2 6 6 Birmingham, 9 25 65 Envoy, 1 1 1 1 Blacklock, 1 2 2 Glcncoe, 8 21 48 94 Bob Letcher, 3 8 22 Jordan, 1 1 2 4 Boston, 9 21 58 Langford, 1 1 4 12 Calmuck, 1 3 3f Leviathan, 10 16 35 68 Clarion, 4 8 18 Margrave, 5 11 24 47 Eclipse, 5 12 12 Mercer, 3 4 9 18 Frank, 1 2 2 Monarch, 2 2 3 5 Grey Medoc, 6 10 15 Priam, 5 9 21 27 Grey Eagle, 11 34 40 Sarpedon, 1 1 2 4 Jim Brown, 1 1 1 Trustee, 8 14 29 55 John Blunt, 1 3 6 Valparaiso, 1 1 4 4 John Dawson, 1 2 8 Yorkshire, 1 1 1 1 Medoc, Bohannon's, OUver, Orator, Othello, Pete Whetstone, Red Bill, Ringold, Robinson, TattersaU, Thornhill, Vaudreuil, Vertner, Wagner, WiUis, Zenith, 1 3 2 3 3 2 1 1 2 1 2 1 13 1 3 3 8 3 8 7 5 2 3 4 3 7 1 32 1 10 3 8 6 19 7 9 2 3 10 3 8 1 73 3 10 10 55 99 226 389 30 57 97 241 410| ^ ¥m NINC i HORSES FOR 1850. BY IMPORTED SIRES. BY NATI\ '■E 8 IRE 3. Stallions. ^ m 1 S StaUions. i a 5" 1 1 Ainderby, 2 3 7 7 Albion, 1 1 2 2 Belshazzar, 3 5 12 18 Altorf, 2 2 3 3 Doncaster, 1 1 2 2 Ambassador, 6 8 18 23 Felt, 1 1 3 11 Bacchus, -i 5 12 11 TABLE OF STOCK. WINNING HORSES FOR 1850— Continued. 543 BY IMPORTED SIEE3. BY NATIVE 8IEE8. StaUions. 2 a i 42 03 S Stallions. i n S S ^ P^ la S ^ M w !^ Glencoe, >j 22 51 106 Birmingham, 2 2 7 21 Harkforward, 1 1 2 4 Blacklock, 4 7 7 Jordan, 1 1 1 1 Bob Letcher, 3 8 16. Langford, 1 3 5 lU Boston, 16 34 1H Leviathan, 8 10 22 46 Buckeye, 3 14 17 Margrave, 4 11 46 76+ Cadmus,* 2 2 Mercer, 4 5 10 22 Clarion, 2 4 Monarch, 3 9 19 47 Eclipse, 4 6 Priam, 4 8 16 29 Emigrant, 2 2 Sarpedon, 2 3 6 9 Epsilon, 2 4 Trustee, 6 10 21 6U Glencoe, Smith's, 3 3 Valparaiso, 1 1 2 4 Grey Eagle, 18 53 69i Yorkshire, 4 1 15 25 Grey Medoc, Hamlet, Herald, Hero, Jim Brown, Levi, Oliver, Orator, Othello, Regent, Ringold, Ruffin, Sterling, Tennessee Citizen, 2 5 2 1 2 5 6 2 16 2 3 3 2 2 4 5 2 2 2 5 5 6 19 3 5 4 2 ThornhiU, 2 6 12 13 Tom Watson, 2 2 5 6 Wagner, 3 3 10 17 11 53 101 240 461 33 62 102 254 356 WINNING HORSES FOR 1851. BY IMPOETED SIKE3. BY NATIVE SIEE3. Stallions. 1 W 1 Stallions. 2 1 1 Doncaster, 1 1 1 1 Albion, 1 2 5 10 Glencoe, 11 19 48 114+ Ambassador, 9 15 33 49 Jordan, 2 2 5 5 Andrew, 1 1 2 2 Leviathan, 1 4 9 28 Birmingham, 3 3 6 10 Margrave, 3 4 9 16 Blacklock, 1 2 3 3 * Got by Sir Archy. 5U TABLE OF STOCK. WmOTNG HORSES FOR 1851— Continued. BY IMPOKTED SIEES. BY NATIVE SIEES. T e StaUions. i 1 1 StaUions. .2 1 ;5 1 Mercer, 1 1 2 2 Boston, 14 31 59 111 Monarch, 3 4 11 31 Boston, Jr., 2 4 10 Priam, 2 2 5 5 Cadmus,* 1 2 2 Sarpcdon, 2 2 5 7 Calmuck, 1 5 5 Skylark, 1 2 4 10 Chorister, 5 13 27 Sovereign, 6 12 25 35 Cripple, 1 5 10 Trustee, 6 14 31 68 Crusader, 3 4 4 Yorkshire, 2 3 8 27 Eclipse, 8 6 5* Emu, 1 1 1 Grattan, 2 4 4 Grey Eagle, 26 64 92i Grey Medoc, 2 5 5 Herald, 4 8 15 lago. 6 13 13 Levi, 1 2 4 Medoc, 7 8 "Ji Pacific,* 1 3 8 Prophet, 6 11 11 Register, 2 4 8 Rolla, 1 2 2 Thornhill, 2 5 5 Traveller, 1 2 2 Truxton, 1 2 2 Wagner, 10 21 51 108i 13 40 10 163 349i 29 76 153 332 526i wm NDTG r HOI ISES FOR 1852. BY IMPOKTED STEFfl 1 ■ . — . BY NATIVE SIEES. g S StaUions. ^ 1 1 1 StaUions. ^ 1 1 1 Belshazzar, 4 5 10 12 Albion, 1 2 3 6 Emu, 1 1 2 2 Ambassador, 5 1(» 17 23 Glencoe, 15 23 41 85 Bacchus, 1 1 1 ^ Jordan, 1 3 8 8 Bethuue, 2 3 7 Leviathan, 2 2 5 7 Hoston, 27 46 98 168 Margrave, 2 3 6 5* Boston, Jr., 1 1 2 6 Monarch, 2 2 3 7' ( 'admus,* 2 6 9 2 Priam, 2 4 10 11 Clulde Harold, 1 1 2 Sarpedon, 1 4 10 36 Churchill, 2 3 10 17 * Got by Sir Archy. TABLE OF STOCK. WINNING HORSES FOR 1852— Continued. 54d BY IMPOETED SIEES. BY NATIVE SIEES. E S Stallions. g -2 M Stallions. c i 5 en .2 1 W ■ 1 6 _2 1 Sovereign, 9 20 43 84 Conflagration, 1 1 2 2 Trustee, 2 4 10 33 Cripple, 1 3 8 12 Yorkshire, 2 3 6 13 Crusader,* Duff Green, Eclipse, Epsilon, Glencoe, Jr., 1 5 1 1 1 2 7 2 1 1 2 18 4 12 1 2 24 5 14 1 Grey Eagle, 10 15 30 46 Grey Medoc, 2 2 3 7 Herald, 2 2 4 8 Hero, 2 6 21 Mariner, 1 2 4 OUver, 1 2 1 Othello, 1 1 1 Pamunky, 2 5 5 Pete Whetstone, 1 2 2 Preston, 1 2 2 Prince George, 3 7 14 Prophet, 1 3 6 Prospect, 2 2 4 6 Register, 2 6 5 Ruffin, 1 3 3 Sir Tatton, 1 2 2 ThornhiU, 5 10 10 Tempest, 1 2 4 Traveller, 2 6 6 Truxton, 2 5 5* Wagner, 6 14 39 82X 12 43 14 154 303i 37 92 151 339 545^ WINNING HORSES FOR 1853. BY IMPOETED SIEES. n BY NATIVE SIEES. CO e Stallions. 1 1 1 t StaUions. 1 1 5 1 1 Belshazzar, 2 3 6 15 Accident, 1 1 1 1 Envoy, 1 1 1 1 Alamode, 1 1 1 1 Glencoe, 19 33 75 136i Altorf, 1 1 2 2 Jordan, 2 3 5 6 Ambassador, 2 2 5 9 Margrave, 2 3 6 6 Bacchus, 4 5 5 H Priam, ' 1 1 2 Bethune, 2 8 19 37 YoL. I.— 35 Got by Sir Archy. 546 TABLE OF STOCK. WINNING HORSES FOR 185S— Continued. BY IMPORTED SIKE8. 1 BY NATIVE SIRES. S E Stallions. § 42 s § Stallions. .S i 1 1 Sarpedon, 1 5 12 39 Boston, ~27 56 131 230 Sovereign, 8 18 33 68 Boston, Jr., 1 1 2 2 Trustee, 2 7 13 41 Bulwer, 1 1 1 1 Yorkshire, 1 4 8 10 Busirus, 1 1 3 3 Cadmus,* 1 9 19 23* Canada BiU, 1 3 3 Of Childe Harold, 2 5 13 16 Chorister, 2 3 6 18 Conflagration, 1 3 4 6 Cripple, 1 3 8 13 Crusader,* 1 1 1 oi DuflF Green, 1 2 5 14 Eclipse, 1 1 1 1 Emigrant, 1 1 1 2 Epsilon, 1 1 2 2 Grattan, 1 1 3 3 Grey Eagle, 6 13 36 55 Grey Medoc, 2 4 5 H Herald, 2 6 11 19 Hero, 2 3 6 18 Jim Bell, 1 1 3 3 Leviathan, Cage's, 1 2 2 H Medoc, 1 1 1 1 OHver, 2 9 15 18 Pamunky, 1 2 3 9 Polidore, 1 3 6 8 Prince George, 1 3 6 16 Prophet, 1 1 3 3 Prospect, 1 1 2 4 Pythias, 1 1 2 2 Regent, 1 1 1 1 Register, 4 8 20 31 Reliance, 2 2 4 4 Rough and Ready, 1 1 2 2 Tempest, 1 4 12 14 The Colonel, 1 1 2 2 1 Truxton, 1 1 2 H ! Voucher, 2 2 5 5* Wagner, 9 15 27 56i Wilton Brown, 1 1 2 2 10 39 JTS 160 324*1 46 101 196 414 660 * Got by Sir Archy. TABLE OF STOCK. WINNING HORSES FOR 1854. 547 BY IMPORTED SIRES. BY NATIVE SIRES. Stallions. 1 1 Stallions. ^ i 1 1 Ainderby, 2 3 6 10 Altorf, 2 2 Belshazzar, 2 4 11 13 Ambassador, 5 5 Consternation, ] 1 4 4 Bethune, 10 22 34 Emancipation, 1 1 2 2 Bill Johnson, 2 2 Emu, 2 3 5 5 Black Prince, 1 3 6 Glencoe, 26 56 114 222 Boston, 21 50 109 245* Jordan, 1 3 5 Boston, Hawkin's, 2 4 Margrave, 1 4 11 20 Bulwer, •■■ 7 9 Sarpedon, 1 1 2 8 Camden, 2 2 Shamrock, 1 2 4 8 Champion, 5 10 Skylark, 1 1 3 6 Childe Harold, 17 38 Sovereign, 1 12 24 57 Competitor, 1 2 Trustee, 2 5 8 25 Duff Green, 1 1 Yorkshire, 5 8 11 24 Emigrant, Epsilon, Flying Dutchman, Gallatin, Grattan, Grey Eagle, Grey Medoc, Harry Bluff, Harry of the West, Herald, Hero, John Adams, John Bascombe, John Black, Medoc, Othello, Portsmouth, Prince George, Prophet, Regent, Register, Reliance, Rough and Ready, Ruffin, Tally Ho, Tempest, The Colonel, Tom Brown, Truxton, 17 4 2 1 15 13 24 3 37 3 6 1 7 3 6 1 4 2 2 10 1 2 6 3 I 2 6 2 17 16 34 8 69 3 H 1 12 6 2 6 1 H 4 2 19 2 2 8 3 2 8 4 13 Voucher, 3 6 14 16 Wagner, 13 23 51 93 Zinganee,* 1 1 1 14 53jl03 214 409 45 96 193 395 7lli Got by Sir Archy. 548 TABLE OF STOCK. WINNING HORSES FOR 1855. BY IMPOETED SIRES. BY NATITE SIRES. t i Stallions. 1 i 1 1 Stallions. ^ 1 Belshazzar, 4 9 2(1 23 Albion, 2 2 2 2 Consternation, 1 1 3 3 Beth una, 2 6 21 31 Emu, 2 3 4 5 Boston, 8 13 29 69 Glcncoe, 24 42 89 174 i Boston, Jr., 1 1 1 Margrave, 3 16 41 84 Buford, 1 2 2 Sovereign, 8 17 35 65 Bulwer, 6 14 14 Trustee, 1 1 2 6 1 Cadmus,* 1 1 2 Yorkshire, 5 9 24 32 iChieftain, Childc Harold, Chorister, Doubloon, Dnnvegan, Epsilon, Equinox, Flying Dutchman, Gallatin, Grey Eagle, Grey Medoc, Hamlet, Hlinois Medoc, Hector Bell, Jessie Fowler, Jim Allen, John Adams, Mahomet, Mariner, Medoc, Mens. Tonson, Othello, I'olidore, Portsmouth, Priam, llawkin's, Prince George, Regent, Register, Revenue, Rough and Ready, Ruffin, Sir Walter, St. Patrick, 1 4 1 1 1 5 2 4 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 5 2 1 1 1 2 3 3 6 1 1 3 2 4 1 8 1 7 5 4 15 4 1 1 5 2 2 11 3 1 2 3 4 9 12 3 2 8 6 4 3 4 30 2 1 ^^ 12 8 16 29 4 2 2 1 5 2 2 30 5 1 6 4 9 20 14 6 2 i 3 Tally-Ho, 3 11 27 54 Tempest, 2 6 15 23 The Colonel, 2 3 5 13 Herald, Trenton, 1 1 1 2 Hero, Vincent Nolte, 1 2 4 4 Mariner, Voucher, 3 5 13 15 Wagner, 12 25 58 122i Zinganee,* 2 2 3 5 8 48 98 218 392 48 86 - 845 628 1 * Got by Sir Archy. SUMMAEY OF RESULTS. FEOM THE TABLES OF NATIVE AND IMPORTED STOCK. The preceding tables show the number of winners in each year, from 1829 to 1855, the produce of native and of imported stallions, and the numbers of heats and miles run by each winner. These tables show that ever since the imported stallions amounted to more than nine, they have got, proportionally, more winners than the native horses, and that their stock has run more heats and miles, in winning races, than the same number of winners got by native horses. The following summary shows the results at a glance ; and annexed are the names of the most conspicuous sires. I have occasionally added the proportions, which would have been necessary to establish an equality between the native and imported sires. In 1829. There were the offspring of only two imported stallions running in the United States, in 1829, against the stock of forty-two native horses, twenty-one of whom were sons of Sir Archy ; Eclipse and Duroc, his grandsons, not included, though in service and tried. Imported horses . 2 Winners . 3 Heats . 8 Miles . 10 Native " .42 " . 137 " . 539 " .1,104J In 1830-1. Imported horses . 1 Winners . 1 Heats . 2 Miles . 4 Native " .86 " . 90 " . 26T " . 561 In 1831-2. Imported horses. — No horse was serving mares, or got winners. Native " . 50 got Winners . 172 of Heats . 631 of Miles . I,3l5 Of these fifty-eight stallions, twenty-nine were sons of Sir Archy. In 1832-3. Imported horses . 8 Winners . 3 Heats . 10 Miles . 21 Native " .71 " . 199 " . 677 " . 1,319 In 1833-4. Imported horses . 3 Winners . 3 Heats . 9 Miles . 26 Native " ,79 « . 230 " . 516 " . 1,514 550 THE HORSE. In 1834-5. Imported horses . 6 Winners . 13 Heats . 35 Miles . C5 Native " .90 " . 265 " . 851 " .1,704 In this year Leviathan's stock began to show on the turf. In 1835-6. Imported horses . 5 Winners . 13 Heats . 52 Miles . 85 Native " .93 " . 273 " . 850 " .1,708 In ba.If 1836 and 1837. Imported horses . 9 Winners . 51 Heats . 140 Miles . 265 Native " . 104 " . 287 " . 621 " .1,819 In this year Leviathan and Luzborough, imported. Eclipse, Medley and Medoc, native. From this year the foreign horses take a decided lead ; hence, in the ratio of their numbers, the native horses ought to have got 510 win- ners of 1,400 heats and 2,650 miles, being above ten to one to the for- eigners. In 1838. Imported horses . 18 Winners . 97 Heats . 385 Miles . 600 Native " .143 " . 406 " 1,827 " .2,445 Luzborongh, Leviathan, Priam, Fylde, imported. Eclipse, Sir Charles, Medley, Medoc, Timoleon, native. The native horses ought to have got 774 winners of 2,680 heats and 4,800 miles. In 1839. Imported horses . 17 Winners . 86 Heats . 282 Miles . 529 Native " . 118 " . 267 " . 921 " . 1,691 Imported. — ^Leviathan, Fylde, Luzborough. Native.— Andrew, Bertrand, Eclipse, Medoc This year the native horses ought to have got 516 winners of 5,526 heats and 10,146 miles, in order to have equalled the performance of the imported stallions. It is not worth the while to carry out the ratio farther, as it remains, as nearly as may be, the same, throughout ; nor does it appear probable that, thus far at least, if ever, the English horses, of no very conspicuous fame, should have taken the choice of the mares away from such favorites as Eclipse, Medoc, and the sons and grandsons of Sir Archy. In 1840. Imported horses . 22 Winners . 131 Heats . 468 Miles . 854 Native " . 124 " . 201 " .945 " . 1,753 Imported. — Leviathan and Luzborough. Native. — Bertrand, Eclipse, Medoc. The foreign horses, not one-fifth in number, did more than one-half in performance. In 1841. Imported horses . 23 Winners . 133 Heats . 469 Miles . 858 Native " .94 " . 190 " . 773 « . 1,404 Imported. — Leviathan, Luzborough, Priam, Sowton. Native.— Bertrand, Eclipse, Medoc. 551 In 184:8. Imported horses . 27 Winners . 133 Native " .73 " . 143 Imported. — Priam, Leviathan. Native.— Eclipse, Medoc. This year, one-third as many foreign horses got within a fraction of as many winners, who won more heats, of more miles. 316 3T0 256 . 379 . 351 In 1843. Imported horses . 23 Winners . 133 Heats Native " .56 " , 103 " Imported.— Leviathan, Priam, Glencoe, Trustee. Native. — Eclipse, Medoc. In 1844. Imported horses . 21 Winners . 91 Heats Native " .47 " . 73 " Imported.— Priam, Leviathan, Glencoe. Native. — Medoc, Grey Eagle, Eclipse. In 1845. Imported horses . 31 Winners . 108 Heats Native " . 50 " . 93 " Jraported. — Leviathan, Priam, Glencoe. Native. — Medoc, Wagner, Grey Eagle. In 1846. Imported horses . 23 Winners . 81 Heats . 263 Native " .47 " . 71 " . 813 Imported. — Leviathan, Priam, Glencoe. Native.— Boston, Grey Eagle, Wagner. This is the first year of Boston's stock on the turf. In 184T. Imported horses . 16 Winners . 70 Heats . 289 Native " .47 " . 90 " . 357 Imported.— Leviathan, Glencoe, Priam, Trustee. Native. — Wagner, Boston, Grey Eagle, Birmingham. In 1848. Imported horses , 18 Winners . 63 Heats . Native " .89 " . 80 " . 296 Imported.— Leviathan, Glencoe, Priam. Native.— Wagner, Boston, Grey Eagle. In 1849. Imported horses . 16 Winners . 53 Heats . 226 Native " .30 " , 57 " . 241 Imported.— Leviathan, Glencoe, Priam, Trustee. Native. — Boston, Grey Eagle. In 1850. Imported horses . 17 Winners . 53 Heats . 240 Native " .33 " . 62 " . 254 Imported.— Leviathan, Glencoe, Trustee. Native.— Boston, Grey Eagle. In 1851. Imported horses . 13 Winners . 40 Heats . 163 Native « .29 " . 76 » . 832 Imported. — Glencoe, Trustee. Native. — Boston, Wagner, Gre.r Eagle. 754f 531* 508 491 450i 544 410i 552 )2 THE IIOKS In 1852. Imported horses . 12 Winners . Native » .87 " . Imported.— Glencoe, Sovereign. Native.— Boston, Grey Eagle, Wagner. 4.3 92 Heats . 154 Miles . 803* " . 839 " . 546 In 1853. Imported horses . 10 Winners . 89 Heats . ICO Miles . 324J Native " .46 " . 101 " .414 *' . 660 Imported.— Glencoe, Sovereign. Native.— Boston, Grey Eagle. In 1854. Imported horses . 14 Winners . 53 Heats . 214 Miles . 409 Native " . 45 " . 96 " . 395 " . 711i Imported. — Glencoe, Sovereign. Native.— Boston, Wagner, Grey Eagle. In 1855. Imported horses . 8 Winners . 48 Heats . 218 Miles . 892 Native " . 48 " . 86 " . 845 " . 628 Imported. — Glencoe, Yorkshire. Native. — Wagner, Boston. I believe that, apart from this condensed summary of the results, the tables themselves will amply repay persons interested in the myste- ries of breeding, in and ow^-crossing, and the data on which different theories rest, for a careful perusal. It is indisputably proved by the above, that a far less number of imported stallions have got a far greater number of winners than the American stallions, in the last eight and twenty years. And farther, that the winning stock of the English stallions have won rather a larger number of heats and run a greater number of miles, each for each, than those of the Americans. Some of the very best stallions, if not the very best, of both conn- tries have been brought into direct competition; audit would seem evi- dent, even to the most prejudiced, that the result of this out-crosa has been beneficial to the American horse of the present day. It will be observed, that Leviathan has got by far the greatest number of winners in the most years ; next to him Grlencoe, Luzborough, Sove- reign, Priam and Trustee. Of all these horses, except Luzborough, full genealogical tables are given in the body of the work ; as also of English Eclipse, Diomed, and Castianira, the sire and dam of Sir Archy, American Eclipse, Boston and Fashion — and the consultation of these tables will materially assist the breeder of horses of whatever class. END OF VOL. I. U