The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-07-08
From Hamilton Busl,ey,s nanar

From Hamilton Busbey's paper In I1nr.
peT's Magazine on 1The Running Turf in
America" we quote the following reference
to the late John Minor Bolts:
Hon. John Minor Bolts was one Of the
most distinguished Of Virginia turfmen and
oreeders. he gave much study to the horse.
bred on a large scale, and forgot questions
Of State to participate in the eXcitementa or
the race-course. Though courteous, he was
positive in speech, and did not like to he
contradicted or corrected. He was wrapped
up in the horses bred by himself, fondly
believing they had no superiors. Colonel
McDanlels, also a prominent Virginia turf.
man, was o warm personal friend of MIR.
S0tts. But the friendship existing between
them did not prevent them from saying
sharp things to each other when their
blood, was afirc. A number of years
ago Mr. Bolts had q young mare en-
tered in q valuable stake at Petersburg.
The mare had distinguished herself In
her maiden performance, and she was q
great fayorite over all others in the race.
Colonel McDaniels had . FLY, compare
lively unknown, engaged in the same stake.
Mr.. Bolts was so confident Of achieving VIC
tory that when his mare was led on the
course, just before the start for the first
heat, he b~oastingiy exclaimed, "There liz q
racer for you! 1t is q, pity that there Is
nothing here to against her to-day.
Why, / would back her to the extent OF
$50, 900 against anything on the ground"
Some of his friends cautioned him to be
more prudent In speech, but he would not
listen to them. Colonel McDaniels bit his
lips but said nothing. The word for the
start was given, and Mr.. Botts's entry won
the first heat, carrying nine pounds over
weight, not, as a penalty, but simply to gra-
tify the vanity Of the owner. He felt conf
dent that she could win and pack the extra
weight and If she did so, the per-
Torrance would be all the greater. Co
lionel McDanielss FLY cooled out well, and
when called for the second heat she was in
superb condition. She got q good start,
and ran so gamely that she could not be
headed. To the great surprise Of Mr..
Bolts she won the heat. He watched the
finish in blank amazement ; his confidence
in his mare was shaken, and he ordered
that the extra weight be taken off. Colonel
| McDaniels and Mr.. Bolts, when the horses
| were being saddled for the third heat, met
| on the quarter stretch, when the former
said, in q jeering tone, I" Mr.. Bolts, you
have heard the story Of the hawk and the
blue jay?" emo; tell it to me, won't
you?0 "Briefy, then, the hawk set upon
the blue jay, and pursued the frightened
bird with great swiftness. When almost
within clutch Of the deadly talons the
blue jay darted into a brush-heap, where
the hawk could not follow. The bird, SO
badly frightened a moment. before, now
turned, in its safe retreat, upon the disap-
pointed hawk with its hooking cry OF c-ter-
gLa, c-ter-gLa. The application is easy,
Mr.. Bolts. You are too late in taking the
extra weight off your mare" The manner
in which this was said, and the circum-
stances which gave rise to the speech, so
eXasperated Mr.. Bolts that he quarrelied
with his old friend. Colonel McDaniels
won the race ; and, after what haa passed,
Mr.. Bolts refused to be reconcilad to him
Years passed, and the estrangenent grew
wider. The war swept over Virginia, and
there was an end to turf sports. The out
spoken Unionism of Mr.. Bolts was not
pleasing to the Confederate Government,
In 1861 he was arrested, and for q short time
confined as a political prisoner in Castle
Goodwin, Richmond. This prison was the
property of Colonel McDaniels, aud at his
door the two old turfmen met, after all
estrangement of years, a tear in each eye,
and q clasp of hands that plainly saia-..For-
give and forget; and they remained tirir
friends until the one had crossed the tar,
tlowery banks of the silent river, to be coon
followed by the other.