The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1870-08-25
The Race Between Henry and Eclipse


had been one series of brilliant success.
cs. He was Northern bred orse, aud
as sueh was the rival of Southern studs
The lurImen Of Virginia, Maryland, aud
South Caroliua regarded him with envy,
aud they sought to defeat, if not to dis
grace him. In 1922, SO great was his
fame aud so feversh the racing pulse,
that the gentlemen of the South made
a bold effort to humble Northern pride
Mr.. James j. Harrison Of Brunswick,
Virginia, challenged Mr. Van Ranst to
run his horse American Eclipse against
Sir Charles, over the Washington
Course at Charleston, four mile he Is.
The challenge was promptly accepted,
each gentleman stalking $4,000 on his
horse, and fixing the 20th day of No.
yember for the iacc Sir Charles hay.
ing met with an accident Mr.. Harrison
was obliged to pay forfeit but he offered
to run his horse a single iOur.mile heat
against Eclipse, for z 500 side This
offer was accepted by Mr.. Van Ranst; !;
the horses were prepared for the race
and the Northern champion achieved
an easy victory, Sir Charles brcakiu
down on the last mile.
The South felt humiliated and in
the evening of the same day, that Ma
poleon Of the turf, William Il johnson,
Esq, of Petersburg, Virginia, pledged
himself to produce horse, on the last
Tuesday in May. 1923, to run four
mile hoats against Eclipse over the
Union Course, Long Island, for s2O,-
OOo, $4,000 forfeit. On the part of
several gemtlemen Irom the North this
challenge was promptly accepted by
Mr.. John G. stephens Such, in brief
are the facts which led to the most cx.
citing race ever run on this continent.
Throughout the long winter nights
the proposed match was the subject of
earnest discussion aud speculation the
North was pitted against the South,
and the event aroused sectional preiu.
dices and appealed to sectional pride.
n battle between two great armies
could not have excited deeper anxiety
than this race between Henry and
Eclipse. The 9th day of May, 1923
dawncd in beauty. aud by twelve Q clock
it is estimated that not less than sixty
tho. sand people had assembled at the
Union Course. The Southern party
had brought five horses with them aud
from this five, Henry, a sou Of Sir
Archy, aud out of mare by the great
Diamond, was selected as the competitor
Of Eclipse. John Richard four. year.
old, was Colonel Johnson's fayorite, and
Henry his second choice but the for
mer having fallen lame, the fortunes Of
the Southern gentlemen were staked
upon the latter. The race was run
amidst the widest Enthusiasm Henry
winning the first heat by half length
MIR. Purdy, an experienced jockey, and
one who had pilotcd Eclipse to many
victories, changed places in the saddle
with Crofts for the second heat and
when ii was observed that Purdy was
asiride the son Of Duroc, we are told
that Northern hope revived Eclipse
was a horse that required punishment
to force him to his speed though not
so fleet Of foot os lIeury, he was a horse
Of great stoutness which made him in.
vincible in four.mile struggle. Purdy
understood this fact full we'll; and when
they receised the word for the second
heat he drove the chestnut forward giy.
ing Henry no respite. The tactics
were good, and they won the SECOND heat.
At this stage Of the battle the ex.
citemcut was most intense, for heat
had been placed to the credit Of each
contestant, One more struggle, and
the race would be over, aud victory
would perch either upon the banner Of
the North or that of the South. A
few fieeting minutes and the pride of
one section would be exalted, while the
hopes of the other section would be
blasted Thousands trcmbled 10 the
balance; and not thousands only, but
the glory Of victory or the shame of
defeat Arthur Taylor, a skillful rider
and trainer of experience, mounted
Henry for the third heat, the Walden
not having ridden him with sufficient
tact in the former heat to receive the
admiration Of the hackers of the son of
Sir Archy. Purdy took the lead at the
start, and making good use of his whip
and spurs, kept Eclipse hard at work
throughout tho four miles. Henry
made gallant struggle for the front,
but the hardy champion of the North
could not be passed and Henry was
too weak, in the last half milo of the
race to astonish the multitude with one
OF his marvellous flights of speed down
the home stretch. He lost the race
and the North was exultant; while
Southern hearts felt sore and Southern
pride was humbled.
Over two hundred thousand dollars
changed hands at the Union Course on
that 9th day Of May, 1929. And that
night mail packets and mail couriers
carried the news south, north, and west
from New York. In every country
town the people gathered in great mum.
bers, hours before the courier could
possibly arrive, in eager anticipation Of
the news. The race created national
interest, and it was regarded as a con.
test of national importance.
Those were the palmy days of the
turf aud tho Union Course was then in
the zenith of its fame. Geueral Ridgely,
Of baltimore, Captain Cox, Of Washing.
ton, aud John Allen, Esq. Of Philadel.
phIa tpara fbo .,J.se. q -