Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-04-24
political Horse Racing and
Presidential G ontest.

From the Nashville Gazette June =, 1928
As racing had become S fashionabI
amusement of the day-whether it be the
racing of -grOOnlS or politicians, have IN
dertaken to amuse the lovers of sport with
the details of a splendid political SDeep-
stakes, which l recently witnessed. 1t had
been announced by the stewards Of the
turf that, agreeably TO the provisions of
the constitution of the Jocky Club, on a
certain day a ,JOcky Club Race would be
run over the United States track, free for
the entrance Of any horse or gelding, mares
being excepted; said horse or gelding
to be native of these United States
and aged thirty, flee gears or O0er. The
distance, once round the turf the course
embracing the whole twenty-four United
States of America The weight to be car
ried by the horses, nothing more than the
obloquy which the respective riders of
each could throw upon the nags of the
Others. The entrance, gratis. The purse,
the reward of speed and bottom, furnished
by the jockey club, was Liberty Cap,
which invested the successful candidate
with the Presidency of these United States
for Lse term Of four gears, from and after
the 4th day of March 1925.
The magnifcence of the prize produced
great interest and excitement, and it was
supposed the turf would be crowded with
the distinguished racers of the
continent. Indeed for a long time
previous to the day of tri al the public
prints were incessant in their annuncia-
ton of public coursers, who would be COM
petitOrs in this contest. But when the day
of entrance came, and the books were
ole ba 6t-n T0fa
alone placed on the lists, to-wit: the
ADAMS, the JACKSON, the CLAY, the CAL
HoUN and the CRAwFoRD. IN. b. 10 is
said the De Witt Clinton, of New York, a
steed of no small celebrity, would have also
entered, had not some of the jockeys of that
State, last year, wilfully LdH1ed him!D But
TO enable the reader to enter fully into the
the interest which this contest excited, l
will add brief sketch of the pedigree and
performances of the five nags which we're
entered.
The ADAMS is horse of illustrious an
cestry. lie was begOtten by the Celebra-
ted John adams, who ran with such dis
tinguished applause during the revolution
airy war; and Although his performances
in the latter part Of his life, detracted much
from that high and deserved reputation
which his early success had acquired for
him-having bsen in old age, beaten and
distanced by the pride of Virginia-that
matchless courser, the Jef6rS0ll-still he
was unquestionably a horse of no mean
prowess. The friends of old adams, how
ever attributed the defeat which no re-
ceived at the hands of the jefferson, to bad
keeping; and threw the blame on one of
his grooms, named Hamilton; but wholly
without authority, for the Jefferson was
evidently his superior. But jockies, you
know, are fruitful in excuses when
i'll fortune attends their nags. The high
blood of the Adams seems to have been
more sanguine!y relied on than either his
figure, or his previous performances; for
he is an obese, stout buttocked animal,
and his excellence in racing partakes not of
downright turf running, such as we now
speak of, but rather of the light airy am
bling of the Pegasus breed. It is with
difficulty he can be kept in the track SO
much is he addicted to boiling. lie dis
played his propensity in this way in the
year 1907. When running against some
horses called the Republicans over the
course called the Senate, he suddenly
reared, plunged, and kicked up-threw off
his rider, one OTIs, whom he re-
peatedly stamped, and forthwith
field that bordered the margin of the
course where he has ever since remained,
grazing on the fat Of tie land. His sire
was also vehemently addicted to this prac-
tice of boiling. The ADAMS has been fire.
quently sent to Europe by the American
jockies; but it is said the expenses attend
ing the outfits, ETC., amounted to more
than his winnings. He was raised in Mas
sachusetts; or rather he was born there,
for he was trained in Europe, having gone
to that country when but eleven years old,
and remained there many years, under the
guidance of some royal grooms.
The JACKSON is tall slim horse; but ''oi
mighty bone and bold emprise.'
He is moreover exceedingly spirited anG
high-mettled.
In his own State, (Tennessee) he has run
with wonderful success never having lost
a race there or elsewhere-but it is the
splendid Cict0ry he obtained over the notet
British horse, the PACKENHAM on the
ORLEANS TURF, on the Sth of January. 1915
which has given him such distinguished
reputation. The PdckellIdHl was ful
blooded courser, akin TO the invincibl,
WeVingt0R, who beat the far-famed NAPo
LEON on the field of Waterloo The Fdc6
eJ.hau was expressly picked by the British
King, from amongst his whole stud, an'
sent to the Orleans turf expressly TO en-
counter an imel5cdR horse. Yet the ,jack
son distanced him the first round. !
is universally admitted, even by tn
knowing ones of England, that tn
jackson ran that race IN eEceedjRg quick
tiDlei The JACKSON has also beaten tn
greek, the Seminole and the FlOrjdG
horses ofsonie note.
IS to the CALHOUN, he is a Nero colt
scarce Jri6le-rise. His former perform
ances had given him no reputation, an
the knowing ones were astonished at Tia
rashness of his k6ep0rS in placing him i
competition with such triod speed an
bottom.
He is, It's true, a sprightly, lively-loob
ing colt, but he has not one of the mari
or points of frst-rGt6. His hackers fir,
ouently indicated disposition TO will
draw hun. and venture their funds Oh IN
adams: but in their councils madnes
tuied tho hour" and he appeared upon th
course candidate for domination.
The CLAY is an airy, supple ointed fe
low of bright and cheerful countenanc,
He comes from the backwoods of KeI
tuoky, where he has run with such success
II county gatherings thai IL thst Safe
has no competitor. In 1914 he ran
Chant, whore some American horses, al
amongst others the Adams, were match'
against the steeds of Old England, and su
cess crowned the heels of the American
It is thought by many that the Adams d
moi on that occasion maintain the interes
81 the aohole American sportsmen; but Ii