Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-12-09
"REMINISCENCES OF THETURF
Polly MedIey-Grey Hound-TrHxtOn-
Times in General Jacks0n's Day.


1tiGes IN ueueraA SackSOuB OaYs
From the Rural sum-
Turf racing was introduced into Ten
: nessee about the year 1904. The first
race of note, of which we have any ac-
! count, was a sweepstake for three-year-
olds, mile heats, one hundred dollars
entrance, which came off at GaIiatin in
u Zoe fall of 1904, and was won by Doctor
! r. d. BarTy's i. Polly Medley, by Grey
Medley, beating General Jackson's In
dian Queen, by imp. Diomed, James
Cryer's Grand Turk, by Grey Medley
. and five others. This race excited great
interest, and was attended by the first
ladies and gentlemen, who came on
horseback from the adjacent counties.
Among others were General Jack
}, son, Mrs. Jackson and her niece and
namesake, Rachel Hays, the greatest
belle in the country, General Hall and his
beautiful young bride, Polly the daugh-
ter of Captain William Alexander, of
Revolutionary memory, after whom
Polly Medley was named. Mrs. Hall,
in the eighty-fourth year of her age, is
: still living at the old homestead, near
the Castalian Spring, in defending
which her gallant husband, who was as
brave a soldier as ever pulled a trigger
4 in the pioneer struggle for independ-
ence, had many a desperate conflict
with the Indians. This venerable lady
retains, in a remarkable degree, the
/ possession of her mental faculties, and
has a vivid recollection OF this race
! (which occurred a few weeks after her
marriage), and many incidents con-
nected with it. When the horses were
brought on the course, Mrs. Jackson
said, pointing to Polly Medley, "She is
too little to run with the Indian Queen"
to which Mrs. Hall then in her seven
| teenth year, and small of her age
replied, ftHOrses are like people,
/ the smallest are generally the smart
| est" When the horses were about to
/ start, a preacher residing in the vicinity
| happened to arrive, and made inquiries
/ for a stray COW. At the tap of the drum,
Polly Medley took the track, and was
soon a considerable distance ahead of
her competitors. The preacher, beeom-
ing greatly excited, mounted the fence,
and, waving his hat, cried out at the top
of his voice: Z" Look at Polly Medley
Look at Polly Medley! Look! She
leaves with an oath blue streak be-
hind her!" The enthusiastic divine
was arraigned before his church, tried,
and suspended for time. l have heard
this anecdote related by my father, who
was present at the race and witness on
the trial
The race was succeeded by a splendid
ball, given oy DR.. Barry and his amia-
bic wife, who were famous for their hos
pitality and sumptuOus entertainments.
General Jackson, the most graceful dan
Ger and most courtly gentleman of bis
day, opened the ball with the beautiful
bride Mrs. Hail as his partner. Mrs.
Hall and Mrs. Barry were sisters, and
they and their families were ever on the
most intimate terms of friendship with
Mrs. Jackson and the General. Grey
Medley was, 1 believe, the first thor
oughbred stallion brought to Tennessee,
He was bred by Governor Ben. VII
liams, of North Carolina, purchased by
DR.. r. D. Barry father of Hon. Thomas
Barry, of Gallatin), brought to Tennes-
see and made his first season in the year
$500, at the farm of William
DonelsOn, ten miles north of Nash
vile, on the Gallatin road. Grey Medley
was fOaled in 1871, by imp. Medley,
and had pure maternal pedigree; he
was a small horse, not exceeding fifteen
hands high, and was said to possess a
faultless form and great beauty. He was
by imp. Medley, he by Gimeraek, he by
Cripple, and he by the Godolphin Ara
bian. The Arabian blood of Gray Med
ley was conspicuous in the distinguished
race-horse Monsieur Tonson, and his
three brothers, Sir Richard, Sir Henry,
and Champion, Brown Dick, CANA and
her numerous descendants. These fam
lies receive several additional strains of
Arabian blood through Paeolet sire of
the Tonsons), who was by imp. Citizen,
be by Pacolet (English), he by Blank,
and he by Godolphin; the second dam
English Pacolet was by the Godolphin.
Mary Gray, the dam of American PacO-
let, was by Tippo Saib, whose fifth dam
was imp. Selma, by Godolphin.
From 1904 to 1910 Lazarus COtlon's gr.
e. Greyhound, by Taylor's Bellair ,the
best son of imp. Medley, was greatly
distinguished, and considered the best
race horse in Tennessee, especially at
three and four mile heats. He was under
fifteen hands high, but able to carry full
weight and go the distance. In the
spring of 1905, at Gallatin, he beat Bonn
pard, General Jackson's Indian Queen,
and others, four mile heats, at three
heats. About this time, at Hartsville, be
beat TruXtOn when out of condition)
mile heats. Major J. Verrell, who then
owned TruxtOn, came to Tennessee,
saw General Jackson and satisfied him
that Truxton lost the race from being
out of condition, and the General made
a match on him against Greyhound for
five thousand dollars, to be run on the
same eaurse, mile heats. Major Verrell
was interested in the match, and trained
Truxton, who won the race, beating his
game little competitor, an aged horse,
and inferior in speed to his large, museu-
lar, young antagonist. No contest
on the soil of Tennessee has ever been
so exciting or caused so much betting,
considering the means of the people,
as this race. Hundreds of horses, and
numerous six hundred and forty acre
tracts of land were staked On the result.
The old pioneers who were accustomed
to quarter racing, and had witnessed the
indOmitable game and great success of
GREYHOUND, bet their horses and lands
upon him with the utmost confidence.
When the race was over there was a
general inquiry of, "Wil you carry my
saddle home for meP' or, "Does your
horse carry double?n
[ defer to another occasion an interest
ing and glowing account of this and an
other great race at Clover Bottom, given
by General Jackson to Mr.. Van Buren,
in the spring of 1884, as we were return
ing to the White House from the race
course at Washington, where we had
been to witness a trial run with the
horses in the stable of Major A. ]. Dom
elson (the Generals private secretary, |
and Major T. P. Andrews, United States
Paymaster.
In the fall of 1905 Captain Joseph
Erwin offered to run his horse Tanner,
a son of imp. Tanner, against any horse
in the world, four mile heats, for $4,000
a side, the person accepting the bet to
name at the post. General jackson ac-
cepted the banter, and trained sixteen
horses, Truxton and Greyhound among
them. He started Greyhound, and won
the race at three heats over the Clover |
Bottom course.
At the same time and place General
Jackson had a match of $1,000 a side in
cash notes on Truxton, against Captain |
Erwin's Plow Boy, two mile heats, but
PlOw Boy being amiss, Captain Erwin /
paid the forfeit. A misunderstanding |
arose concerning this last mentioned
race which was the occasion, but not |
the cause, of the fatal duel between |
General jackson and Mr.. Dickinson.
EErEERAW NOTICE