Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-11-05
THE OLDEN TIME.
Racing in Tennessee Sixty-Seven
Years Ago.

The Race Between TruxtOn and Grey
Hound, at EartsviIIe, i'm IsO6-An
Exciting Event in the Early History
of the Turf.
From the Gallatin Examiner.
now propose to tell you what John
L. Swaney recollects of the races at
Huntsville between Trnxton and Grey
Hound The contests of the noted "a
GERS of this day do not create the inter-
est that was manifested in the races
between Truxton and Grey Hound, 81
years ago. The great races of Lexing-
ton, Longfellow, Harry Bassett and
others are only spoken Of and talked
about in sporting circles at the present
day. This was not so 81 years ago
when Truxton and Grey Hound ran
over the track at Huntsville. At that
time the Oldest, wealthiest and most
respectable men went, and carried their
wives and daughters with them, to the
races at Huntsville, and considered
themselves none the worse for that.
In the spring Of 1906, Major Varell,
of Virginia, came to this place NOW
Castalian Springs, but then called Bled-
soe's Lick leading large bay horse,
sixteen hands one inch high, with a
cover over him, stopping and resting
awhile. As our people have always
been great lovers of horses, it was not
long before Major Varell was discours-
ing to the crowd present the pedigree
end performances of his horse-saying
lat he had brought this horse out to
Tennessee to sell or to farm out to i'm
prove the stock. Mr.. Swaney says he
suggested that Major George D. Black
more (who lived then at Topp's Springs,
the place at which Mrs. Priscilla Barry
now hves) would be a suitable man to
keep his horse. At the solicitation of
Major Varell, Mr.. Swaney says he went
with him and introduced him to Major
George d. Blackmore. Major Varell
at once made satisfactory terms with
Major Black1hore, and agreed to leave
his horse. He was continually telling
Major BlackmOre Of his pure blood and
performances as a race horse-that no
horse this side of the mountain could
compare with him, etc, and that he
might after a time make race and run
him. This horse was TruxtOn, (sired
by imported Diomede; his dam by old
Warning.) Major Varel returned at
once to his home. Major Blackmore
called in his friends to see TruxtOn and
related all Major Varell had said. They
were all delighted and felt that they
had a good thing to catch somebody
with, and that too much must not be
said about it. At that time Mr.. Laza-
rus Cotton lived on Goose Greek, two
or three miles from Huntsville, and
owned little grey horse about l444
hands high-a perfect model, without
fault or blemish, and sired by Bellair,
the best son of imported Medley. This
was Grey Hound Mr.. Cotton had
made several races with his horse Grey
Hound, and won them with ease. This
gave Grey Hound reputation as race
horse, and to defeat him was the great
est desire Of Major Blackmore and his
friends AT a suitable time 10. Nicely
and Bill Perry were sent up to Harris
vile to make a race against Grey Hound
with TrUxton. This they had no diff
Guilty in doing, for Mr.. Cotton and his
friends were not afraid to risk their
money on Grey Hound. The race was
to be run in a short time over the Harris
vile track, mile heats two best IN three.
Perry and Nicely returned elated at the
prospect Of winning the race. The day
soon arrived; and Mr.. Swaney says it
was the lower end of Sumner county
betting against Huntsville and Goose
Greek, Major Blackmore coniding his
| secret about his race horse to his
friends in the west end Of Sumner. Mr..
Swaney says Truxton looked more like
a good beef than he did a race horse.
At the hour appointed the horses
were brought up and started. The lit
tie horse Grey Hound at once took the
lead and won the race with great ease,
to the disappointment and mortifica-
ton of Major Blackmore and his
friends. Long and loud were the curses
heaped on Major Varell and TruxtOn.
Some were even suspicious about Major
BlackmOre, but no one ventured to say
anything about the Major, for he was a
high-spirited, honorable man, and
would have made trouble with any one
had they dared to do any such thing.
| Major BldckmOre was sOrely grleved,
not at his own losses but those of his
friends. He at once sat down and wrote
to Major Varell the result of the race
and charging him with being an i'm
poster, etc. Major Varell upon the re-
ception of the letter, started with his
negro trainer and came to Major Black
more's. He arrived at night and called
for Major Blackmore. He began by
telling the Major who he was and that
he had come to see about his horse.
Major BlackmUre was very irritable
man and at first would not listen to
anything Major Varell would say, but
| Mrs. Blackmore interceded. and he
quoted down. Major Varell then told
| him that TrIxtOn was IN no condition
to make the race; that he had brought
his trainer, Dunwoodic, and was anX-
| iOus to make the race again. This Ma
| ior Blackmore assured him ne could do,
| but that he nor TruxtOn could stay on
his place longer than the next day.
Major Varell took Truxton and went
to Gen. JacksOn's, told him the story
of the race, and asked him if he would
make the race and go in with him
Gen. jackson knew all about race
horses and went at once to HartsvillC
and made the race again. Old Dun.
woodie put Truxton in training and
was ready for the race when the day
arrived. Mr.. Swaney says he never saw
such a crowd at Huntsville at anytime