The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-10-29
BLoODED STOCK

the First, but 1t was IN that period, famou
for religious controversy and austere piety
that gentlemen first began to run thei
horses for heavy wagcrs. In this respec
the Virginians since the first settlement o
the Old Dominion till within the last ffteeI
years have initiated their English ancestry
Some account of the old kings of the tur
may not be unacceptable even at this late
day.
The Goldophian Arabian was imported
in the reign of George the Second, and OF
English soil became the ancestor of many
of the most famous horses that have evel
appeared on the turf. Some well-informed
sporting men are of the opinion that all the
great trotters that have astonished mankind
by their performances are descended from
this horse. About this time two
other celebrated horses appeared in
England Eclipse and Flying Chill
ders. TIE historical feats Of these
Kings of the Turf are still the wonder Of
the sporting world, although it is claimed
that some of the descendants of Eclipse
have beaten his best time. His great forte
was winning races. He had the indomi.
table spirit that would not submit to defeat.
If his competitors had been swifter his re-
corded "time" would have been better.
He won for his owner more than 500, 600,
and Of his immediate progeny 1884 were
winners in great races. Flying Childers
was never beaten, and at Newmarket ran
three miles, six furlongs and ninety-six
yards in six minutes and four seconds. Al
though he was the feetest horse that Eng
land ever had, he does not figure so largely
in the history of the turf as Eclipse.
England has five times as many race
horses as any country in the world. Ex-
cept in the winter months, races are going
on in some part of the kingdom every
week in the year. Immense sums of
money change hands at tho Derby and
Newmarket meetings. They are attended
by all classes Of people, and are free, eX-
cept that small admittance fee is charged
at the grand stand.
RACING IN THE NEW WORLD.
The scions of the English alistocracy
who emigrated to Virginia are credited
with bringing the first race horses to the
United States, and for long time Virginia
maintained her supremacy on the turf.
Race horses were bred in New York and
New Jersey, but for about century
nearly all the fast horses in the United
States denominated thorough-breds !"
were raised in the south. Virginia lost
her prestige but Kentucky took her place.
The first regular race OF which we have
any record was run near Charleston,
South Carolina, in the year 1874, the prize
being saddle and bride of the value Of
EGO. Racing was continued from year to
year upon the Charleston course, the
contests generally coming off in the month
of February or March. The first Vir-
ginia race course was opened near Rich
mond about the year 17G5.
The Revolutionary war in great
measure broke up the sports of the turf
although the Baltimore course was opened
when the patriot cause was at its very
lowest ebb); and there was but little
attention paid to raising thorough-breds
until the year 1920. In 1929 the Turf
Register was established in Baltimore, and
to this paper the revival Of racing was in a
large measure due.
THE NORTH AND THE SOUTH.
From 1888 to 1S4S was the golden era
Of the turf in America previous to the
civil war. In that decade a larger number
of first class horses were brought out than
had ever before been seen in this country.
1t was during this time that the historic
race for the .'Peytona Stakes" was run at
Nashville. No such prize was ever won
before or since. The original purse was
$4,000. There were thirty entries, of
which only four started in the race.
Twenty-six paid forfeit-$l, 900 each.
Colonel Thomas Watson's chestnut filly
"Peytona" won $3l 900.
The turfmen of the north and the south
Of fifty years ago were not exempt from
the sectional feeling which afterwards
cropped out in war. The first race in
which sectional rivalry was aroused took
place on the Long Island course in 1923.
Colonel William R. Johnson, of Virginia,
entered Henry, famous Virginia racer,
and Mr.. John @. Stevens, of New York /,
entered Eclipse. Three heats, of four miles
each, were run in the presence of sixty
thousand spectators Twelve miles were
run in % minutes and 59a seconds, Eclipse
being the winner. More than 5000, 200
changed hands at the conclusion of this
race.
The next race ON the Long Island course
that aroused sectional feelings was won by
the southern horse. The contestants were
Post Boy, son of the above mentioned
Henry, and John Bascomb, a son of Ber-
trand. Colonel John Croweil, of Alabama,
was the hacker Of Bascomb, while Mr..
Tillotson and other New Workers. risked
their money on Post Boy, and lost.
The next match between the north and
the south was that of Boston against
Fashion. Boston, Notwithstanding his
New England name, was raised in Vir.
ginia, while Fashion hailed from New
Jersey. The race was run on Long Island
for 100000 side. 1t is believed b.
many eminent turfmen to have been ont
of the best races for that distance (fou
mile heats ever run in this country. Tn
time was 7;329, 7;45t. Fashion won, AM
the north was jubilant.
The last great race in which sectional feel
ings were enlisted took place on Lon
Island in May, 1916. The champions wer
Fashion then quite aged) and the fleet
footed Peytona, just in her prime (tiv
years old. Peytona won and the sout
cheered Justify.
SPEED VS.. ENDURANCE. -
glMany turfmen of the old school. an
some of the new, think the race horse {
to-day vastly inferior to that of thirty year
ago. They say that we have only fe,
horses capable of running four-mile heat.
The increased speed Of the present gener,
ton OF running horses is ascrlbed to til
tracks. The truth is, the fogy turfme
mourn for the good old time when endul