Los Angeles daily herald., 1874-03-15
RACE WEEK IN CHARLESTON.
"reminiscences Of the Oldest Jockey Club in
the United States.


"reminiscences Of the Oldest Jockey Club in
the United States.
CHARLESTON, s. c., Feb. 25th.
For more than 140 years horse-racing
in South Carolina has been popular
pastime, and doubtless but for the in
reference of the war the reputation of
its stock, the purity of its produce and
the correctness OF its turf transactions
would have continued to command
place in the annals of the turf second
to that of no other community on the
continent. In the breeding and de-
velopment of animals an agricultural
community will always take the lead.
This is especially true whenever
wealth, pride and appreciation unite
to secure or produce that which is best.
The English landowner, whether no.
bleman or plain farmer, prides him.
self on the excellence of his horses
and hounds. They are the signs man.
ual of species of gentility that has
come down from Hugh Capet through
the Edwards; through King John and
the Eighth Henry; through Oliver
Cromwell, who gave us the oldest of
our pedigrees, in the shape of "White
Turk;n through the reign of the First
and Second Georges, wherein appeared
the great "Godolphin Arbabian," the
"Darley Arabian" and the Beverly
Turk" the progenitor of the famous
liking Herod;" through the later
Georges, and, crossing the English
Channel, through almost every EN-
peror, King and Prince on the Cont
nent. Everywhere, in fact, it is the
landed proprietor who has given tone
to the sports of the turf. Our modern
merchant buys his fast horse only be-
cause it is fashionable. With him the
object is pleasure, not propagation. He
simply absorbs product, and seldom
adds anything to the great animal
store. Hence we say again that it is
to the agriculturists of the country
that we are mainly indebted for the
preservation of the valuable stock that
now owns a place in history. This OBJ
servation brings us back to South Caro-
lima, where we find from the old records
that the first races in America occurred
at Charleston, in the year 1874. The
prize offered was a saddle and bride
valued at 500. There were four en-
tries, mile heats, white riders, and
the horses carried ten stone GAO
pounds). The sport was continued
from year to year until the planters
began to import full blooded horses
from England, and intermingle with
the blood of Virginia, which, even at
this early period, was largely impreg-
mated with that of some of the best
English stock. 1t is related on the old
records that "sOon after the celebrated
imported Arabian horse Abdallah, six
teen hands high and never ridden,
arrived in this country, he was visited
at his stables by all the admirers of
horsedesh in the vicinity" On one
of these occasions a bystander re-
marked, "Mr. Huger, you are an in
trepid horseman, but we do not be-
lieve that you dare mount Abdallah.n
Without remark the gentleman chal-
lenged planted his hand on the name
of the snorting animal, and, vaulting
to the seat, rode him around the en-
closure with an ease and dexterity that
was astonishing to every beholder.
The most important race in South
Carolina at this period occurred in
1859, between Adolphus, by Brutus,
six years old, bred in the State, and
Shadow, aged, by Babraham, four
mile heats. Shadow won both heats
easily in $3.50. 1t was the first match
run between an imported and native
horse. The importation OF valuable
blood stock now began, from which is
traceable many of the best animals in
the country. The first Josiah Quincy,
writing from Charleston in 1873, says:
~ have been to the famous races.
They were we'll performed, but Film
nap beat Little David (whO had won
| the last sixteen races) out and out.
The last heat the former distanced the
latter. The first four-mile heat was
performed in SIT. Two thousand
pounds were won and lost at this race,
and Flimnap sold at public vendue the
same day for three hundred pounds
sterling" During the Revolution the
notorious Colonel Tarleton made re-
peated efforts to get possession of this
horse, but the negro servants succeeded
in concealing him in almost impassa-
BILE swamps until he could be conveyed
to North Carolina.
Many anecdotes are related concern
ing the exploits of the choice animals
belonging to South Carolina officers in
the revolution, but We have not the
space to repeat them here. When the
war ended new and more vigorous
impulse was given to the sports of the
turf, and the most distinguished men
of the State-men descended from a
well-bred racing stock-established ex-
tensive studs. Among the imported
stock of this period was Dancing Mas
ter, Justice Marplot, Matchem, Star,
Firebrand, Cinderella, Sir Peter Teazle,
Hyppona, Psyche, Isabella, Creeping
Kate and Commerce, all of whom pos
sessed brilliant pedigrees and are now
distinguished for their posterity.
The golden age. of racing in South
Carolina may be said to have COM
menced in 1856. 1t was the beginning
of new era. Race week was the car
nival of the State. Just as the people
of New Orleans now look forward to
Mardigras, or the Liederkranz of New
York anticipate their annual ball, SO
did these good ancestors, young and
| old rrouo 20 RI q ho pdOY, fhauo caIvoa IN