Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-08-08

| for $4,000 or $4,000 side. This challenge
was accepted by Mr.. Van Ranst, and the time
was fixed for November 20, 1922, and at the
appointed time both horses appeared; but Slr
Charles paid forfeit and the race was Oh Mr..
Harrison at the same time proposed TO run a
single dash of four miles for Sl,eOo sloe,
which the owner of Eclipse accepted, and
Eclipse won easily, Sir Charles breaking down
at the beginning of the fourth mile.
In the evening of the same day William r..
johnson, of Petersburgh, Va, offered to pro-
duce horse on the last Tuesday of the fol
lowing May, 1S2S, to run race of fourImile
| heats against American Eclipse, over the Union
course, Long Island, for $2O, 900 side. The
challenge was accepted by Mr.. John q.
Stephens, on the part OF Eclipse, In conse-
Quence of which Col. johnson, on the day
named, produced the 4-year-old chestnut colt
Henry, to make the race against Eclipse.
Henry was by Sir Archie; son OF imp.
Diome and his dam was also by Diome.
Henry had just won a four mile race at Peters
burgh, beating Betsy Richards in 1854 and
7:5S 1t was intended by Cof. johnson, when
making the match, to run the bay colt John
Richards by Sir Archie, but that horse meet
ing with an accident while en- route to New
Yolk, Henry was substituted. The annals say
that the race was one of the most memorable
events in the history of the American turf,
and was productive of the most intense and
wide excitement throughout the country. 1t
was considered match between
the North and the South, and
sectional feeling ran high respecting the is
sue. More than 2e,eoo people assembled TO
witness it, and the betting on the result was
enormously heavy, each section backing its
representative champion without limit. Hen
ry, years old, carried 1Os pounds. Ecllpse'
8 years old, carrying 126 pounds; was mount
ed by William Crafts. Henry took the lead
in the first heat and was never headed, win
ming by half length, in the fastest
heat ever run to that day in
America, 7:S7H. The Northern party laid
their defeat to their jockey, and when
the horses appeared for the second heat,
Eclipse was mounted by Sam Purdy, the
Archer of those days. Henry, who wa, the
favorite at three to one, again took the lead,
and held it until the last quarter OF the third
mile, when Purdy made dash for the lead.
Eclipse soon reaching his rival, passed him
at the commencement of the fourth mile, and
beat Henry out by thirty feet in 7:49. On
beng summoned for the third heat,
the great trainer, Arthur Taylor,
mounted Henry, in lieu of the boy
who rode him in the first two heats.
At the signal Eclipse took the lead, which he
maintained to the finish, beating Henry three
lengths. This great ace horse never ran an
OJner race. In MS lalIer Gays NC was takeH "
Kentucky, where he made several seasons in
the stud, and died in Shelby county, Kentucky,
August, 1e47, aged 33 years.
The renowned John Randolph, of Roanoke,
was present at the race, and being warm
friend of Col. Johnson, took great interest
in the result. He stood in a very conspicuous
place on the stand, surrounded by gentlemen
of the North and the South, and he evidently
was very confident of the success of Henry.
But after the result, to him SO unexpected,
and while the thousands of spectators were
loudly applauding the successful rider, Mr..
ment by exclaiming to those around him in
his most satirical tone: "Well, gentlemen,
it is a lucky thing for the country that the
President of the United States is not elected
by acclamation, else Mr.. Purdy would be our
next President, beyond doubt"
VETERAN.