News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1890-04-17
TENNESSEE'S BIG RACE.
POLLY MEDLEY BEAT ANDREW
JACKSON'S MARE.
Dangerous Journey Of an Honest
Old Negro.

Judge Thomas Barry, who has passed
his three score and ten, and is walk
ing encyclopedia on turf matters, tells
me of the first stake race ever run in
Summer county, and possibly the first
in the State of Tennessee. The race
was run in 1904, before Judge Barry
was born, but he heard his father, DR..
Redman Barry, tell often of the Incl
dents of that august occasion. Tle
judge says the track was located where
now stands the Louisville and Nash
vile Railroad depot, and the head of
the stretch was where our great chan
Gerry lawyer, Frank Allen, now has his
palatial residence on Water street. In
those days they had no $40, 700 jockeys
| sporting silks and satins, and stable
boys were put up and gi en- instruc-
! lions how to ride their respective
steeds. The Handicapped never had
his say either, and the horses carried
as much or as little weight as was con-
tanned in the avoirdupois of his rider.
There were no pencilers or auction
pools where you could "come and back
'em," but bets were made, always the
favorite against the field. Wagers of
gold, land, negroes and cotton were
made, and it was no uncommon thing
to bet one horse against the other.
The first stake race was for two
miles and repeat, for three-year-old
A great crowd was in attendance, and
people came from thousands of miles
in covered wagons, camping out on
hafx. IN, hn
seven starters in this great stake race,
and among the number was Indian
Queen, raced and owned by Andrew
jackson; Polly MEDLEY, owned by DIR.
Redman Barry, father of Judge Thomas
Barry, and Grand Turk, owned by
James Cryer, father of the Rev. Hardy
Cryer, who was also great lover of
horses, and who used to race his tho
roughbreds and also preach the Cos
pei. The race was won in straight
heats by DR.. Redman Barry's Polly
Medley, by Gray Medley, with Presi-
dent Jackson's 1ldian Queen finishing
second in both heats, Cryer's entry
bringing up the rear. The track was
knee deep in mud and time was no
question. They had no split-second
watches in those days, and it was of
no concern whether the race was run
in 3:33-S:33 1-4-record time, or
four or five minutes, just SO it was
run. The winner was crowned "Queen
of the Turf" and she was given a
great ovation.
The night of the race, as was the
custom, grand Unfair was given at
the country residence of DIR. Barry,
and everybody was invited, horse
owners, jockeys and spectators. Upon
this occasion President Andrew Jack
son and his lady were present, and
toasts were drank, the old Virginia
reel was danced, and the night spent in
general hilarity. Polly Medley was
likened unto that great horse B Il Air,
whom the Rev. Mr.. Rivers, the old
Virginia minister, preached about in
his pulpit when he said to his congre-
CATION: "My good friends, if you
don't repent, you are as certain to 60
to hell as Bell Air is the best four-mile
horse in the world"
The winner, Polly Medley, was got
by DR.. Redman Barry's Gray Medley,
the first thoroughbred stallion ever
brought this side of the Allegheny
Mountains. He was purchased in 1900
by DIR. Barry from Gov. Ben Williams,
Governor of North Carolina. He was
foaled in 1901, bred by Beckwith But
Ter, by Gray Diomed; first dam by
True Wing; second dam by Gree by
Ariel. This grand old horse was in
Virginia, and was purchased by letter.
Barry sent his servant, named Altmont,
after him, Barry going to Kentucky
TO read law with that great old juror,
John Beckinridge. The country being
wild and travel so uncertain, Barry
heard nothing from his servant or
horse for several months. The horse
see, and the negro was given instruc-
tons where he would make the season,
before Barry left for Kentucky.
On his return from Virginia the
negro fell in with party of Ohio men
in East Tennessee, and it was thought
by Barry that he had turned rascal
and gone over into Ohio to get his
freedom. After several months Barry
returned to Tennessee and accidently
ran across the negro at Nashville,
Tenn, and asked him of his horse, and
learned that the negro had him doing
stud service at Edgefeld Junction at
Mr.. Donelson's farm, where he had
realized $4,000 in service fees. The
negro handed over the money and
told his old master Of his trip with
Grey Medley; of how the wildcats,
panthers, and catamounts troubled
them on their way, and of how he
slept on the ground at night, holding
the bride Of Gray Medley in his hand
all the while.-Courier Journal.