Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1890-06-14

Had blended with the gently deep'ning
gloom
Until across the misty star-lit meads
lie heard the plovers calling to the night.
-lSanborn Cove Tenney, in Harper's.
TENNEssEE's FIRST STAKE RACE.
Polly Medley Beat Andrew Jackson's
Mare and the Preachers FilIy.
Judge Thomas Barry, of Gallatin,
Tenn, who has passed his three score
and ten, and is walking encyclopedia
on turf matters, tells of the first stake race
ever run in Summer county, and pos
sibly the first in the State of Tennessee.
The race was run in 1904, before Judge
Barry was born, but he heard his father,
Redman Barry, tell often of the Incl
dents of that august occasion. The
judge says the track was located where
now stands the Louisville and Nashville
railroad depot. In those days they had
no $40, 900 jockeys sporting silks and
satins, and stable boys were put up and
given instructions how to ride their re-
spective steeds. The Handicapped never
had his say either, and the horses carried
as much or as little weight as was con-
There were no pencilers or auction pools
where you could come and back 'em, )"
but bets were made, always the
favorte 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 two-year- olds. A great
crowd was in attendance, and people
came for hundreds of miles in covered
wagons, camping out on the way, to the
races. There were seven starters in this
great stake race, and among the number
was Indian Queen, raced and owned by
Andrew Jackson Polly Medley, owned
by DR.. 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 used to race his thorough
breds and also preach the Gospel. The
race was won in straight heats by Dr.
Redman Barry's lily Medley by Gray
Medley, with Presi lent Jackson's Indian
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
no concern whether the race was run in
3:33-3:33 t-record time, or four or five
minutes, Just 80 it was run. The winner
was crowned "Queen of the Turf" and
she was given great ovation.
The night of the race, as was the GUS
tom grand Unfair was given at the
country residence of DIR. Barry, and
every body was invited, horse owners,
jockeys and spectators. Upon this oc-
casion President Andrew jackson and
his lady were present, and toasts were
drank, the old Virginia reel was danced
and the night spent in general hilarity.
Polly was likened unto that great horse
Bell Air, whom the Rev. Mr.. Rivers, the
old Virginia minister, preached about in
his pulpit when he said to his congre-
cation: my friends, if you don't repent,
you are as certain to go 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
He was purchased in 1900 by DR.. Barry
from Governor Ben Williams, governor
of North Carolina He was foaled in
1881, bred by Beckwith Butler, by Gray
Diomed first dam by True Wing (; sec
ond dam by Circe by Ariel. The grand
old horse was in Virginia, and was pur-
chased by letter. Barry sent his servant,
named Atmont, after him, Barry going
to Kentucky to read law with that great
old juror John Breckenridge. The
country being wild and travel 80 uncer-
tain, Barry heard nothing from his SER
want or horse for several months. The
horse was intended for stud duty in
Tennessee, and the negro was given in
structlon where he would make the sea-
son, 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 Ten
nessee, and accidentlly ran across the
negro at Nashville, Tenn, and asked
him of his horse and learned that the
negro nau nlH uOlHS sIuu uuly dI LuSe-
field junction at Mr.. Donelson's farm,
where he had realized So, 400 in service
fees. The negro handed over the money
and told his old master of his trip with
Gray Medley of how the wildcats, pam
theirs and catamounts troubled them on
their way, and of how he slept on tho
ground at night, hol ling the bride OF
Gray Medley in his hand all the while
[Courier Journal.
Mechanics Earn More than Novelists.
1t is said that if ten American novel
ist whose books sell readily are selected,
and ten mechanics who earn $25 per
day, at the end of ten years the mechan-
les will have earned the most money.