The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-07-25
The Important Influence Of Early
Events on Horsemen Of
America.
Three Of the Most Notable Matches
In the History Of the
Turf
Racing for Honor and Glory Rather
Than Money-Big Money up,
all the Same.

was the victory of Selim of Maryland over
the English born True Briton. Patriotism
was then the auxiliary of sport. Contests
in which the champions of the north were
pitted against the pride of the south kept
this country in racing fever for quarter
of century by exciting sectional pride and
rivalry.
In the last revival of running races dual
contests have been less prominent features
of the sport than they we're fifty and seventy
years ago, but the battle between Salvador
and Tenny has proved again the attractive
ness of match races between great horses.
The three most notable races in the Ills
tory of the American running turf are the
Selim-True Briton match at Philadelphia
in 1905 the Eclipse Sir Henry race on the
the Fashion Boston event on the old Union
course May 10, 1912. They are notable be-
cause of great contemporaneous interest,
the amounts of the stakes and the develop
ments which followed them.
The Selim-True Briton race was the re-
suit of q challenge issued by Mr.. Waters, of
Philadelphia, to all the continent to match
q horse against his True Briton for $4,000,
which was very heavy stake for those
times. Samuel Galloway, of Maryland, ac-
cepted the challenge and entered his Amer
lean thoroughbred horse Selim, which.
while considered fine animal, was not re-
garded as match for the imported horse
Which had shown great speed and was of
the choicest pedigree. True Briton was
three to one favorlte.
The race was in four-mile heats, the best
two in three. True Briton won the first
heat by half length, but in the second
heat he was beaten gay off and pulling up
greatly ENCOURAGED American breeders, as
Il was considered proof positive that fine
horses could be produced in America.
Race meetings were held every year near
Annapolis, Charleston, S. c., and other
places in South Carolina and the town of
champion until he was beaten in the spring
of 1863, by NJ. McGill's Nonpareil, a grand
son Of the celebrated Godolphin Arabian,
from which the best strains of English
thorouehbreds have descended.
Racing and the cultivation of thorough
breds received severe check from the rev.
dictionary war. The continental congress
Of 1774 adopted resolutions in favor of
economy and to discourage all kinds OF
sports and shows. The Maryland Jockey
club gave up its races at Annapolis. The
finest horses in the country were nearly AL
killed or used up in military service, but
the thoroughbred did not disappear. With
the return Of peace racing was resumed and
the propagation of the stations. Slender
in 1876, MESSENGER in 1892, Baronet in 1881
and other celebrated sires later on.
In those days racing was for honor more
than for money: Men of dignity and prom.
inence rode their own horses in races. anc
nothing of their dignity. John Randolph
of Roanoke rode his favorite charger
against Sir John Nesbitt, a young English.
man, on Scotch-bred horse, and defeated
HIM at the Charleston, but writer who saw
the match says the nobleman made the bes
- ~, bo 1n1ioo
In 1923, horse racing had become popular
from New York to South Carolina. Tn,
Eclipse-Sir Henry race made it, by all odds
tho Fashionable American sport On the
day of great race courts adjourned,
schools were closed and ministers, clergy
That was before speculation had become
the active principle of the sport.
The celebrated American Eclipse waf
owned in this city. He defeated Sir
Charles, q southern horse. at Washington
ii the fall of 1882: His owner, q Mr.. Van
$4,000 side against any horse in the
world, and added the unusual condition
that any taker of the challenge might have
the next spring meeting of the Union
course at Jamaica to name the horse.
Col. William r. johnson, of Petersburg
uuently the owner of the famous Boston,
accepted the challenge. He put number
81 horses in training and brought si1
Henry and Betsey Richards. the best of his
string, to New York. He did not announce
which Of the two would meet Eclipse un.
til Sir Henry was brought out for the race.
The newspapers of the day say $1,000 spec
tators were at the track.
The horses started at tap of the drum.
The race was also in four-mile heats. the
best three in five. Sir Henry led through
ont the first heat and won it by half a
say: 1.-THE result of this heat was so differ
emit from what the northern sportsmen had
calculated upon that the mercury fell in
etantly below the freezing point. Bets of
three TO one that Eclipse would lose the
second heat were loudly offered, but there
were few or no takers"
The account relates that the rider of
Eclipse, young man whose name the re-
porter says he had forgotten, made several
efforts to pass Sir Henry. but could not ac-
complish It," Among the spectators was a
young man named Purdy, Of true sporting
blood, who wept when he saw Eclipse de-
feated, and offered to ride Eclipse and make
him win. Purdy seems to have been a pop
ular Jockey, but there is very little in
formation about him. When the crowd
saw him on Eclipse in the second heat they
cheered, and Eclipse's friends took hope.
Sir Henry set the pace until thirds
around on the third mile, when Purdy made
ud6u d6 II W pass VA WIG outSlOc. i lie
other jocky pulled out from the inside, and
Purdy sent his horse next to the rail, and
getting lead of two lengths kept it to the
end, the time being 7:49.
A witness of the race wrote: 1.-THE air now
resounded with shouts of 'Purdy forever,p
and as soon as he had weighed in the
populace bore him off Oh their shoulders
across the course in spite of all his en-
treaties. The mercury in the sporting Their
mometer now arose to pleasant summer
heat" The hackers of Eclipse were ready
for. almost any odds, but they found no
takers.
The Southerners induced jockey named
TAYLOR, who had been very successful on the
southern courses, to ride Sir Henry in the
third heat. but his skill was of no avail.
Purdy took the lead with Eclipse, MAIN
tanned it and won by three lengths, in 8:o4
The air was now rent with shouts of costa
cy from the New Workers, and the pressure
around the judges stand was so great for a
time nothing could overcome it. The race
course was blocked by a mass of men 10, 900
deep, leaving no ground to bring the horses
Eclipse marched off the field to the music
of 'sSee, the Conquering Hero Comes.''
Eclipse was then an aged horse. He car
ried 196 pounds. Sir Henry lacked few
weeks of being four years old, and wal
handicapped at 106 pounds. A few day
before he won the Laurel stakes in q rae,
ct Petersburg, Va.
A banquet was given by the racing asso
citation that afternoon under q pavilion OF
on the race grounds. The toasts were re
eponded to BY Judge Van Ness, Gen. Bar
nnm. john Stevens, Com. Rodgers MI
Wyche, of Va, and many others An &C