The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-02-04
HORSES AND HORSEMEN.
oxD "a. rHORoU0HBRBDs-BAEL's
TxORIgEL ny IMP. DIoMsD.
4 Brilliant Racing Reconsideration
Winnings Last Year--New Stock
Farm Established.
Is
90

Ik ~ 90 z. ms . CO,
NLNTM III Archy though his
II ~ subsequent stud
ssreer IA no wise approached the brilliant
achievements as a stock horse OF tha'
great son OF the mighty imported Diomed
Who got Balls Florizel also. the suoJec'
of this sketch. The proverbiai careless
ness and inattention Of the old-time VIZ
ginian TO recording events and details
happening In his day are peculiarly appli.
cable TO Balls Florizel. who was rated
throughout the North and South as a
race horse Of extraordinary merit; grand
by reason OF his superb individuality
md rich breeding: noted as the possessor
OF speed and stamina, which enabled him
70 yanquish every adversary In each con-
test throughout his glorious turf career.
Yet fully cognizant as were those or that
day concerning the prowess OF such
great horse, the recorded history of him
amounts 10 but little. giving only meagre
details. The information i am able 10
place before The Times readers In re-
gard to him was cleaned through per-
sonal converse with those able opponents
of Thoroughbred horse lore, Judge
Robert w. Hughes. OF Norfolk, and John
jackson, ESQ, OF Richmond. Further in
formation concerning this old-time Vir-
gfnia celebrity was obtained by patient
research through publications contained
in that mine OF literary treasures, the
etate library, such as many successive
issues Of the American Farmer volumes
grown musty with age. which was after
ward merged into the American Turf
Register. Balls F1orizel was n beautiful
chestnut horse. sixteen hands high, Of
great muscular development. OF grand
style and finish. He was bred by Mr.
Roger Atkinson. Of Lunenburg
county, Va. Mr.. Atkinson after
wards removed to Chesterfield county.
about three miles from Petersburg, where
he was living in 1897. Florizel was foal-
ed IN 1901. though the American Turf
Register OF July, 1881, page 524. gives 1902
as the date of his foaIing; however,
think 1901 is correct, judging from
summaries published later. Florizel was
foaled on the estate Of Mr..
Goode. in Mecklenburg county, being
one OF the best bred horses Of his day,
sired by imported Diomed dam by i'm
ported Shark. granddam by Eclipse.
reat-grand-dam by old Fearnaught,
great great-grand-dam by jolly Roger,
great-great-great grand-dam by imported
Sober John. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. grand
dam by imported Shock, the last-named
mare bred by Colonel Baylor, and stated
on his books to be one of the best bred
mares in Virginia OF that day; such was
the certificate of Florizel's breeding as
signed by his owner. Major William Ball,
OF Broad Rock. Chesterfield county.
While F1orizel was sired by Imported
Diomed, who stood at the head of Vir-
ginia sires In his day, and deservedly so,
as his blood has bred on with grand re-
suits for many succeeding generations up
to the present time his dam Florizel's)
was sired by Imported Shark in his day
the best horse in England. Next TO Fly
ing Childers end English Eclipse he was
considered the possessor Of more speed
than any horse ever bred In the Kingdom.
He was foaled in IN, got by Marske.
dam ty Snap, granddam by Marlborough,
son of the Godolphin Arabian. Shark was
irnrt rted TO Virginia by Benjamin Hyde,
Esq, of Fredericksburg. in 1887, near
which place he made a number Of stud
se lsons, after which he was taken to the
vicinity OF Alexandria. Va. where he died
IN 1875 or 1896, as stated In brief obituary
written by the Hon. John Randolph.
OF Roanoke. When two years old the
chestnut son OF Imported Diomed was
purchased for 800 from his breeder, Mr..
Atkinson, by Major VIM. Ball. anoted turf
man end proprietor of the old Broad Rock
race-course, in Chesterfield county. In
whose ownership his turf career COM
ward in turf annals and otherwise as
Balls Florizel. His turf career COM
menced in the fall Of 1904 as three-year-
old, when a stake was made up with five
subscribers the conditions being $500
entrance fee half forfeit The entries
were Colonel Taylcr's Topgallant, Colonel
Hoome's Peacemaker, Colonel Selden's
Lavinia, Wade Mosby's Amanda and
Major Balls F1orfzel. Colonel Taylor
~
this distance being a three mile dash,
which was won by Balls Florizel. Mr.
Mosby's Amanda coming In second, Top
gallant end Lavinia distanced. This race
was run at Broad Rock race-course, In
Chesterfield county, and Florizel was con-
sidered at the time an extraordinary
three year-old. In 1906 at four years he
stood at the head of the turf In Virginia,
He was matched against Colonel Hoomes
horse, Peacemaker also by Imported
Diomed, the race being four-mile heats.
s., 900 a side. The contest was decided on
the Broad Rock course. and Florizel van
Quished Peactmaker with ease. Thomas
Goode, who trained F1oriZel was confident
that no quarter horse OF that day could
run with him, while Austin Curtis. who
trained Peae emaker for this celebrated
match race. expressed the opinion that
Florizel could have distanced Peacemaker
In either heat. In 1906, FloriZel then five
years old challenged. his brilliant rival
First Consul, by Flag OF Truce, that
had won twenty-one consecutive races in
New York, Pennsylvania and Maryland.
The challenge was for race Of four mile
heats, $4,000 a side which was declined
by First Consul. F'loriZels turf career,
though short, was the most brilliant of
that period. He never lost a race or paid |
forfeit. Such was his speed that he was
III tata hot
he ever met alike at home over any dis
lance OF ground from one TO four miles |
His opportunities in the stud were very |
limited, sta ndlng near many OF the best |
u Iorted horses of that day, who were |
then all the rage. such as Diomed, Dare |
devil. Bedford, Citizen. Precipitate, Nose |
ley. Sir Harry, Sterling. Robin Redhreast, |
5altram, Wonder. Cormorant and others, |
who received nearly all of the best mares. |
yet when ri, en- access TO a good mare |
ne seldom failed to sire a race-horse.
Among the most noted Of his get were: |
,up Bearer. Taddeus. Defiance The
,eus Serpent. Brooks. Gray Colt, Roberts
rilly and others. among them that good
-ace-horse, Tuckahoes whose full sister.
Known In the stud book as Sister to /
ruckahoe. produced by Timoleon. the
,rand race-horse and sire Boston, whose
the mighty race mare Nina, out
III imported trOHcSOfnc 4 dHny, ny Lot |
cry. gave 10 Virginia the famous race
iorse. Planet. who during his turf career
Won s., coo. though cut short by The w9r.
While his full brother and sister. tx
hequer and Ninette, were capital race
lorses also. From the foregoing sketch
I would seem that had Balls FlJrizel
'een allotted opportunities In the stud,
with those enjoyed by Sir
Archy or even with Duroc, that other
oted son OF Diomed, his fame as a stock