Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-04-20
The Hackney Ia Virginia in 1901.

U'r0m Ireedc s. Gazette. Chicago)
Until recently SIR Henry Fairfax was
urder the impression that he had the
honor OF taking the fr4t hackney stallion
to Virginia. but not long since in look
ing through IN old volume IN his library
he discovered that 1901 instead OF 1883
marked the first importation Of the
hackney to the famous thoroughbred
breeding bluegrass section Of Northern
Virginia. The book referred 10 H. a
bound volume Of the American Turf
Register and Sporting Magazine, a month
~ journal edited and published az Balti-
more by i. ). skinner i'm 1928. and
illustrated with steel engravings OF the
celebrated blood horses OF that day. II
Is mine Of information concerning the
early racing slres, and contains many
interesting accounts OF sport with gun
and rod in those pioneer days. In turn
ing its pages now yellow with age. Mr..
Fairfax was greatly surprised 10 come
upon an account Of the importation 70
Virginia OF the Norfolk trott-r Pretender
n 1901. and was especially interested in
learning that he stood for service for
seVeral years almost within sight Of OAK
Hiu. MIR Fairfax has forwarded 10 Us
this rare old volume. from which We
quote the account entire:
THE IMPORTED HORSE PRETENDER.
SPOTSYLNANIA, oct. /, lS2.-Pre-
tender was got by Jinkinson's OH Pre-
tender; he was first called Fireaway; was
a celebrated roadster and trotter: he won
many trotting matches on the fiat COun-
try Of Norfolk and Lincolnshire fcns at
the rate Of sixteen miles an hour The
dam of Young Pretender was an excel
lent hunter the property Of the Rev.
NJ Pennington. OF Afford iu Lincolnshire.
D. a. 1
colt. / brought him along with Tupp 10
this country in the fan OF 1871. l broke
him the fan he was two years old and
travelled him from Lincolnshire TO Lon
don. where | shipped him for Norfolk,
Va: from there l travelled him to Dan
| lei Hydes farm. to whom | sold him.
Mr. Hyde being "a well-informed. good
| nan. kept him among the great farmers
| over the ridge some years. where he did
| good among the Dutch mares and 10 his
| owner. lie was always a healthy, sound
| horse, and an excellent trotter
WILLIAM SNlALLEY.
"Who knows" asks Mr.. Fairfax. but
| that many of the good old Nirginia-bred
| horses in the past fifty years had some Of
tretender's blood in their Veins2' IL is
altogether probable that they had, for
| such a horse must have LETT n distinct
| impress and helped lay the foundation
| for the excellence which has long charac-
| terized the horses from the Virginia blue
| grass. THE great farmers over the
/ ridge" In those days were as keen judges
| of horses as they were Of land-and one
| has but 10 visit that section to UNDER
stand what an eve those old chaps had
| for farm land. The ridge" referred to
is the Blue Ridge Mountains. which are
| Ia sight Of Oak Hin. 1t is q singular CO.
/ incidence that near the Virginia home Of
| one Of the first Norfolk trOtters brought
| TO America, almost ii century later. should
! be worked out the most convincing de-
monstration Of the value OF the hackney
blood In the production OF h.gh-class,
heavy harness horses.
HE was healthy, sound horse,
writes his importer. Mark how this CO.
incides with the fact that at the recent
London Hackney Show % per cent. OF the
entries passed the veterinary inspection
as sound.