Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-05-06
OUR EARLY RACING.
GREAT CONTENTS ~ THE FORMA-
TIVE PERIOD OF THE TURF.
Famous Horses and Their Speed on
the Old Track,-The Growth of the
Rivalry Between the North and the
south.


I'm the stories OF old races that makes
them ever welcome TO the modern follow
ers OF the turf. Particularly Is this true
OF the early races In America, when j.
year-olds won In heats at three and -FOUR
miles, to retire unblemished as aged vete-
rams. The greatest contests were when
the gentlemen of the North and the gem
tlemen OF the South named their cham
MONS for a match. II was in such races
that American Eclipse, Boston. Fashion,
and many thoroughbreds OF the old days
gained theis fame.
The York course, in South Carolina, Is
the first OF which there is definite re-
cord. the South Carolina Gazette men
tioning that races were held over 1t in
1874. and the sport soon spread throughout
Maryland and Virginia. In 175O Colonel
Tasker brought the mare Selma, by the
Godolphin Arabian, TO Maryland from
England, and In December. 1852, she won
a sweepstake OF 800 pistoles. four miles,
at Gloucester, Va, from Colonel Tayior's
Jenny Cameron, Colonel Byrd's Tryal,
and a mare owned by Colonel Thornton.
The summary indicates that titles in the
South are not solely modern product
The early Governors OF Maryland MAIN
tanned racing stables. and the sport was
fashionable and exclusive. Spark, one or
the first thoroughbreds brought into
Maryland. was a gift to Governor cgle
from Lord Baltimore, who had him from
the Prince OF Wales.
Almost simultaneously racing was es-
tablshed I'm the North. There were two
leland haforq the RgNO-
lutlon-at Newmarket. i'm Suffolk county
and the Beayer-Pond track. near Jamaica
In 1868 Colonel Delaney, OF Kings Bridge
imported Wildair, by Cade and the Cub
mare, and. in 1855, Lath. by Shepherds
Crab. Bashaw was the produce Of VIII
dair and the Cub mare and with other
importations. the thoroughbred strain was
firmly established near New York VIII
dair was afterward sent back 20 England
In 176l among the thOroughbreds
brought into Pennsylvania were Gray
Northumberland. also known as Irish
Gray, said TO have been bred by Lord
TO be by the sire Of that name. who was
by the Godolphn Arabian Racing, In
the order Of events. soon fourished.
There Is on record four-mile-heat race
at Philadelphia, 1867. won by Samuel
Galloways bay horse Selim, in straight
heats. from Old England, CRANKY. and
Gray Northumberland. The weight was
40 pounds on each. This terse report
appeared In the Maryland Gazette: THE
first heat was run in minutes 2 seconds,
Selim winning from Old England by a
single length. The second after running
three times around at the heels OF Sellm,
Old England flew the course"
Racing lapsed during the Revolution,
I,,t H. 10 g.,
and North, 10 flourish with but little
check until the outbreak OF the rebellion.
At the beginning Of the century there
were courses at New York, Albany,
POughkeepsie, and at Powles Hook, In
New Jersey In 1904 the Newmarket
track. on Long Island. was revived by
a club. At Bath, Long Island, i'm 1919
a mile course was opened by the Jockey
Club. but after two seasons move
was made TO a spot eight miles from
Brooklyn, and the famous Union Course
started. The sport was now the favorite
pastime OF the wealthy residents along
the Atlantic sesboard, from Georgia t.
New York.
While closely intermingled. there was
still enough contrast in tine breeding OF
the race-horses in the two sections-a
contrast accentuated by new lmporta-
tions-to give spirit 10 the debate Of the
theorists in breeding. and T. add an In
terest above all Incidents OF locality OF
wagers 10 the races between the horses
OF the North and the South. Washing
ton and Baltimore We're the middle
grounds for these turf conflicts but
owners often sent their champions to DO
battle on the home tracks Of their rivals
There were no patent hOrse-cars I'm those
days. men and horses moving In caval-
4 l.
putting up in coaching inns or at manor
farms or plantations overnight. where
hospitality could always be had IN the
name OF sport.
A FAMOUS MARE.
Ariel a famous mare. "the ornament
and dread OF the turf from New York
TO Georgia" won forty-two OF fifty-seven
races, IN successive seasons, from 1875 10
1890. winning over $500 and travelling
nearly $3.50 miles IN turf pIlgrimages In
1879. on one journey, Ariel was walked
80 miles, from the South 20 Union
course, 10 race dgainst Betsey Ransom.
The first OF the champions, Sir Archy,
by imported Doomed, was retired in 1919,
after challenge had been issued 10
race any horse I'm America. at four miles,
on halfway ground, for & go a side RE
was bred and owned by Colonel Archibald
Randolph and Colonel John Taylor in
Virginia, and although he did not run
many races. he beat the best Of his day.
The challenge was not taken up, which
counted as a victory for the South. Sir
Archy hal a great career at the stud,
/ and was the bennington OF his genera
ton.
Five years later a colt was fOalel on
Long Island who was destined to win the
ali " ~
Sir Archy. This was Eclipse. by DurOc,
dam Millers Damsel, by imported Mes
senger bred by General Nathaniel Cole,
az Dosorls. Queens county. IN 1919 he
began racing. and was sold 10 Mr. Van
| Ranst He swept all before him al New
market and the Union course. In lS22.
| when he was the Acknowledged champion
/ Of the North, James J. Harrison, OF
Brunswick. Va, offered ito run Sir
| Charles against American Eclipse over the
| Washington course, fOur-mlle heats, for
/ FIVE or ten thousand dollars" Mr. Van
/ Ranst was eager, and named the larger
amount. that the object OF the contest
/ might correspond with the fame Of the
/ horses" Half the stakes. were posted as
| forfeit, and the race fixed for Noyem-
/ Der 10Th.
| Fortune frowned on the plucky Vlr-
ginian, for the race was fizzle through
/ a misfortune 10 Sir Charles. Harrison
/ was game 10 the last. for the horses were
/ brought 10 the post with their jockeys
up before his friends could persuade him
/ TO declare the race on. Mr.. Harrison
/ then gave notice that Sir Char.es had
met with an accident, and paid forfeit
| At the same time he proposed a single
| heat at four miles, for 81 900 a side. which
/ Mr.. Van Ranst promptly accepted. Eclipsl
carried l26. Sir Charles I'D pounds. The
northern horse led throughout, Sir Charles
struggling valiantly until the third mile
!. L---.- -Lh- Era NJ N