The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-15
ONCE FAMOUS JOCKEY
NEARLY 116 YEARS OLD
Aston Gibson, Who Once PilOted
Thoroughbreds, Is Living in
Alabama.
BIRTHDAY A FETE DAY
Citizens Of Calera viii Help Him
Celebrate His 10th
Anniversary.
II A FETE DAY

CALERA, Ala, Feb. Add enough TO
be the great-grandfather of any living
American jockey or turfman. Aston Glib
son, who once piloted the blue-blooded
-thoroughbreds belonging TO General An
drew Jackson. is living in retirement here
and is preparing to celebrate his 116th
birthday. To this end benevolent citizens
OF Calera have volunteered to assist the
aged jockey by sending circular letters to
racing associations and turfmen in general
in an effort to make the birthday a fete
day.
If Aston Gibson lives to see the next
Fourth of July he will have seen the Ma
tons birthday celebrated 116 times, for it
was on July 4. 1888. that he first saw the
light OF day at a little village in the Fair
field district of South Carolina. There
seems little doubt of the truth of this state
ment, which is substantiated by documen-
tary evidence in his possession and by ira
ditional records accepted at his South Caro-
ma home, where other member of the
Gibson family still live and prosper.
'Old Hickory" as Gibson is known by
many OF the older generation of turf fol-
lowers, takes great pride in his age and
never Wearies or relating racing reminis-
ccnceS OF his early life. But his voice is
cracked and his eyesight is almost gone.
Gibson had retired from the turf at the
DS "oNNAclAAQ was ldhAn liz
debut on a thoroughbred and was old
enough 10 be the grandfather of children
before the renowned Snapper" Garrison
ever achieved international fame in the
saddle. During the days that Lakeland
was riding, Gibson was serving as a SOL
der on the Western frontier against In
dians.
Il always loved the horse" says the old
gentleman, speaking of his early connec-
tlons with the turf, "and on one occasion
received a good whipping for staying away
from home all day to see a match race of
three-mile heats, best three in five. decided
near our plantation in South Carolina. But
that only whetted my appetite for the life
OF a jockey, and L soon left the old home
and hurried to Charleston. where they raced
In those days They had been racing at
Charleston a hundred years before ar
rived there. but had my first mount there
and won it.
From there / moved 10 Tennessee. I
was always q great admirer of Gen. An
drew jackson, and one day, when the gen.
eral had a horse in a four-miIe heat race,
1 begged Tor a chance TO ride and pleaded
with the general myself. L never knew un-
I'll a long time after that General jackson
gave me the chance because he admired my
DUCK IN going straight to him, but from
that time on l was in his employ and fought
with MIN IN most OF the battles that fol-
lowed after he was forced to quit racing
There are records stored away in many
turf closets that will show the part Glib
son took in the meetings at the Rapides
course in Alexandria, La; Glasgow course
in Kentucky. Newmarket course in Peters
burg, Va; Prudhomme course in Natchito-
ches, La; ChattahOochee course in Column
bus, Ga; Nashville course in Nashville.
Washington course in Charleston, Congaree
course in Columbia, s.. c.; Herring course
In baltimore, and many more tracks.
The most noted race that Gibson ever
participated in is possibly the memorable
match race between Gen. Andrew Jackson's
Truxon and Irving's PlOwboy Every sec
ton or the South was on hand, and feel
ing ran high. The contest was for 5000 a
side. two-mile heats. and Gibson finished
hrst with Truxon, but the claim of foul,
which was not allowed, Is said TO have
caused the duel that followed between Jack
son and General Dickinson.
After his retirement from the turf Glib
son followed General Jackson in war and
was in the battle of New Orleans. He knew
Daniel Boone, Davy Crockett and MANY
other pioneers. with whom he was asso-
ciated.
With Gibson is his wife, whom he married
in 1888. Mrs. Gibson was born in 1916.