The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-23
Son of Boston andLucy Long,
Had Not a faint Of
Impure Blood.
BRED BY DIR. CROUCH,
NOW in RICHMOND
This Great Horse Got His Name
from the Stable Boys.-Won
Many Fast Races, but
Wouldn't Extend Him
self Under the
Spurs.
ny THOMAS NELSON CARTIER.

With the exception of Boston, who
to my mind was not only the greatest
horse OF his day, but the greatest
horse of any day, no horse has inter-
ested me so much as his son, Red Eye.
and this, not only on account of his
marvellous performances and peculiar
charac .eristics, but because he sired
Nellie, the only piece OF horseflesh
left on Pampatike (where I spent my
early life) at the close Of the war.
Nellies dam was one of forty-two
them boasting the best blood in the
land--for my grandfather owned Rat
tier, Andrewetta. Primero and others
taken from the plantation by the
Northern army in it's four visits to
US during the war.
The colt was sucking when Its
dam was taken away, and was raised
on a bottle-but that Is another story.
It has always been matter of sur
prise to me that so great horse as
Red Eye has received so little men
ton in the books and so slender a
recognition from the writer's on horses.
especially from Mr.. Bruce, who is the
source of almost all of our accurate
Information on the great horses of this
country.
In Bruce's stud book his pedigree
alone is given-not even the name of
his breeder nor the place of his birth.
His performances, some OF which !
knew from rumor, could not find
anywhere, until by accident / got into
correspondence with DIR. r. G. Crouch.
of this city, a gentleman eighty years
old, who bred. raised and raced Capt.
Belcher being in actual charge) Red
Eye to the time of his retirement in
,,,t,o f,r tex hn
card photographed at the head of this
sketch, setting out in most interesting
detail his performances. The doctor
gave me also complete description of
the horse himself. his appearance and
characteristics, and many graphic
stories of his life. 1t was good to
talk to one of the old gentlemen who
has retained his love for horses up
to his eightieth year
Red Eye was by Boston out of Lucy
Long, who was by imported Priam
I'd dam Polly Franklin by Shake
speare, third dam by Potomac, fourth
dam by imported Bedford, fifth dam by
Symmes Weldair, sixth dam by Othello.
Priam's pedigree is put in the books
as model perfect in all respects.
containing the blood of the Godolphin
Arabian, the barley Arabian, Byerly
| Turk and natural barb mares. the four
best sources of Eastern blood. which
comes down to Priam through the best
of, their sons and daughters. Priam
! was q great success in England. but a
| failure as sire here. Shakespeare's
pedigree Is also beyond reproach. Po-
/ tomac's pedigree has been questioned.
and this is the source from which
arises the very general Impression that
| Red Eye was not clean bred. Poto-
macs pedigree was thoroughly dis
! cussed by Judge Hughes in an article
i published by him some years ago. This
article have read. but cannot now
! obtain. My recollection is that the
pedigree was established as right.
Bruce, In his stud book, gives the ped
| igree as follows:
Potomac, b. h.. foaled 1905. bred and
owned by Richard Dennis, Virginia;
by imported Diomed, first dam by Pc
gasus. second dam by Old Yorick, third
dam by Watkins's fine stallion, fourth
dam. fine marc known IS Eyebright,
and quotes observer & Register"
/ Lexington. Ky.
This pedigree, to say the least of it.
is not a striking one. and does look
weak. The others in Red Eyes pedi-
! Continued on Second Page.)