The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1912-02-15
FIRST SCOTLAND nEGK RAGE TRAyK.
L0:aied Near Halifax Over Hundred
Years AgG.-k Noted Horse.

Years ACG.-k Noted H0rse.
There is to-day q race track at
Scotland Neck; and | thought it
might interest some of the readers
of The Commonwealth, as it inter
ested me, 20 know that there was a
track over century ago, named
the Scotland Neck Track, located
near Halifax; also, of a famous race
which was run over it between one
of the most removed horses that
ever faced a starter in this country,
and another who was thought hy
many to be his equal. Herewith |
quote q description of them and
brief account Of the race:
Sir Archy was bred by Colonel
Archibald Randolph and Col ne
Jrhn Tayioe, as their joint properly
He was foaled on James River in
1865, was by imported Diomed ont
imported Casti3niia by Rocking
ham. Sir Archy was & rich
,ay in color, having no white about
him except on his right hind pastern.
He was a horse of fine size, being
full xteen hands high, an inch tall
er than his English sire. with great
power and subst ance. His shoulders
were very deep. mounting up to the
top of his Witbers and Obliquely ln-
clined. His girth was full and deep,
back short and strong, thighs and
arms long and muscular with good
bone. His front appearance was
strikingly fine, bis head and neck
beautifully formed, the neck rising
grace tully but powerfully out OF
his withers.'
OF his opponent in the r2ce it wa
said that he (Rlankl was the only
horse then living in America VITO
Vas thought to have any chance
with Sir Archy at all Blank was
regarded as q horse Of great bot
tom. He was owned and trained
for this race by General Stephen W..
Carney. who imported his sire, Citl-
! y.-., =
Of the race, which occurred in the
fall of 1909: Sir Archy met Blank
FOR the Jocky Club Purse, four mile
heats, at the Scotland Neck Track,
Halifax, North Carolina. They
went off slrwly the first two miles,
when Blank set out to make il race
from thence home. Sir Archy was
in the lead some few feet, and main
tanned his place, winning the heat
by more than length in 1852. The
second heat was run in the same
manner and was won by Sir Archy
with apparent ease IN SEQ. .
"The next morning Sir Archy was
purchased by Allen J. Davie. fer
5000 and retired. A modest sum
in comparison to present day figures
FLYING Fox, the great English
thoroughbred was valued by has
owners at 1925, ,O00) The retire
ment Of Sir Archy would not have
occurred so early in his career had
it moi been that there was no horse
of the time which had speed arc
strength enough to compete VIII
him at a distance Of four miles, o.
four mile heats. After this race, Ii
which he DISPOSED Of the claims q
The Carolina horse Blank. Co'one
johnson, his owner. true sports
man, offered to run him against any
horso in America, four mile heats
for S.. 600 a side. None were founC
to take up the gap thrown down tt
them, and 1t was for this reasoi
that Colonel johnson parted witt
| HIM. biElik SttlISi Sti 4IiN' i
i'll effect from his attempt to make
Sir Archy run the second heat Q:
their famous race. for soon aftel
trial of speed Blank died"
Colonel William r. Johnson was
Virginian, his home being neal
Petersburg. He was the best judg'
Of a Thoroughbred horse OF any maj
of his time; and be was known 81
"The Naooleon Of the Turf. . b,
marriage he was related to the fam
iy OF Faulkner Of Warren county
One of his jockeys, g negro name
!: Charles Stuart, afterwards q note
horse trainer, was loaned to MI
Peter Davis, of Warren, and foE hir
S uart rode races over the famou
race track near Warrenton.
Let US all wish for the presen
! "Scotland Neck Track every SUI
cess. With enough communities S
; ..o+ oJ :, roc,pr the snort ne o.