The public ledger., 1921-04-26
History's Great Men
Were Warm Friends
of the Thoroughbred d

thoroughbred racing will soon be at Its
height In Kentucky, and there Is every
indication that interest In the famous
old sport, this year, will surpass any
Of the days that have gone before.
Chief among the perennial attrac-
tions Of thoroughbred racing Is its
genuine democracy. The thorough
bred has his charms for us all today
just as he did in the days of George
Washington and Andrew Jackson.
Both these presidents of the United
States were great lovers of the
thoroughbred and loyal supporters of
the sport Of horse racing. They bred
and raced their own horses. and his
tory records the fact that the former
acted as judge at the Newmarket
Course, Charleston, s. c., on one oc-
casion. Washington, as we all know,
was noted horseman, who enjoyed
his spirited thoroughbred for riding
and hunting through the field until
very late In life, and his stable had
reputation for the number and quality
Of the horses it contained.
Andrew Jackson was an enthusiastic
patron Of horse racing long before he
became president. He maintained a
formidable stable, which included
Truxton, a horse Of which he was ex-
ceedingly proud, and with which he
won the famous match race for 5000
against Greyhound. After his inau-
guration as president he brought his
horses to the Capitol, and In 1884
trained them in person, Vice President
and Mrs. Van Buren, often being pres
ent to witness the morning workout
Of the horses personally, superintended
by the president, with characteristic
impetuosity and plain speech, for "Old
Hickory" as history records, -had a
temper Of his own"
The Washington Course, located
about two miles from the Capital, was
built in 1902. The Jockey Club, under
whose auspices 1t was operated, num-
bered among its members the most dis
tinctive men of affairs Of the day,
Racing was regularly attended by the
presidents, from Jefferson to Van
Buren,. On one occasion John Quincy
Adams walked to and from the course,
surrounded BY the equipages Of the
wealthy.
Generals Washington and Jack
son." writes one leading commentator,
ARE examples of the fondness that
great statesmen and military men have
SO generally entertained for the horse
and sport Of the turf Though equal.
ly bold and aggressive riders in the
field, General Jackson was the more
successful on the course. The racing
annals Of the west record his numer-
Gus victories, and according to the
anecdotes which are told OF him, he
sometimes lntimidated his adversaries
of the boldness of defiance, where he
might not have won by the speed OF
bottom Of his horse.
One Of General Jackson's closest
friends was the Rev. Fl. N. Cryer, q
minister Of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, who was q breeder OF
thoroughbred horses and who raced
one Of them In the name Of his part
ner, Col. Geo. Elliott. The reverend
gentleman, having been charged with
horse racing, was summoned before
the tribunal and asked If he had any
thing to say in his defense; nothing,
was his reply, except that l would
like to have you let me know how
can arrange 1t for my half Of the horse
to stand In the stable while Col. El-
liott's half Is racing. The horse be-
longs to US Jointly. He has the same
right to control him that l have; and
he will race him and l cannot keep him
from it"
Needless to add, Mr.. Cryer was duly
acquitted
The utter absence Of prejudice
against the turf in earlier days brings
into sharp contrast our sporadic lat.
ter-day agitations in disapproval.
For example, 1t is mentioned in the
Catholic Churchman, published at An.
napolis in 1744, that among the legiti.
mate pastimes Of the population which
met with the approval Of the church
ITSELF was the new one Of racing
horses, which had grown to be highly
popular among the gentry of the coun.
try. However. we of today, have every
reason to believe that the turf is on
the eve Of greater measure Of popu.
lar support than it has received in a
decade-not only as a matter Of health
full outrof-door entertainment but also
because Of its importance as an ad-
junct to the industry Of breeding
thoroughbred horses for use in sup
plying the army with cavalry mounts
and other highly utilitarian purposes.