The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1921-04-28
History's Great Men
Were Warm Friends
Of the Thoroughbred


thoroughbred racing will soon BE- at its
height In Kentucky. and there l. every
indication that Interest In the famous
old sport. this year. will surpass an,
Of the days that have gone before.
chief among the perennial attrac
lions II thoroughbred racing u ns
eefAiue democracy. The thorough
bred has his charms for Us All today
Just ~ he did In the days OF George
Washington aud Andrew Ja>son.
Both these presidents of the United
states were great lovers Of the
Thoroughbred and loyal supporters Of
the sport of horse racing They bred
aud raced their own horses, and his.
tory records the fact that the former
acted a. a Judge at the Newmarket
Course. Charleston. ;. G.. ON one &C
CASTOR. 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 a
reputation for the number and quality
OF the horses IL contained.
Andrew Jackson was an enthusiastic
patron OF horse racing long before he
became president lie maintained a
formidable stable. which Included
Truxton, a horse Of which he was eN-
ccedingly proud. and with which lie
won the famous match race for $3.50
AGAINST Greyhound. After his inau-
.cir,tlon a. president. he brought his
horses to the Capitol. and Ia 1884
trained them In person, Vice President
and Mrs. Van Buren often being pres
ent to witness tie morning workout
Of the horses personally. superintendent
BY the president. with characteristic
lmpeiuosity and plain speech. for 'old
Hickory" as history records, had
temper OF his own"
The Washington Course. located
about two miles from the Capital vas
built In iS02 The Jockey club. under
whose auspices 1t was operated. num-
bered among It's members the most die
tinctlve men OF Affairs Of the Jag.
Racing was regularly attended by The
presidents. from jefferson 10 Van
Buren,. On one occasion John quincy
A0AftlN ANlhfA " anu AANAAA Ae' wv
surrounded by the equipages ot the
wealthy.
Generals Washington and Jack
son." writes one leading commentator.
are examples of the fcndness that
great statesmen and military men have
30 generally entertained for the horse
and sport OF the turf Though equal.
Is bold and aggressive riders In the
held. General Jackson was the more
SUCCESSFUL on the course. The racing
annals OF the west record his numer'
GUS victories. and according 10 the
anecdotes which are told of him, he
sometimes Intimidated his adyersaries
Of the boidness OF defiance, where 10
miyht not have won by the speed Of
bottom Of his horse.
one OF General Jackson's closest
friends was the Rev. II. NJ. Cryer, a
minister OF the Methodist Episcopal
Church, who was breeder oi
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 II 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 II for my half OF the hors.
70 stand In the stable while Col III
Lofts half IL racing. The horse he
longs TO US Jointly. lie has the SAM
right TO control him that / have; an'
he viii race him and cannot keep hin
from IT.
Needless To add. Mr.. Cryer was duh,
acquitted.
The utter absence OF prejudice
against the turf In earlier days bring
into sharp contrast our sporadic la'
ter-day agitations In disapproyal.
For example. II is mentioned N tn
Catholic Churchman. published at An
napolis In i74i. that among the legiti
hate pastimes % the population whicl
met with the approval Of the churc'
itself. was the new one Of racln
horses, which had grown TO be highl
popular among the gentry of the coun
try. However. We VI today. have ever
reason To believe that the turf IN %
the eve Of a greater measure OF popI
lar support than II has received In
dccade-net only as matter of healtl
full out f-door entertainment but ais
because Of It's importance as AN az
junct To the industry OF breedin
thoroughbred horses for use In sui
plying the army with cavalry mount
and other highly utiiltarian purpose
still, u Might Be Worth Trying
II men were as perfect as the
wives expect them to be. their wivs
would all die % ennui.-isoston TraI
script