The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1933-08-03

! who had been Ann Tasker and whose
wooing by man twenty-nine years
older than herself had furnished one
of the most celebrated romances of
Colonial Maryland.
|
1t was on his return from that So
journ abroad, however, that he brot
over the celebrated thoroughbred,
Spark, which had been presented to
him by Lord Baltimore to whom the
horse had come as a gift from Fred
erick, Prince of Wales Gather of
George IID, who had revived the roy
al stud in England. His landing at
Annapolis with his lady in March,
1747, about 10 o'clock in the evening,
was a gala event in the provincial
capital and must have been something
to admire. Gentlemen in silks and
velvet with lace ruff1es at their wrists
and rapiers at their sides, pressed
close to the edge of the dock in order
to be the first to greet him when he
stepped ashore. Torches fared fit
fully in the dark and in the back
ground the faces Of a throng of the
townspeople in homespun reflected
the glow. The town guns doomed in
salute and their deep throated well
come was echoed by the roar of guns
on sundry ships in the harbor.
1t was a tremendous welcome that
the Governor and his lady received
on this occasion, but it is likely that
the Governor was not too exhausted
by it to be up betimes next morning
in order to have look at Spark and
see how he did in his new quarters,
or to show him off proudly during the
day to a constant string of the Anna
polls gentry who were eager to in
spect the famous steed. Governor
Ogle also imported the famous brood
mare, Queen Nab. The blood of these
two famous horses still runs in some
of the finest horses in America, to-
gether with that of some of his other
importations.
With the patronage of so distin-
guished a parsonage as Governor Og-
lie, the races at Annapolis automatic
ally became the fashion and attracted
sport-loving aristocrats from all parts
of Maryland and Virginia as well. No
horse might be entered by anyone I'M
able to pass the social test. The US
ual subscription purse was one hun
bred guineas and the meets are said
to have lasted a week, closing invar-
iably with a ball at the Assembly
Rooms. Each meet seemed more bril-
liant than the last and, the young
George Washington came over from
Mount Vernon especially to be present
on these occasions, meticulously re-
cording his winnings and his losses ir
his journal. Hallam and Henry's Ora.
! matte Company usually managed tt
be on hand during the race week al
Annapolis and Marlborough, and al
times appeared at Chestertown dur
ing the races there, for tracks existed
in almost every part of the state.
During his residence in the colony
Governor Ogle occupied, during part
of the year, the house in Annapolis
4 still associated with his name, but he
spent every available moment in the
i country at his estate known as Belail
in Prince Georges county. This greai
tract originally contained 1,410 acres
first known as Cation, and was bought
by the Governor and Benjamin Tas.
ker, ST., from the Rev. Jacob Hender.
son to whom it had been granted ir
1919 under a special warrant of re.
survey and by whom it was patented
in 1921 under the name of Belair
Shortly after the joint purchase Of
the land Governor Ogle became the
sole owner through the purchase Of
his future father-in-law's interest ir
the estate. To it he added through