The Washington times., 1934-06-11


the middle Of June has been
the most eventful time in this
part Of Virginia, for it is then
that the Upperville Colt and
Horse Show. is held.
This Horse Show, known all
over the country as the first
horse show of America, was
started by Col. Richard Dulany
in 1853. He had good horses
and was always interested in
them, and to get others as
keen as he was, he went North
and bought two stations, "Scre-
venton," a Cleveland bay, and
BLACK Hawk" a Morgan.
He brought them to his place,
Melbourne, to encourage breed
ing, and offered prizes for The
best colts from each Of these
stations. And this started the
famous colt Show"
The first Colt Show was held
at Vineyard Hill on the old pike
on the edge Of Upperville, but
1t was soon moved to it's present
site on the Dulany farm, Graf
ton, one Of the lovelieSt places
in Virginia, with beautiful gar.
dens and greenhouses.
After a morning of classes
of wonderful thoroughbred colts
Of all ages come the picnic
lunches in the woods. So much
food, and delicious drinks.
Rozier Dulany'S mint juleps
have always been noted. 1 have
known people from Washington
and Winchester who didn't care
about a horse-or did they look
at one when they got to the
Show-to drive all the way
there just because they knew
they would get one of Mr..
Dulany's famous juleps.
Colonel Dulany and his
daughter, Mrs. Lennon, always
had a large tent-where lunch
was served. The Carriers have
their place, under an enormous
oak tree, where they always
feed a gang" Mrs. Gatewood,
Mrs. Slater; Mrs. Fletcher and
many others in the neighbor-
hood feed practically every one
who comes to the horse show
and have the time of their
lives doing it.
Upperville. the first place in
America to have a horse show,
continues to be more and more
famous in the horse line as the
years go on.
These first two stations that
Colonel Dulany got to encourage
good breeding were taken all
over the country. Screventon
was taken care of by an old COL
ored man, Garner Peters, one of
the Dulany servants. When the
Civil War came on, "Old Uncle
Garner was in Pennsylvania
with Screventon, on his Spring
circuit. They disappeared abso-
lutely and entirely. and no one
knew what had happened to
them.
Four years later, after the war,
"Old Uncle Garner" came walk
ing quietly into the Melbourne
gate leading Screventon. He and
the horse had been hidden, no
body knows where, and had sup
ported themselves for the four
years of the war by the service
of the horse!
OF course, during this war
there were no horse shows for
four or five years, but soon after
Colonel Dulany reorganiZed 1t.
He was made president, ]. Arm
istead Carter, Of Crednal, just
across the road from Melbourne,
was vice president, and Col. R.
Welby Carter. also of Crednal,
was secretary.
There are many lovely silver
cups scattered around the coun-
try that were won at these Colt
Shows of long ago. We have one
that was won by my grand
father. 1t is lovely and valued
very much. I wish all of my
readers could come to one of
these Upperville Shows for they
are so delightful and different
from the more professional
shows.
The lovely grounds and large
oak trees make it so shady and
comfortable to wander around,
and it is so informal. People
who have horses showing and
are keenly interested. are al
lowed to go into the large ring.
1t is a pleasure to sit on the
grandStand and look at the old
sports, hobnohbing and swap
ping horse stories.
You always wish you had not
forgotten your camera and could
slip up and catch a picture of
Courtie Smith, Louie Leith,
John Waller, Dion Kerr, George
Carter and many others, alb
Sorbed in stories of horses Of to-
day, when they rode such horses
as Leap Year, Jubilee, Roust-
about. Up To Date, Horn Pipe,
Ronald Algoma, Sunday Morn
ing, David Grey. Grey Cap, Sir
Dixon, horses that could really
jump.
Il
H. Rozier Dulany at his
place Oakley near Upperville,
who has always bred good
horses, has had more money
winners for the size Of his stable