TURF, FIELD and FARM

p. 265 Oct-22 1869

CAPTAIN William J? MINOR

It it with extreme sadness that we record the death of that elegant gentleman and high-toned turfman, Captain William J. Minor of Mississippi. The last time he wrote to us he was in the full enjoyment of health, and then we little expected the shadow was so near. At South Down, in the Parish of Terrebonne, La., on Saturday morning, September 18th. 1869, he closed his eyes upon earth for the last time, at the ripe age of 62.. Capt. Minor's blood was a pure as that flowing in the veins of the Thoroughbred which he so much admired, nay, idolized. He was born in Adams County, Mississippi, His father, Col. Stephen Minor occupied a high position under the Spanish Government, when Gen. Gayoso had his headquarters at Concord, and afterwards Concord became the ancestral home of the Minors. Captain Minor was born to wealth, was carefully educated and at an early age imitated a passion for the Turf. His tastes were refined, his spirits buoyant, and he was the soul of honor. Being a keen observer, and having much leisure time, he wrote often and well for the press, usually making the exploits of the game horse the subject of thought. Some of the most graceful contributions to the turf literature of America are to be traced to the pen of Capt. Wm.J.Minor. Before the war he occupied a prominent position in the racing world, having the means to gratify his love of the royal sport, but the war swept away much of his property, and his face was less frequently seen at the prominent turf gatherings. If we mistake not his last visit to the Atlantic States was a little over three years ago. Jerome Park was then in course of construction, and we remember standing with him on the hill where now is located the Club House, and looking down into the little valley where the laborers were at work. Capt. Minor at the time spoke warmly of the enterprise of Mr. Jerome, and trusted that the completion of the Park would inaugurate a brighter era of the Turf. The kindly-faced man lived to see his hope realized, but we believe he was never present at one of the Meetings of The American Jockey Club. Capt. Minor was one of the most valued of the many valuable contributors to the columns of the Turf, Field and Farm..

His last letter appeared in our issue of Sept.10.. The nom de plume adopted for the occasion was 'Redlander', and our readers will remember that in that article he recalled many pleasant reminiscences of the past, besides commenting somewhat severely on the Bayonet-Vauxhall disgrace at Saratoga. We were promised a series of articles under the signature of 'Redlander', but alas! death has caused the promise to be broken. To CONCORD, the old family seat of the Minors, near NATCHEZ the remains of this distinguished son of the South were carried, and there laid to rest.

One by one the veteran and staunch supporters of the Turf are dropping from the ranks, and we who pursue the phantom of pleasure pause in the giddy rush to pay a passing tribute to their memory. Soon the most light-hearted of us will feel the shadows closing around us, and the world slipping from beneath our feet. Well, let the curtain fall; at least we then shall be free from "the fever of the odds" and will hope to sleep as now sweetly sleeps our old friend Capt. William J.Minor.