George Washington at the Races, Daily Racing Form, 1910-09-10

article


view raw text

GEORGE WASHINGTON AT THE RACES. Woodrow Wilson in his "At Home in Virginia" has given some Interesting sketches of the great first president of the Inited States of America. Among other things he says: " W ash i ugt on loved horses and dogs with the heartiest sportsman of them all. He had a great gust for stalking deer with Oeorge Mason on the broad forested tract around Illusion Hall, and liked often to take gun or rod after lessor game when the days fell dull: tint best of all he loved a horses back and the hard ride for hours together after the dogs and crafty quarry — a horse that |iut a man to his points to ride, a country where the running was only for those who dared. His own mounts could be nowhere bettered in Virginia. He loved a game of cards in almost any company and paid his stakes upon the rubber like any other well-conducted man of his century. Ile did not find Annapolis, or even Philadelphia, too far away to be visited for the pleasure of seeing a gooil horse race or enjoying a round of balls and evenings at the theater, to shake off rustic dullness or a too constant stay at home. In 1770 he was with Governor Eden, of North Carolina, at the Jockey Club races near Philadelphia, no doubt relieved by the news that all hut the tea tax had been repealed. The next year it was the races at Annapolis thai charmed him: and in 1773 Jaekey Curtis held him ,ii Philadelphia on the same errand. It was wholesome to be thus calmly in pursuit of diversion in the intervals of trying business. It bespoke a hearty life and a fine balance in the man."


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1910s/drf1910091001/drf1910091001_2_9
Local Identifier: drf1910091001_2_9
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800