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GREAT TENNESSEE OSCAR American Race Horses of Century Ago Which Were Never Beaten Bred by a Sumner County Preach ¬ er Oscar Was the Champion of His Day Hay colt Oscar foaled in the spring of 1814 bred by Rev Hubbard Smnders of Stunner County Ten ¬ nessee stood without n rival on the Tennessee turf In his day dayHe He never paid a forfeit or lost a heat nor did he ever meet a competitor able to put him to liis top speed speedHis His pedigree is not only pure but rich and choice choicelie lie was sired by Wllkes Wonder dam Rosey Clack by Saltram Camilla by Symmes Wildalr the best son of Fearnought Minerva by Obscurity Diana by Clodius Sally Painter by Sterling Silver by Belsize Arabian by Crofts Partner sister to Roxann by Bald Galloway by Akaster Turk by Leeds Arabian by Spanker SpankerThis This pedigree in the language of my late friend Rev Hardy M Cryer is pure as the icicle which Jiung at the toqrth corner of Dianas temple templeOscar Oscar was a dark bay of uniform color with bjack points fun fifteen handathreeJnches high owned and run by that hightoned gentleman Dr Roger It Sappington of Nashville He was a horse of commanding presence possessing great power especially in the shoulders and chest in which he resembled the lion high oblique withers short bnck prominent hips hindquarters rather light when contrasted with his shoulders and chest stifles nnd hocks excellent and limbs superior hind feet well under him with a head eye and windpipe which could not be surpassed He reminded me of Uncle Berrys answer to my question about the head limbs and action of Balls Florizel He said His head was all mouth and nostrils and he could stand with all his feet in a wash tub tubOSCARS OSCARS VICTORIES AS A THBEEYEAROLD THBEEYEAROLDOscar Oscar with the greatest ease won Jiis first race a sweepstakes in October 1817 over the Nashville course twomile heats 100 entrance beating James Jacksons McShane by Eagle Virginia by Dare Devil and Dr Butlers splendid filly by Pacolet The next day he walked over the course for the Club Purse PurseIn In May 1818 lie won over the same course a Jotkey Club purse fourmile heats beating witli oase Gen Jacksons Gun Boat by Pacolet Gun Boat was withdrawn after the first heat heatIn In October 1818 over the same course lie won the Jockey Club Purse fourmile heats beating with case at two heats Mr Mortons horse by Potomac and Col Elliotts Uncle Berrys horse by Whip The Whip colt belonged to Uncle Berry his history is as follows followsUncle Uncle Berry volunteered in Capt John W Byrrns light horse company early in the Creek War and served out his term under Gen Jackson for which he1 now is and has been for about twelve months in the receipt of a pension of 96 per annum payable quarterly He commenced to receive this pension under the late act of Congress in the ninetyfifth year of Ills age He said to me the other day I am sorry the government dont pay it all at once for twentyfour dollars wont buy anything and it i always gone before the next payment arrives arrivesWhen When his term of service expired he was about to revolunteer but Col Elliott who was then in command of a regiment in the army persuaded him to return home and look after the women and chil ¬ dren and bloodstock which he reluctantly con ¬ sented to do doMONKEY MONKEY SIMON A FINE EIDER EIDERAfter After spending some time iii Tennessee he visited a friend Oil Faulkner of Garrard County Ken ¬ tucky who invited him to examine a band of two yearold colts some of which he contemplated en ¬ tering in a sweepstake to conie off the ensuing fall fallOn On returning to the house Mrs Faulkner inquired of Uncle Berry what he thought of her colt to which he replied I consider him madam the best of the band at which she was much grati fled and togged that he would enter train and run the colt in the stake to which he consented n hd won the race with case caseHe He purchased this colt of Mrs Faulkner brought him to Tennessee where he won several races nnd was entered by Col Elliott in the fourmile race against Oscar as above stated statedIt It was about the time of Oscars appearance on the turf that the first Jockey Club was established ni Nashville by the most distinguished men of Tennessee among them Gen Jackson Col Ed Ward Gen Carroll James Jackson Dr Sappington Dr Shreby Dr McNairy Dr Butler William Wil ¬ liams Colonel Elliott Newton Cannon and other leading citizens of the state statei i During the absence of Col Elliott and Uncle Continued on second page GREAT TENNESSEE OSCAR Continued from first page Berry Dr Supjpihston employed Monkey Simon to ride for him and vhen the race just above men ¬ tioned came off Simon rode Oscar afcainst Whip the latter owned anil run by his old friends and favorites Col EHipJt nd Uncle Berry Some un ¬ easiness was manifested by the friends of Oscar which Vasliigh strung and difficult to control lest Simon should suffer him to exhaust himself early and thereby lose the race This suspicion was altogether groundless for Sjmqn always rode to vinj if possible if he had a weakness i was in being too eager for success in a close contest contestJOCKEY JOCKEY SIMON AND HIS SHARP WIT WITAt At the tap tapr tapof r of the drum Oscar went of f under a tremendous liead of steam and in spite of all Simons exertions to restrain him was soon fifty or sixty yards ahead which served to increase the doiibts of Simons fidelity Dr Shelby iliiKhed jicross the field and ordered Simon in a most imremptory tone to hold his horse to which fjimpn rf plied in his characteristic style toil d d fool dont you nee1 his mouth is wide open openAnd And Simon would have made Hie same reply to Gen Jackson under the circumstances The general said to Simon on one occasion Just before the horses started iti sin iiifporrhiit rate Ntiw1 Sintuh when my horse conies up and is al mt to pass yon dontspityotir toliiuit juice in his eyes and in the eyes of his rliteri aMly6u omctinies do To which Simon replied Well gineral Ive rode a good deal agin your liorscs but none Tvere ever near enough to catch my spilt spiltJn Jn another occasion after Maria had beaten the generals favorite Paoilet land when no friend dared to take a liberty with him Simon meeting him in a large crowd said Gineral you were always ugly but iiow youre a sh6v I cYnild hiakc a for ¬ tune by showing yoii as you now look if I had you in a imce inhere you could notJiurt thejieople who came to look at you youManyyearj Manyyearj ago I was riding on horseback wifh Col Elliott to tile1 Nashville races and when we reached a point about one mile from the ferry at Nashville on the Gallatin road he observed observedHere Here is the place where negroes were annually hired in old times and where I have often hired Simon who on luccount of his dyformityaiid dis tiipatcd habits usually cost me from twelve to fifteen dollars per annum annumTHE THE WAGES OF EIDERS IN 1817 1817On On one occasion Col Robert C Foster guardian of the minor children to whom Simon belonged con ¬ ceiving It to be his duty bid against me and nm Simon up to thirty dollars the then price Of a good field hand 1 concluded to drop Simon on the colonels hands and takethe chance of hiring him privately Simon watched the bidding with the deepest in ¬ terest as he was most anxious to remain in the static and enjoy the fame and emoluments of riding Haynies Maria and other distinguished winners When I indicated tlaat1 would bid no more Simoii turned to the colonel and said in his peculiarly sarcastic manner with his head laid back and one iye closed Colonel Foster by G d I am not a selling but hirin for only one year The colonel who wasa man of high spirit and great dignity replied shaking his cane at Simon You impudent scoundrel do you know who you are talking to Simony with the most aggravating cpolness replied I think I do and if I am Jiot mistaken you are the same gentleman who made a small speriment for governor once alluding to a race the colonel hail made for governor under unfavorable circumstances in which he as badly Imaten The witticism of Simon created much mirth amidst which Colouel Elliott got him at the next bid bidThe The purses at that period were unworthy of the attention of a superior horse and Dr Sappington had neither the means nor disposition to travel or run him for heavy matches Oscar was therefore when sound in all respects and lit the prime of his racing career withdrawn from the turf and died at eleyeii years old the property of General It jftesha Ttiid Isaac Bledsoe of Suinner County when he lef t some fine running stock although he never nerved more than Uvo or three thorbuglibrcd mures Krom Making tlte American Thoroiufhbred by James Douglas Anderson
