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AN ANCIENT MATCH RACE North Carolina Community Loses Money, Slaves, Horses, Cattle, on Local Man o War. Writing of a remarkable race in North Carolina before the Revolution, a correspondent of the American Turf Register, under date of August 27. 1831, has. this to say: "Perhaps the following account of a match race in North Carolina previous to the Revolution may serve to amuse some of your numerous readers : "About the year 1770 a large family named Sh d lived in Dobbs County. They had acquired property and influence, were fond of and had introduced a spirit of racing into that part of the country and were able to purchase good horses. Their success in matches with the less wealthy had given them great confidence in their skill. "About this time they owned a horse called Blue Buck, which beat all his competitors until his owners and the people of Dobbs looked upon him as invincible. Blue Buck had been bred on Roanoke, where his speed had been accurately tested before he was sent to Dobbs. "Just about this time a Scotchman named Henry established a store in. Dobbs. He carried with him a small, handsome saddle horse of the Janus stock, on which he seemed, by his care, to place a high value and of which he persistently boasted. As Henry seemed to be a raw young Scot Mr. Sh d thought it a fine chance to win a store. He bantered Henry to run his saddle horse against Blue Buck for 00, offering, as his horse was the largest, to carry 160 pounds to a feather. "On these terms the race was made, tho time fixed and the money staked. In a few days Captain E. H. from Northampton arrived to train Henrys horse. In a short space of time they had wagered everything in Henrys store, the goods, boxed, to be delivered to the winner. The evening of tho day before the race Mr. W. J., Colonel J. II. and Mr. T. E., with some other gentlemen, arrived from Halifax with some wagons. "On the day of the race all the Dobbs collected at the polls, confident in the speed of their old favorite, and, after exhausting all of their money in wagering, negroes, horses and oxen were staked on the race, the gentlemen from Halifax taking all bets offered against the little horse. "When the final wager was arranged the horses were off at full speed and, in a few minutes, the race was decided in favor of the small horse in such a manner as to leave no grounds for dispute. "The wagons were drawn up and Henrys store, all ready packed up was put on board, when all hands took up the line of march for Halifax, carrying with them all that Dobbs could well spare. This movement was thought prudent at the time, as the commons of Dobbs seemed as though they would not peaceably abide their loss. "The little saddle horse was called Trickem, was by old Janus and was well bred. Ho was a little over thirteen hands high and weighed, when in condition to run, 890 pounds."
