History of American Thoroughbred, Daily Racing Form, 1922-12-13

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History of American Thoroughbred i Twenty-Second Installment. Gil relieved his horse for the next 600 yards, but instead of waiting for Fashion to ascend the hill at the half-mile post alone he called on Boston just before reaching it and the two went over it nearly together. No sooner had they commenced the descending ground than, gathering all his energies for a desperate effort, Boston made a dash and, this time, succeeded in taking the tracK. The scene which ensued we have no words to describe. Such cheering, such betting and so many long faces was never seen nor heard before. After being compelled to give up the track Joe Laird, with the utmost prudence and good sense, took his mare in hand and gave her time to recover her wind. This run took the shine out of Boston. Instead of pulling him steadily and refreshing him with a slight respite Gil Patrick kept him at his work after he took the track and ran this mile, the third, in 1:51. Nothing short of limbs of steel and sinews of catgut could stand up under such a press. On the first turn, after passing the stand. Fashion, now-fresh again, made a dash, and as Boston had another run left in him, she cut him down in her stride opposite the quarter-mile post, and Boston was out. If anything could parallel Fashions turn of speed it was her invincible gameness. She now gradually dropped him and without another effort on his part to retrieve the fortunes of the day she came home a gallant winner in 7:45. Boston pulled up inside of the distance stand and walked over the score. As Fashion came under the judges cord, extended across the course, Boston was exactly sixty yards behind, though he could have placed himself in a better position had Gil called upon him. And thus did the North settle its account with the South for the victory achieved by Bascombe over Post Boy. It was a magnificent race, one which will be remembered by c vervone who witnessed it. Though beaten, it was "conceded on all hands that Boston had acquired vast renown by this race, more so than by his thirty-five previous victories combined. The spirit of his owners was worthy of them. Of them it has been well said that, "Like another Napoleon, he is never more to be feared than in his reverses." In congratulating each other upon the brilliant triumphs achieved by the northern champion then the champion of the American turf let no one forget to do honor to those to whose admirable skill and judgment the North was mainly indebted for its victory. To Samuel Laird, the trainer and manager of Fashion, and to his fine spirited son, who jockeyed her in a style that would have conferred credit upon any rider, much commendation is justly due. Nor let us forget that to the gallant Boston we are indebted for ascertaining the indomitable gameness and surpassing speed of the northern champion. Arthur Taylor brought him to the post in the finest possible condition and Gil Patrick, his jockey, rarely distinguished himself more than upon this occasion. Many people stated that he rode with spurs. He wore one only, and that in the second heat RECAPITULATION". Tuesday, May 10, 1842. Match, the North vs. the South, 0,000 a side; ,000 forfeit; four-mile heats. Henry II. Tolers and William Gibbons Fashion, ch. m, 5, by Trustee Bonnets o Blue .Mariners dam, by Sit Charles, 111 pounds, Joseph Laird 1 1 Col. William R. Johnsons and James Longs Boston, ch. h, 9, by Timoleon Itobiu Browns dam, by Balls Florizel, 120 pounds, Gil Patrick 2 2 Time of First Heat. 1st mile 1:53 2nd mile 1:50 3rd mile 1:54 4th mile 1:55 Heat 7:32U. Time of Second Heat. 1st milo 1:50 2nd mile 1:57 3rd mile .. 1:51 4th mile 1:57 Heat 7:15 At the Jockey Club dinner after the match Mr. Long offered to run Boston again with Fashion for 0,000 ; ,000 forfeit, four-mile heals, at any time to be at:rced upon hy the parties between September 25 and October 25. LAST DAYS RACING. The attraction of three races, in one ofj ! which Boston was to contend with a son ofj j Bonnets o Blue, drew a large assemblage 1 1 to the course and they were amply entertained by a race, if not so brilliant as the one of Fashion, at least as critical and apparently more doubtful. The sport commenced with a trial of speed I at mile heats between Tempest and Prima Donna, the colt whining in two heats. Then 1 the great race of the day, the struggle between Boston and Mariner. The former was backed in the morning at-100 to 30 and before s the start at 100 to 100, which was not taken t with alacrity. Boston had the inside, but retained it for a 1 few yards only, Mariner going to the front at t the first turn and leading by several lengths. The pace for the first mile was slow 2 :13. . Mariner cut out the work and increased his 3 rate in the second mile, which was run in 1 about 2 :05, opening the gap between Boston 1 and himself. In the third mile the pace was 3 still further improved and both horses were 2 under urging. The fourth mile was yet more J desperately contested, though without much 1 change in the position of the horses. Boston, which was ridden by Gil Patrick, - without spurs, was most severely scored in 1 coming home, but it was all in vain. He 2 pulled up within the distance stand and Mariner came in amidst the most tremendous s shouts in 8 :13. The friends of the "old whitenose" were undismayed - ly the loss of the heat and he still 1 retained the call in the betting at about 100 0 to SO. As in the former heat, Joe Laird went t away with the lead and drove his horse at a a much better pace than before. At the south turn, in the commencement of the second d mile, the old horse showed a taste of his old d style of going, challenged for the lead and d gained it in a twinkling. No respite, however, was given by Joe to Mariner, which ran n well up throughout that and the following S mile, though the running was strongly forced d by Gil Patrick. 3fAItIEIt TAKES TRACK. In the first qua-rter of the fourth mile, in a the same place where Fashion made her run, 1, Joe went up with a rush, took the track with h apparent ease and continued to urge his horse e with whip and spur, widening the gap with h every stride. Before they came into the e straightaway he was leading by six or eight it lengths, and the race was apparently safe. i. ! j 1 1 I 1 s t 1 t . 3 1 1 3 2 J 1 - 1 2 s - 1 0 t a a d d d n S d in a 1, h e h e it i. But here Gil Patrick brought his horse up in in a style quite incomparable. Such a rush gi we do not remember ever to have seen before, tli The old horse appeared to sympathize with his eager rider and showed all of that speed m which won for him his great renown. Joe ai did not appear to be aware of his close tli proximity until he came within the gates, b when he, too, found his whip and plied it u lustily. Mariner was out, however, for noth- m ins but a locomotive could have held its way with Boston, which, in its turn, came Ij home amid the enthusiastic cries of the populace, in 7 :4G. n Many watches made the time a half second S quicker. The heat, which was won by a 0 of length, was the most interesting we recollect h in ever to have seen. AYc have heard the riding n; of Joe, in the last mile, criticized. It was v said lie took too much but of the horse 7 7 after he had passed Boston, by forcing the tr In running as he did. Our impression is that tl he pursued the safer course and that he lost a the heat only in consequence of the treinen- i; dous speed which his antagonist exhibited in u the quarter stretch. There is no difference n of opinion as to the masterly style in which i Gil Patrick took the heat. b The third heat was scarcely les3 interesting c; than the previous one. Boston took up the q running early, but was followed by Mariner g at the best pace steel and catgut could inspire. This severe chase continued through- j out three miles and a half, when Mariner e closed up a little. In coming into the quarter to , stretch home Gil gave the inner rail a wide a berth and Joe immediately took advantage of it and made a run to take the lead on the i, inside. The struggle was now most exciting, f, as Mariner was evidently drawing rapidly n up on his antagonist. At about the distance v stand he lapped on him when Gil appeared D to pull his horse toward the inner rail again v and thus crossed the path of Mariner and in- c terrupted his stride. The pace was terrific, s however, until the finish. Boston took the 1 heat with his tail flirting directly in the face a of his competitor. Time, 7 -.SS1. t A complaint was then made of foul riding j against the winner, but it was not deemed by a a the judges to be substantiated and the race e and purse were accordingly awarded to Bos- r ton. All know how critical and hazardous is the attempt to pass a leading horse on the inside. Many believe that Joe Laird was authorized by the position of Boston to make the effort he did. The rightful authorities decided otherwise, however. The race will be long remembered as one of the most interesting that was ever run on Long Island. The performance of Mariner surprised all of his friends by the unwonted speed which he displayed, while he ran as game a race as any horse that ever made a track. These superb animals, Boston and Fashion, never met again, though both fully maintained their distinction. Fashions races with Peytona have been elsewhere described. In the end she was thrashed off her feet and beaten by Passenger, when she was not in condition. Boston, as a stallion, did as nobly for the American thoroughbred in the stud as he did on the track as a racer. Lexington was foaled in 1851. He was by Boston Alice Carneal, by Sarpedon ; grand dam rtowena, by Kumpted ; g. g. dam Lady Gray, by Robin Gray ; g. g. g. dam Maria, by Melzar ; g. g. g. g. dam by Highflyer ; g. g g. g. g. dam by Fearnought ; g. g. g. g. g. g. dam by Ariel ; g. g. g. g. g. g. g. dam by Jack of Diamonds Diamond. Both of the latter were imported by General Alexander Spotteswood, of Virginia. Bostons pedigree has already been given in this history. Sarpedon was by Emilius, : dam Icaria, by the Flyer, g. dam Parma, by . Dick Andrews ; g. g. dam May, by Bening-borough ; g. g. g. dam Primrose, by Mam- brino ; g. g. g. g. dam Cricket, by Herod ; S- S- S- S- S- dam Sophia, by Blank ; g. g. g. g g. g. dam Diana, by Second ; g. g. g. g. g. g. g. dam Hangers brown mare, by Stanyans Arab ; g. g. g. g. g. g. g. g. dam Gipsey, by Nc-tongued Barb, Makeless, Royal Mare. Fmilius was by Orville Emily. Dick Andrews was by Joe Andrews, dam by Highflyer, Cardinal PufC, Tatler, Snip, Godolphin A., Framptons "Yhiteneck, Pelham Barb mare. Joe Andrews was by Eclipse, dam Amar-anda, by Omnium, Cloudy by Blank, Crab, Widdrington mare by Partner. Engineer was the sire of Mambrino, dam by Cade, Bolton, Little John, Favorite, son of the Bald Galloway, dam Daffodil, by Sir It. Gascoignes foreign horse. Sumpter was by Sir Archy, dam of Robin Redbreast, own sister to the dam of Rattler, Childers and Flirtilla ; g. dam by Obscurity ; g.g. dam by Slamerkin, by "Wildair ; g.g.g-1 dam Delancys Cub mare. Robin Redbreast was by Sir Peter Teazle, dam Wren, by "Woodpecker ; g. dam Sir Peters dam. Robin Gray was by Royalist ; dam by Grey Diomed ; g. dam by St. George ; g. g. dam by Cashier. Royalist was by Saltram, dam a Herod mare, Carina, by Maske, Blank, Dizzy, by Driver ; Smiling Tom, Miss Hip by Oyster-foot, Merlin, Commoner, Copper Mare. Saltram was by Snap, dam Virago, Regulus, sister to Black and All Black. Grey Diomed was by Medley, Sloe, Valiant, Calista. St. George was by Highflyer, dam sister to Soldier, by Eclipse, Miss Spindleshanks, Omar, Starling, Godolphin. Cashiers sire is unknown. His dam was Mary Gray. Melzar was by Medley, dam by "Wildair ; g. dam by Vampire Kitty Fisher. Medley was by Gimcrack Arminda, by Snap. Midge, by a son of Bay Boston ; Bart- letts Childers. -iloneywoods Arabian, dam of the two True Blues. Vampire was by Wilsons Arabian and was foaled by Wildairs dam. Kitty Fisher was by Cade, her dam by the Godolphin and said to be foaled by Bald Charlotte, but the latter point cannot be established. Highflyer was by Highflyer Angelica, by Snap, Regulus, Bartletts Childers, Honey-li woods Arabian, dam of the two True Blues, Fearnought was by Regulus Silvertail, by Whitenose, Rattler, Darley Arabian, Vixen, IIelmleys Turk, Dodworths dam. Ariel was by Moretons Traveller and was foaled by Taskers mare, Selima. Traveller was by Crofts Partner, Bloody Buttocks, Greyhound, Makeless, Brimmer, etc. Taskers Selima was by the Godolphin, her dam unknown, Selim. There are six Selims in Edgars book besides the English horse, by Black and All Black, also Othello, foaled by Selima, which is, I presume, the horse intended, Jack of Diamonds was said to be by the Cullen Arabian, Darley Arabian, Byerly Turk, Tacolet Barb, White Turk, Natural Barb mare and was also said to have been in gi tli m ai tli b u m Ij n S 0 of h in n; v 7 7 tr In tl a i; u n i b c; q g j e to , a i, f, n v D v c s 1 a t j a a e r Imported by Colonel Spotteswood of Virginia. There is no evidence, however, that Lhere ever was any such horse. The same may be said of the imported mare Diamond. There is no such maro in any English record nor is there any certainty that she ever existed. Diamond has always been a horses name. She is said to have-been by Hautboy and foaled by a Royal mare. LEXINGTONS PEDIGREE DOUBTFUL. This pedigree of Lexington is, it seems to me, susceptible of considerable doubt in several points connected with the descent his dam, Alice Carneal. She was foaled Kentucky, in 1S3G, and never seems to have won a race. She ran second in the first heat of a four-mile race to Miss Foote, in :42, the best time ever made to that date Kentucky, though she was distanced in the second heat. It is, however, not to band doubted that she is a thoroughbred. Lexingtons peiformanCeS making it impossible that it should be otherwise. The record of her ancestry is, I presume, irrecoverably lost. It seems to me that it would be far better to own up frankly that such is the case than to endeavor to trump up such questionable pedigrees as much of the foregoing. I do not intend this remark to apply in the least degree to the owner, but to the compilers of spurious pedigrees sent for admission respectable publications wherein appearance is held to imply undoubted authenticity. Lexington was a blood bay, about fifteen hands three inches high, with fore and hind feet and pasterns and a small portion of his hind legs above pasterns white. His bones were not particularly large, except the backbone, which was unusually so. His muscle was abundant, dry and sinewy, without any cumbrous flesli ; his ears, which were handsome and wide apart, were beautifully placed. His head, though not small, was bony, clean and handsome. His nostrils were large and the jawbone was uncommonly wide. His. jaws, wide apart, afforded abundant room for clear and well detached throttle. His left eye was full and mild, though animated. His right eye had lost its convexity from disease. To Be Continued.


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Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800