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Off to the Races By Dan Gill Before
basketball, before football and even before baseball, horseracing was our
national sport, the source of legends, stories and folk songs; and it all started
right here in Virginia. Early colonists were competitive in spirit and most
owned saddle horses. Whenever they gathered for whatever reason (except on
Sunday) there inevitably was drinking, gambling and horseracing. Before about
1660, impromptu races were conducted on makeshift tracks on court days and
social occasions. Someone would brag on his horse and there was always a
challenger to take him on in a match race. A track would hurriedly be marked
off consisting of two parallel paths of about a quarter mile in length
cleared through the woods or along the lanes that served as roads. The finish
line was two upright stakes where judges stood to determine the winner. This
Òquarter raceÓ was a unique form, unlike the distance races of several miles
common in Europe, and this new sport quickly spread from Virginia to the
other colonies. Gradually
horses were selected and bred for quickness, small size and muscular hind
quarters well suited to short bursts of speed. Some historians believe that
Indian ponies, descendants of Spanish Andalusians, were brought into Virginia
from the Southwest as early as 1651. This early breeding and selection along
with the later infusion of Arabian bloodlines eventually resulted in the
ÒQuarter HorseÓ as a recognized breed. During the
second half of the 17th Century, dedicated racetracks were laid
out and maintained on worn-out tobacco lands scattered around the Colony. In
Middlesex, the most prominent course was established around 1660 on the lands
of Randolph Segar in the upper end of the County near Jamaica. By 1700, it
was referred to as the ÒPublick Race Ground, commonly called Seagers.Ó It is
inferred from many court records referencing race judges that these tracks
were still straight quarter-mile courses. On circular or oval tracks,
starters and judges were often the same people. With the
establishment of permanent tracks, racing became a scheduled event usually
conducted on Saturdays. Consequently, subscription races, often with a field
of several horses, replaced match races. In subscription racing, owners pay a
fee to enter their horses and race for a purse with a cut going to the track.
The real betting was still between owners and among spectators. Horses,
fortunes and even land changed hands with a handshake. British-style
distance or Òflat racesÓ of four miles or more did not become popular in
Virginia until the mid 1700s when thoroughbreds and other horses of Arabian
breeding were imported from England. Thoroughbreds were tall and wiry but
well muscled. They were bred for stamina and endurance, as well as speed, and
were thus well suited to Òfollow the houndsÓ or carry riders on long
journeys. Virginia planters were closely tied to developments in Europe and
strove to emulate English aristocracy. They were well content to be British
subjects until treated like a red-headed stepchild following the French and
Indian War. Distance
racing during the 18th Century took two distinct forms.
Point-to-point or cross-country races led to the steeplechase and hurdle
races of today. Flat racing, conducted on circular or oval tracks of
approximately one mile in length, led to the dash race of one mile, the most
common form today; the long race of up to four miles; and heat races of
(usually) three four-mile heats. The heat race was grueling, designed to test
the stamina and endurance of both horse and rider. Heat races were won by the
best two out of three heats and often decided after two heats. If a horse was
ÒdistancedÓ or led by more than one-eighth of a mile in any heat, his race
was over. Harness
racing started in America and also became popular during the 18th
Century. Trotters and pacers pulled a light two-wheeled cart and were not
allowed to break into a gallop. Initially there was no specific breed, but to
qualify for registry horses had to complete a mile within Òstandard timeÓ and
became known as ÒStandardbredsÓ. Thoroughbreds
were established as a breed when Lord Godolphin inadvertently bred English
mares to an unruly and despised Arabian stallion in the 1730Õs. Soon the
Godolphin line dominated racing in Great Britain. In 1752 an 11year old
Godolphin gelding was shipped to Ireland to teach Sir Ralph Gore a lesson in
humility. Sir Ralph had acquired large tracts of Irish land as a result of
the Cromwellian invasion, and the established Irish aristocracy was anxious
to give the usurper his ÒcomeuppanceÓ. This striking old horse was a bay with
large white patches, a color pattern known as ÒskewbaldÓ, and the horse was
thus named Skewball. [Piebald coloration is white on black] Skewball easily
beat Sir RalphÕs bay mare to the delight of just about everyone except Sir
Ralph, who had wagered a good chunk of his fortune.
The first
Arabian brought into the Colonies was imported by Samuel Gist of Hanover
County in 1732 followed by importations by the Tayloes of Mount Airy in
Richmond County, the Byrds of Westover on the James River, the Wormeleys of
Rosegill, and other notable gentry scattered around the colony. By the time
of the Revolution, distance racing had supplanted quarter racing in most of
Virginia (quarter racing survived South of the James in Òthe Old Race Horse
RegionÓ for another 100 years). After the
Revolution, Thoroughbred racing moved west to Tennessee and Kentucky.
Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby, was built on the lands of John
and Henry Churchill, direct descendants of the Churchills of Wilton in
Middlesex County, by their nephew, Col. Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr., grandson
of the explorer and also (obviously) of Virginia descent. The last and
greatest distance race at Churchill Downs was run in 1876 between Mollie
McCarty of California and Ten Broeck of Kentucky. Mollie, a four-year-old
mare, was undefeated in 13 starts and ran out of challengers on the West
Coast. Ten Broeck was an established legend in the Eastern states and nearing
the end of his racing career. He ran in the very first Kentucky Derby but was
beaten by a horse that he had beaten in his first race the year before. He
went on to establish six records for distances of from one to four miles.
During his last two racing seasons, he tallied 16 wins and two seconds in 18
starts. Ten Broeck was considered by commentators of the time to be the
Òyardstick of class, whether in dash races or heats ÉÓ. So great was his fame
that Congress adjourned early to watch him run in Maryland. The race
was to be three four-mile heats. The track was muddy, conditions Mollie was
unaccustomed to. She led for three of the first four miles then faded and was
ÒdistancedÓ by Ten Broeck at the end of the first (and last) heat. One historian
observed: "had Mollie been able merely to save her distance, she
ultimately must have won because Ten Broeck would not have been able to go
around again.Ó Apparently under the influence of an opiate, Òhe did not
perspire, his pupils were contracted, his muscular strength and activity were
reduced, and he was languorous and drowsy. To keep him awake, it was
necessary to fan, whip and keep him moving...Ó
MOLLY
AND TENBROOK as
sung by the Stanley Brothers (refrains omitted): Oh
run olÕ Molly run, Run olÕ Molly run. TenbrookÕs
gonna to beat you, to the bright and shininÕ sun. Tenbrook
was a big bay horse, wool down shaggy mane. He
run all around Memphis and beat the Memphis train. See
that train a-cominÕ, cominÕ round the curve. See
Molly runninÕ, straininÕ every nerve. Oh Kyper,
oh Kyper, somethinÕ ain't right. MollyÕs
beatinÕ Tenbrook, clear out of sight. Tenbrook
said to Molly, "What makes your hair so red?" "From
runninÕ in the hot sun, and fever in my headÓ. Tenbrook
in the stable, Molly in the stall. Tenbrook
kicked the plank off, kicked Molly through the wall. Women
all were laughinÕ, children all a-cryinÕ, Men
all hollered, olÕ Tenbrook was flyinÕ. Oh,
get ol' Tenbrook, hitch him in the shade, We're
goinÕ to bury little Molly, her coffinÕs ready made. [Note: Bill MonroeÕs version contains several additional verses
including: Kyper, Kyper you're not a-ridin' right. Molly's beatin' old Tenbrooks clear out sight. Kyper, Kyper, Kyper my son Give old Tenbrooks the bridle, let old Tenbrooks run. Ten
BroeckÕs jockey was William "Uncle Billy" Walker. Born into
slavery, Walker was considered one of the best jockeys in American history.
ÒKyperÓ must be a corruption of Walker or simply fiction.] The
Kingston Trio then mommicked up the title and the story with their Run
Molly, Run, in which Molly beats a horse named Long John. In 1973
Bluegrass was changed forever when the Grateful Dead took a fanciful whack at
the story and put a Blue Mule in the race. Written by Peter Rowan and played by Old And In
The Way
with Jerry Garcia, the Blue MuleÕs ÒMother was that blue ox, babe, She was
born in the eye of a hurricane...Ó. During the race ÒAgainst Molly and the Tenbrooks É My blue
mule started flying É She won that race in Outer Space, not on solid ground
ÉÓ As
in colonial times, horse races and foxhunts are social events and usually
involve drinking and feasting and drinking. On court days in the 17th
Century, local tavern keepers set up stalls to sell their ÒcyderÓ, beer, port
and ardent spirits. Food was probably a secondary necessity and likely was
whatever victuals were on hand that would travel well, such as a slice or two
of good country ham on buttered biscuits left over from breakfast. The Mint
Julep, now identified with the Kentucky Derby, evolved in Virginia in an
attempt to make the harsh rums of the time somewhat drinkable. Traditionally,
Juleps are served in silver cups and held only by the top and bottom rim with
the thumb and forefinger so as not to melt the frost. Now-a-days, picnics,
tailgate parties and Òfair foodÓ from race track vendors fortify race-goers. © Dan Gill - Published
in Pleasant Living May – June Õ09 Printer
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