258 STAR-IIAMBLETONIAISrS. 



ants — a lesson which some breeders and writers are slow to learn. 

 The following- description of Henry is copied from Coldeii's Maga- 

 zine^ 1834: 



Henky is of a dark sorrel or chestnut color, with one hind foot white and a 

 small star in the forehead ; his mane and tail about two shades lighter than 

 that of his body. He has been represented as fifteen hands and one inch high, 

 but having taken his measure, his exact height is only fourteeii hands three ami 

 a half inches. His form is compact, bordering upon what is termed " pony- 

 built," with good shoulders, fine, clean head, and all those points which con- 

 stitute a fine forehand ; his barrel is strong and well ribbed up toward the 

 hip ; his waist rather short ; chine bone strong, rising or arched a little over 

 the loin, indicative of ability to carry weight ; sway short ; the loin full and 

 strong, haunches strong and well let down; hindquarters somewhat high, and 

 sloping ojf from the couiMng to the croup; thighs full andmusculao',withoxithemg 

 fleshy ; hocks or houghs strong, wide and pretty well let down ; legs remark- 

 ably fine, with a full proportion of bone ; back sinew or Achilles tendon large, 

 and well detached from the cannon-bone ; stands firm, clear and even ; moves 

 remarkably well with his feet in line; possesses great action and muscular 

 power, and, although rather under size, the exquisite symmetry of his form indicates 

 uncommon strength. 



It will be remembered, that in the memorable race with Eclipse, 

 Henry ran his four miles and won the first heat in 7 minutes 37-^ sec- 

 onds; Eclipse winning the next two heats and the race. The owner 

 of Henry, Col. Johnson, styled in those days the Napoleon of the 

 Turf, was not present at the race; and so confident were he and the 

 Southern party that Henry was superior to Eclipse, that they imme- 

 diately challenged the owner of Eclipse to run another race, for a 

 stake of $20,000, and the challenge was declined. It has always been 

 claimed that Henry ran with overweight for his age, viz., 108 pounds, 

 lacking nearly a month of being four years of age. According to the 

 present regulations of Northern courses, a four-year-old should only 

 carry 104 j)ounds; and, according to the regulations existing at that 

 time in Virginia and the Southern States, 100 pounds was the required 

 weight. So it will be seen that this undersized horse, not yet quite 

 four years old, was made to carry fi-om four to eight pounds overweight. 

 Hence it was alwaj^s claimed by many that the performance of Henry, 

 though beaten in the race, stamped him as the best race-horse of his 

 day. It may be added, that he continued on the turf for two years 

 longer, and was matched against Flirtilla for four mile heats, in Sep- 

 tember, 1825, smdiwent lame in his feet., and wa^ withdrawn from 

 the turf for that cause. 



I think it will not be difficult now to determine the source of all 



