Speaking Generally 5 



sparing no pains or trouble in importing the best stock 

 and improving the breed by judicious crossing." 



Under these circumstances Virginia, between 1758 and 

 1 790, produced the best race horses, the best driving horses 

 and the best saddle horses known in her history. So, 

 long before Virginia became the Mother of Presidents 

 she was the dam of the thoroughbred that presidents 

 could not withstand. Here Jefferson and the Murat of 

 his administration, Randolph, met Washington and 

 Henry Clay on common ground. Nor was the United 

 States Supreme Court, nor the Army, nor the Navy, 

 immune against attack of this fecund sporting germ. 

 Racing was the sport of kings. And where kings lead 

 deuces always follow: in politics, religion and corner 

 groceries it is even so. 



It was the spirit of rivalry above alluded to, added to 

 the commercial necessities of the times, that made the 

 thoroughbred the "fashion" in Colonial Virginia and 

 paved the way for his introduction into the w r estern 

 country by an immigrant population from the older states. 

 The thoroughbred moved westward with the star of 

 Empire as fast as conditions permitted. The interest 

 aroused in "that manly and gentlemanly amusement, 

 the sports of the turf" in Middle Tennessee was not due 

 to the creative influence of any one individual, as many 

 suppose; it was in the atmosphere then, as the automobile 

 is now, and it followed the emigrant wagon from Han- 

 over's slashes to the Rio Grande. 



In promoting their industry Tennessee breeders, as 

 well as those of other states, in the 1830*8, were wont to 

 tell of the thoroughbred's superior qualifications for war. 

 They pointed to several European conflicts the inva- 

 sion of Europe by the Turks and their subsequent invasion 

 of Italy in which the Turkish progenitors of the Eng- 



