Speaking Generally 13 



rarely if ever reached $2,000. Generally, the highest 

 ones ranged from $500 to $1,000. Sweepstakes were 

 popular on all tracks and usually offered the greatest 

 inducements. As with the number of the breeders, horses, 

 and tracks, the size of the purses increased from year to 

 year. 



When neither sweepstakes nor club purses were believed 

 to comport with the merits of a horse a challenge was 

 issued to the whole world for a match race and an accep- 

 tance almost invariably followed. Match races between 

 the best horses were generally for some amount between 

 $5,000 and $20,000; banters were frequently made 

 though none were accepted to run for amounts as 

 high as $50,000. These contests usually involved state 

 and sectional pride and aroused great rivalry and excite- 

 ment, but did not, of themselves, arouse personal or sec- 

 tional animosity. Correspondence relating to a great 

 match race between rival leaders of the turf was always 

 couched in terms of courtesy believed to be due from one 

 sportsman to another. The esprit de corps was strong, 

 even among leaders of rival states and sections. In local 

 rivalries the crust of formalities was frequently pierced 

 by good natured jabs, as in the following: 



"To Col. Ramsey, Editor of The Knoxville Register: 



"In my absence some banters have been made through the 

 columns of your paper by Molo against Traveller, representing that 

 if either Cashier or Traveller wanted a race with Molo they could 

 get it for one thousand dollars, over the Red Bridge track with their 

 appropriate weights. Now, I have no thought that Molo wants a 

 race with Traveller; if he does and will back his statement, Traveller 

 can beat him for any sum from $500 to $2,000 over any track in 

 East Tennessee, or if Molo will come to the Madisonville track 

 Traveller will bear his expenses three weeks. As to Molo's insinua- 

 tions in regard to his training or riding, Cashier does not understand 

 him; but there is one thing he does undersatnd, that is, that he of- 



