62 Making the American Thoroughbred 



with a white stripe down his face and white stockings 

 on his hind feet. After he got on familiar terms with 

 fame he was called "Old White Nose." He had no 

 beauty to brag on, but in strength, substance, bone and 

 speed he was a prodigy. Time and time again did the 

 proprietors of race tracks persuade his owners not to run 

 him, as his entrance into any contest would destroy the 

 sport. His owners offered to bet several English sports- 

 men $50,000 to $40,000 that he could beat any horse they 

 could bring from England. Declined. He started in 45 

 races, won 40, 30 of which were of 4-mile heats, nine 3-mile 

 heats, and one 2-mile heats. Up to December, 1841, his 

 winnings amounted to $49,500. In 1841 he covered 40 

 mares at $100 each. He won several races in 1842 and 

 then retired from the turf sound and free of blemish. His 

 career in the stud was no less remarkable than his success 

 as a racer. In 1853, 27 of his get won 56 races, 131 heats, 

 230 miles; in 1854, 21 won 50 races, 109 heats, 245 J 

 miles. "The Turfman," wrote Hamilton Busbey in 

 Harper's Magazine in 1870, "judges a horse by his bloody 

 his /orm, his deeds, and his produce; and judging by such, 

 Boston is pronounced the greatest race horse that America 

 ever produced." His right to first place in the Hall of 

 Fame would have gone unchallenged but for the career 

 of his own great son, Lexington; this has occasioned 

 difference of opinion among horsemen. It was through 

 Timoleon, Boston and Lexington that the Archy blood 

 was mostly transmitted to Tennessee thoroughbreds of 

 the post-bellum period. All of Capt. James Franklin's 

 foundation mares at "Kennesaw" were by Lexington, 

 notably Nevada, dam of Luke Blackburn, sire of Proctor 

 Knott. Gen. Harding thought Lexington a greater sire 

 than any predecessor. 1 



1 For sketch of Lexington see Addenda E. 



