106 Making the American Thoroughbred 



The TurJ Register wrote in February, 1843: "To this day 

 the Turfmen of the Old Dominion and of the North will 

 not concede that any performance made at New Orleans 

 equals that of Sarah Bladen who, at eight years old, with 

 her full weight up, ran 4-mile heats in 7:37-7:40." 



(3) BIRMINGHAM (Col. George Elliott's), foaled 1831; 

 by Stockholder, dam Black Sophia. Sold for $700 to A. 

 B. Newsom, who sold him for $2,500 to Dr. Scott of Benton 

 County, Alabama, who sold him for $4,500 to Maj. Kean 

 of Mobile. After several victorious campaigns Birming- 

 ham, in the presence of a great crowd at Mobile, in April, 

 1837, as the entry of P. B. Starke, defeated Col. Vance 

 Johnson's Scarlet in a match race, 4-mile heats, for $5,000. 

 Scarlet was by Waxy (son of Sir Archy) dam by Tiger. 

 Scarlet distanced first heat. Time i : 54 i : 54 i : 55 

 2:05. Total 4 miles 7:48. The Spirit said Birmingham 

 could have made better time, but, as it was, proved him- 

 self "one of the very best horses on the American turf." 

 At this same meeting four days later he was allowed to 

 take down a $1,000 purse without opposition. In 1838 he 

 was taken to Kentucky for use as a stallion and in 1839 

 Y. N. Oliver & Co., of New Orleans and Louisville, sold 

 half interest in him to Throckmorton and Prestbury of 

 Louisville for $4,000. As a stallion he earned a place in 

 the list of celebrities. 



(4) LINNET/ foaled 1832, by Leviathan, dam Object by 

 Marshal Ney by Pacolet. James Jackson sold her as a 

 3-year old to W. J. Minor of Natchez, Miss., for $3,000 



1 The fact that Linnet was later owned by James Jackson prob- 

 ably caused some writers to say she was bred by Jackson. General 

 Desha who lived in Sumner at the time, said she was bred in Sum- 

 ner. Bruce credits John Duncan of Alabama with owning Object. 

 The fact that Object produced nine foals by Leviathan indicates a 

 long residence in Sumner. At any rate she was of Sumner County 

 stock. 



