Sumner County, Breeding Centre 109 



in 1840, Beeswing ran a 4-mile heat in 7:38. This was 

 better than Peytona did in her race with Fashion; it was 

 only one half second behind the best time made in the 

 Eclipse-Henry race. It will be borne in mind that Sarah 

 Bladen's time of 7:37, previously stated, was better than 

 either heat of the Eclipse Henry contest. 



(8) LAVINIA, foaled 1835, by Leviathan, dam Parasol 

 (by Elliott's Napoleon). Bred by Col. Robert Smith of 

 Murfreesboro. She won seven mile-heat races in Tennes- 

 see, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana, in 1838. Sold to 

 B. M. Grissett, of Alabama (along with Lizzy Diggs by 

 Leviathan, dam by Tennessee Oscar), for $6,ooo. 1 



It must not be assumed that these results came from 

 haphazard ways of breeding. Mating was a science, and 

 the chief pleasure that most breeders got out of the turf 

 was in watching the practical test of their theories the 

 joy of achievement. This fact must be kept in mind by all 

 who would get at the heart of the thoroughbred industry 

 before one branch of it came under the blighting influence 

 of the bookmaker. Conceding this much to the impelling 

 power behind the breeders it may be easily imagined how 

 the news of the victories above enumerated, leaking back 

 through the wilderness by way of the Natchez Trace, or by 

 Mississippi steamer, stirred "the grand old county of 

 Sumner" from the head of Goose to the mouth of Mansker. 



Other successful horses bred in Sumner County at this 

 same period, and wholly, or in part, from the above 

 mentioned foundation stock were: 



1 Between Oct. i, 1829 and May 8, 1835, Black Maria won $14,900. 

 Trifle, a nonpareil, and the most successful racer of her day, won 

 $14,380; Post Boy won $12,700. In nine 4-mile heat races Boston 

 won only $7,600 in purses. Atalanta in three races in New York 

 and New Jersey won $1,500. Fanny Wright, "crack of the South," ;n 

 six races won $9,000. Comparatively speaking the Sumner County 

 stock made a very good showing. 



