Tennessee and North Alabama 121 



Also, he frequently wrote for The Turf Register. His most 

 lengthy contributions to thoroughbred literature may be 

 found in The Tennessee Agriculturist, of 1840, and in 

 "Frank Forester's" "The Horse of America." 



William Giles Harding was born at Belle Meade in 

 1808. About 1829 he settled on Stones River and lived 

 there several years. In 1839 his father, John Harding, 

 surrendered the management of Belle Meade to him. 

 Many years prior to 1839 John Harding had taken an 

 interest in thoroughbreds; beyond this the records at 

 hand do not speak. It is possible that the following 

 letter, written from Belle Meade to the editor of The TurJ 

 Register, shows the beginning of the Belle Meade breeding 

 establishment so well remembered by this generation: 



"Sir This is, I suppose, the acknowledged centre of the 'race- 

 horse region.' Blood stock here is all the go. To be without it is 

 to be out of fashion, and destitute of taste. So I too have procured 

 a little bit of the real grit, which by-and-by I hope to increase. I 

 began with old Juliet, by Kosciusko; bred by Col. Singleton of 

 South Carolina, foaled in 1822." After stating Juliet's pedigree 

 and performances Harding continues: "Since it is a custom to be- 

 speak names in your valuable Journal I will claim for all mine at 

 once, the Greek Alphabet from Alpha to Omega, inclusive. 

 "Alpha, bay, by imp Leviathan, out of Juliet; the first colt bred by 



me; foaled wtb March, 1836. Sold to John C. Beasley for $1,240, 



and taken to Louisiana last Fall. 

 "Beta, ch. f. by imp Leviathan, out of Juliet; of good size and 



beautiful proportions. She is entered in the Criterion Stake, 



4-mile heats, subscription $1,000 each. 

 "Gamma, gr. f. by Pacific, out of Melzare's dam by Sir Richard 



[Tonson], grandam by imp Eagle, g. grandam by Wilkes' Wonder 



Chanticleer imp Sterling Clodius imp Silver-Eye 



Jolly Roger Partner, etc. Gamma is a promising filly and 



has two engagements for next Fall. 



"I hope ere long I shall be able to send you a morej interesting 

 account of this Greek Alphabet. 



W. G. HARDING." 

 "June ist 1839." 



