122 Making the American Thoroughbred 



Gamma turned out to be a famous racer. 



Lucius J. Polk, born in 1802, owned "Hamilton Place," 

 a part of a 5,000 acre tract at Mt. Pleasant that was willed 

 by Col. William Polk, of the Revolutionary War, to his 

 four sons, Leonidas, George, Rufus K. and Lucius J. 

 The two last named were devoted to the thoroughbred 

 and owned jointly and severally one of the most valuable 

 stables in the State. In commenting on some of Lucius 

 J. Polk's importations the editor of The Spirit wrote: 

 " It is highly gratifying to see gentlemen of the character, 

 spirit and wealth of Mr. Polk engaging in an enterprise 

 fraught with so much importance in a national and patri- 

 otic point of view. In a very few years his breeding and 

 racing establishment will be second to none in the Union." 



Maj. Allen J. Davie, who owned Sir Archy in North 

 Carolina, lived in Nashville a few years prior to 1820; 

 and it appears from the list of subscribers to the Peyton 

 stake later returned to Tennessee. He was editor of 

 The Turf Register in 1836. He imported many horses into 

 North Carolina. 



Judge Robert Weakley, a contemporary of William 

 Williams at the Nashville bar, owned a stallion, Black- 

 And-AII-BIack, by Madison, son of imp Diomed, dam 

 Virago by imp Whip, and several full blooded mares. 

 George S. Yerger, State Attorney-General and Reporter 

 for eighteen years; his lawyer brother, Jacob S. Yerger; 

 and Montgomery Bell, founder of the still flourishing 

 Montgomery Bell Academy, are on record as making 

 sales of thoroughbreds. Bell's sale was four Luzboroughs 

 and one Merman, all under two years, showing that even 

 at this early period this Tennessee philanthropist had his 

 heart set on the "young ones." 



To this list of Davidson County notables may be 

 added that of United States Supreme Court Judge, John 



