130 Making the American Thoroughbred 



Clover Bottom, Gallatin and Nashville each had a 

 Jockey Club as early as 1807. Col. Edward Ward 

 was President of the Clover Bottom Club in the year 

 named. In 1808 a three days meeting was held at Fair- 

 field, Rutherford County. At the Bledsoe Creek track 

 in 1820, Col. George Elliott's BLACK SOPHIA distanced 

 Gen. Desha's Pacolet mare; three of Truxton's get, 

 owned respectively by Col. Weathered, Maj. Lauder- 

 dale and Gen. Winchester and Col. Winn's mare by 

 Ragland's Diomed. At Mansker's Creek, in 1820, Mr. 

 McGavock's Pacolet mare distanced five competitors 

 in the first heat. At Fayetteville, in 1820, there were 

 five entries at $100 each. In Wilson County, in 1820, 

 Black Sophia beat Col. Ed Ward's CEDAR SNAG in a match 

 race for $500 a side. 



In recounting the performances of Timoleon's get, in 

 an advertisement in February, 1829, David Dancy refers 

 to a two days meeting held by the Fayetteville Jockey 

 Club, a two days meeting at Pulaski and a meeting at 

 Shelbyville. 



In April, 1829 there was a two days race meeting at 

 Franklin at which horses ran owned by Messrs. Cash, 

 Olmstead, Perkins and Southall. 



At Gallatin, in 1 826, there was a Jockey Club of which 

 Reuben Cage was President. In September, 1829 there 

 was ten days racing at Gallatin. In October, 1829 the 

 Pulaski Jockey Club, of which John L. Smith was Secre- 

 tary, held a two days meeting. 



In 1829 Jesse Luton, backed by endorsements of John 

 McGavock, Thomas Alderson, Robert Orr, L. P. Cheat- 

 ham, D. W. Sumner, William Hinton, Col. Robert Smith, 

 Henry Wade and others, as witnesses to his skill as a 

 trainer, started a training track at Franklin. Later Col. 

 Thomas Watson, one of the most skilful trainers of that 



