American Eclipse vs. Henry 153 



wider theatre may be dated. If ever defeated from 

 that he was sure to reap advantage; like another Fred- 

 erick his genius shone brightest after a repulse. He 

 may have rode and trained his own horses. You will 

 recollect the Duke of Bedford rode Dragon 1 when he 

 beat Sir J. Lade's Cliffden, rode by the latter. Both 

 horses came to the United States." 



In the 30 North and South matches and sweepstakes 

 run between 1823 and 1834, John C.Stevens and W. R. 

 Johnson were usually the largest stockholders, when 

 stakes were divided, and each usually owned the entries 

 of their respective sections or managed the contests. Of 

 the 30 races the South won 17. The aggregate sum at 

 issue in the 30 contests was about $120,000, and it was 

 regarded as singular that a balance of only $6,000 stood 

 to the credit of the South. This amount, $120,000, was 

 exclusive of bets and Jockey Club purses. The latter, 

 in which the South was generally victorious, would increase 

 the sum to her credit by $12,000 to $15,000. The week 

 before the first Peytona-Fashion race was run, in 1845, 

 The Spirit reported that in large stakes, and in matches 

 for sums ranging between $1,000 and $5,000, the North 

 seemed to have the best of it, but the South had made a 

 drawn game of big events. More of this in another story. 



Some men engaged in the breeding and raising of horses 

 for pastime; Johnson made it his vocation, his avocation 

 and his vacation. Being a man of good judgment, having 

 a just regard for the importance of system and the care 

 of details, and in love with his business, success was 

 inevitable. He accumulated a large fortune and for 30 

 years or longer he was known as "the Napoleon of the 

 Turf." A visitor to his home, "Oaklands," near Moody's 

 1 Dragon, as shown, stood in Tennessee. 



