154 Making the American Thoroughbred 



Tavern, wrote that everything about his place, the move- 

 ments of servants, etc., showed the master's executive 

 ability and love of order, and clocklike regularity in the 

 daily routine. 



For several terms Col. Johnson was a highly re- 

 spected member of the Virginia legislature, was a Whig 

 candidate for Presidential elector, and for several years 

 was among gubernatorial and congressional probabilities. 

 According to the writer just quoted, Johnson prided 

 himself "upon never having read a book through, like 

 General Jackson. Yet the former I regard as a man of 

 much the best mind of the two better fitted to make a 

 President." 



John Randolph had great confidence in Johnson's 

 genius as a horseman and in his judgment of congressional 

 as well as Jockey Club races, and frequently sought his 

 advice concerning party policies and his own individual 

 interests. As evidence of his esteem Randolph willed 

 Johnson $25,000 and made him one of the executors of 

 his estate, which, by the way, included about 100 thorough- 

 bred horses at the time of Randolph's death. Follow- 

 ing the precedent set by Randolph, Abner Robinson, a 

 wealthy horseman of Richmond, Virginia, who died in 

 1 843, made Col. Johnson one of the executors of his estate 

 and willed him $25,000. 



Under the agreement between Van Ranst and Johnson 

 the South, as stated, had the privilege of naming the con- 

 testant against Eclipse. Five horses were put in training 

 at Bristol, Pennsylvania John Richards, Betsey Rich- 

 ards, Henry, Washington and Flying Childers. John 

 Richards was Johnson's first choice and Henry, or Betsey 

 Richards, second. Washington fell amiss, John Richards 

 was lamed and both were left at Bristol. With the other 



