POST BOY vs. JOHN BASCOMBE 



What Southern horse was fit to go against Post Boy? 



That was the question that focused public attention as 

 the time drew near for the great North and South match 

 of 1836. 



The date set for the race was May, 31; up to April 12 

 the horse that could give Post Boy a run for his money 

 had not yet appeared in the South. 



For the race with Eclipse Col. Johnson had put 

 several horses in training in the Virginia winter. Now, 

 hot weather had come to the Southern racing kingdom 

 and found it still without a horse. 



The gravity of the situation was intensified by the 

 brilliant performances of Post Boy in his 4-year-old form, 

 the previous year, when he won six races without losing a 

 heat and secured a place in popular esteem second only 

 to that held by Eclipse a few years before. Two of 

 these races were of two miles, and four of four miles. 

 On Nov. 6, he ran two 4-mile heats under a pull, yet 

 ran each in 7:52 the best 4-mile heats of that year. 

 In all of these races, which were run in New York and 

 New Jersey, Post Boy contended with the best horses of 

 the East, and some from Maryland and Virginia. The 

 "Old Napoleon," himself, had one of his best in the race 

 in which Post Boy made the record 4-mile time of the 

 year. 



This North and South match was to be of 4-mile heats 

 for $5,000 a side, half-forfeit. Each side had the privilege 



