176 Making the American Thoroughbred 



Some years after the events recorded in this narrative, 

 "General" Desha as he was called moved to Mobile, 

 Alabama. Since then his name as the breeder and owner 

 of one of the best race "nags'* of his time has been en- 

 tirely lost to memory, and he is now best known as an 

 ancestor of several New York multi-millionaires and a 

 sprig or two of English "nobility" so-called. 1 



Gen. Desha's challenge added greatly to the feeling 

 of expectancy that pervaded Spencer's Choice and the 

 country round, during the Christmas festivities that 

 followed its writing. It was several times printed as an 

 advertisement in one of the Nashville papers and, doubt- 

 less, in Kentucky papers. Anyhow, in the course of a few 

 weeks, it came to the eye of Capt. Sidney Burbridge of 

 Frankfort, then at the head of Kentucky breeders and 

 trainers, who lost no time in removing Gen. Desha's 

 fear that no one would accept his challenge. After some 

 public correspondence, running through several weeks, 

 during which time counter propositions were made, it 

 was finally agreed that the race should take place on Sept. 

 21, 1836, at Oakland Course, Louisville, the stake and 

 distance being as named by Desha. 



Burbridge met Desha's challenge with Rodolph, 5 

 years old, bred by Charles Buford, of Scott County, 

 Kentucky, and sold by him to Burbridge and Dickey. 

 Rodolph was by Archy-out-of-Transport, son of Sir 

 Archy; his dam by Haxall's Moses, grandam by Cook's 

 Whip (by imp Saltram, dam by Herod) and great grandam 

 by Craig's Alfred, son of imp Medley. Rodolph was 15 J 

 hands high, bay, with a coat like satin; his hind feet 

 white to the upper pastern joints; his forehead fine, his 

 head, neck, shoulder and back "almost perfection"; a 



1 For statements about the Desha family Cisco's "Historic Sum- 

 ner County" is relied upon. 



