22O Making the American Thoroughbred 



miles that morning to get to the races. The Old King was a large 

 sorrel, finely formed, of immense stride and powerful action. He 

 was fatigued by the rapid ride, they not expecting to run him; but 

 so soon as they arrived they were bantered for a mile race with 

 Cook Lewis' horse, who had been in regular training, for $100 a 

 side, to carry 100 pounds. The young lawyers accepted the propo- 

 sition, and the race came off in one hour. They had no time to 

 plate the Old King, so they removed his shoes and cupped him. He 

 made a splendid run and won the match in gallant style. 



The young lawyers remained in Hartsville that night to enjoy 

 their victory and the next morning started for Gallatin. Riding 

 six miles they came to Banks' old stand where they found some 

 strangers, and were again bantered for a race of one quarter of a 

 mile for a purse of $200 a side. They were conducted to the stable 

 where they found a heavy muscled, compact horse, which they 

 afterwards understood was a celebrated Kentucky quarter-horse, 

 lately brought to Tennessee. His appearance rather alarmed the 

 keen eyes of the young lawyers. Upon a conference they knew that 

 he was a stranger in the county, and, from his general appearance, 

 that he was a hard customer. But at last they concluded to carry 

 him beyond his accustomed distance and run him 600 yards for $200 

 a side, each to carry 140 pounds, the race to come off in 30 days. 

 The Old King was high spirited, restive, extremely hard to start, as 

 well as ride. Balie Peyton, then being the best rider in the state, 

 and of the right weight, the young men fixed the weight with the 

 intent to put up the celebrated rider, Balie Peyton. The forfeit 

 being put up the young lawyers left the courts for a season, and 

 both being good trainers, immediately put the Old King into regular 

 training in accordance with the then improvements in the art. 



They established their headquarters at Capt. Jack Mitchell's 

 hotel, Gallatin, where they boarded. AH the paraphernalia of a 

 regular training stable was adopted and there is no doubt that they 

 put the horse in as fine condition for the race as the most celebrated 

 trainer could have done. 



Their old friend, the eminent John J. White, boarded at the same 

 tavern and had a very fine Pacolet riding horse who had distinguished 

 himself on the turf; and an old bay afflicted with the bighead, who 

 had been turned upon the commons. The young trainers captured 

 the old bay and made him a pack horse to go to mill and to bring 

 hominy and oats. Desiring to give the Old King a quick motion, 

 and to bring his driving muscles into play and to give a rapid and 



