Williams' Virginia Career 237 



The most important and interesting races in which 

 Uncle Berry participated in Virginia were a sweepstake 

 and a match, each of 4-mile heats, in which he trained 

 and ran Ball's Florizel at Broad Rock. This stake was 

 run in 1804, when Florizel was three years old and all his 

 competitors four years old entrance $500. In it were 

 entered Peacemaker, by Diomed, Top Gallant, by Diomed, 

 Lavinia, by Diomed and Amanda, by Grey Diomed (she 

 was the dam of Duroc, sire of American Eclipse). Peace- 

 maker being amiss did not start. Florizel won the race 

 with great ease at two heats. Top Gallant and Lavinia 

 were distanced. 



Peacemaker and Florizel ran a match over the same 

 course, 4-mile heats, $5,000 a side, in 1805, which was 

 won by Florizel. His owner publicly offered to run him 

 against any horse in the world from 600 yards to 4-mile 

 heats for $5,000 or $10,000. 



His wonderful speed and endurance have been con- 

 stantly cropping out in his descendants; among others, 

 Boston, Lexington, Lecompte, Jack Malone, Muggins, 

 Boon, Lightning, Harry Basset, Monarchist, and others 

 too numerous to mention. 



In February, 1806, Uncle Berry came from Virginia to 

 Tennessee, bringing three thoroughbred race horses 

 Post Boy, by imp Saltram; and Dragon and Henrietta, 

 both by imp Dare Devil. For some years he made his 

 home at the hospitable residence of Capt. William Alex- 

 ander, near Hartsville, Sumner County, who was one of 

 the most gallant soldiers of the Revolution. He fought at 

 the Cowpens, where he was in the hottest of the hand-to- 

 hand conflict with Tarleton's men, who left the marks of 

 their sabres on his rifle, a weapon that was long preserved 

 by his family as a valuable relic. 



Soon after his arrival in this state Uncle Berry came 



