Ill 



SUMMER COUNTY RACES, 1804-05 



) 



Turf racing was introduced into Tennessee about the 

 year 1804. The first race of note of which we have any 

 account was a sweepstake for 3-year-olds, mile heats, 

 $100 entrance, which came off at Gallatin in the fall of 

 1804, and was won by R. D. Barry's Polly Medley, by 

 Grey Medley; she beating Gen. Jackson's Indian Queen, 

 by imp Diomed; James Cryer's Grand Turk, by Grey 

 Medley, and five others. 



This race excited great interest and was attended by 

 the first ladies and gentlemen, who came on horseback 

 from the adjacent counties. Among others were Gen. 

 Jackson, Mrs. Jackson and her nieces and namesake, 

 Rachel Hays, the greatest belle in the country; and 

 Gen. Hall and his beautiful young bride, Polly (the 

 daughter of Capt. William Alexander of Revolutionary 

 memory), after whom Polly Medley was named. 



Mrs. Hall, in the 84th year of her age, is still living 

 at the old homestead near Castalian Springs, in defending 

 which her gallant husband, who was as brave a soldier as 

 ever pulled a trigger in the pioneer struggle for independ- 

 ence, had many a desperate conflict with the Indians. 

 This venerable lady retains, in a remarkable degree, the 

 possession of her mental faculties, and has a vivid recollec- 

 tion of this race (which occurred a few weeks after her 

 marriage) and many incidents connected with it. 



