244 Making the American Thoroughbred 



Galloping out I overtook the party. The General was 

 as calm as a summer morning. On our arrival the horses 

 were brought out, stripped and saddled for the gallop. 

 Busirus, an immense animal, and of prodigious muscular 

 power, became furious and unmanageable, requiring two 

 men to hold him for Jesse, Maj. D.'s colored boy, to 

 mount. As soon as Busirus began "kerlariping" Gen. 

 Jackson fired up, took command, and issued orders to 

 everybody. To the trainer he said, "Why don't you break 

 him of those tricks? I could do it in an hour." 



Rarey 1 could not have done it in a week. 



I had dismounted, prepared my watch, and taken my 

 place immediately below the Judges' stand for the purpose 

 of timing. The General and Mr. Van Buren remained 

 on their horses in the rear of the stand a safe and con- 

 venient position, as the quarter stretch was enclosed on 

 both sides down to the stand, no other part of the course 

 being enclosed on the inside. The General, greatly excited, 

 was watching Busirus and commanding everybody. He 

 said to me, "Why don't you take your position there; 

 you ought to know where to stand to time a horse" 

 pointing to the place I intended to occupy in due time. 

 I toed the mark, lever in hand, without saying a word 

 nobody ever jawed back at Old Hickory when he was in 

 one of his ways. 



Busirus was still "kerlariping." 



"Hold him, Jesse! Don't let him break down the 

 fence. Now bring 'em up and give 'em a fair start." And 

 flashing his eye from the enraged horse to Mr. Van Buren, 

 who had left his safe position in the rear and ridden almost 

 into the track below the stand, he stormed out, "Get 

 behind me, Mr. Van Buren, they will run over you, sir." 



1 A famous horse tamer of that period. 



