270 Making the American Thoroughbred 



"On one occasion Col. Robert C. Foster, guardian of 

 the minor children to whom Simon belonged, conceiving 

 it to be his duty, bid against me, and ran Simon up to 

 thirty dollars the then price of a good field hand. 



" I concluded to drop Simon on the Colonel's hands and 

 take the chance of hiring him privately. Simon watched 

 the bidding with the deepest interest, as he was most 

 anxious to remain in the stable and enjoy the fame and 

 emoluments of riding Haynie's Maria and other distin- 

 guished winners. When I indicated that I would bid no 

 more, Simon turned to the Colonel and said in his pecu- 

 liarly sarcastic manner, with his head laid back and one 

 eye closed, * Colonel Foster, by G d, I am not a-selling, 

 but a-hirin' for only one year.' The Colonel, who was a 

 man of high spirit and great dignity replied, shaking his 

 cane at Simon, 'You impudent scoundrel, do you know 

 who you are talking to? ' Simon with the most aggravat- 

 ing coolness, replied/ 1 think I do, and if I am not mistaken 

 you are the same gentleman who made a small 'speriment 

 for Governor once'" alluding to a race the Colonel 

 had made for Governor under very unfavorable circum- 

 stances, in which he was badly beaten. The witticism of 

 Simon created much mirth, amidst which Colonel Elliott 

 got him at the next bid. 



The purses at that period were unworthy of the atten- 

 tion of so superior a horse, and Dr. Sappington had neither 

 the means nor disposition to travel or run him for heavy 

 matches; Oscar was therefore, when sound in all respects 

 and in the prime of his racing career, withdrawn from the 

 turf and died at 1 1 years old, the property of General R. 

 Desha and Mr. Isaac Bledsoe, of Sumner County, where 

 he left some fine running stock, although he never served 

 more than two or three thoroughbred mares. 



