24 The American Thoroughbred 



Maryland about the year 1767, by Dr. Thomas 

 Hamilton, of Prince George's County. 



Mark Anthony, the sire of Comet, was the 

 rival and successor of Janus in the southern part 

 of Virginia, and along the northern border of 

 North Carolina. He was an American-bred 

 horse foaled on the banks of the James River, 

 the property of Mr. Lee. He was got by Part- 

 ner, out of a fine imported mare. Like his son 

 Comet, he was almost black — his two hind feet 

 white, and was a little over fifteen hands high. 

 It is recorded of him that he was excellent as a 

 race-horse in Virginia, and stood many years in 

 that state and in North Carolina. He became, 

 in his later days, the property of Mr. Peter 

 Morgan, of Halifax, in whose possession he died, 

 about 1794. 



In this early time of racing at the Newmarket 

 Course, the champion of the day seems to have 

 been a mare called Betsey Baker, belonging to 

 Colonel Alston. She was a chestnut mare bred 

 by Mr. Wiley Jones of North Carolina. She was 

 by old Flimnap, and, like most of his get, was 

 remarkably handsome. She was small and 

 delicate. 



Chief rival to her was another mare, also a 



