First Tborougbbreds of the North 135 



themselves to the sports of the turf, so the very 

 distinguished men of the North were found as the 

 owners, managers, and even trainers of the best 

 thoroughbreds about New York. Stevens, Liv- 

 ingston, De Lancey, Gibbons, and Van Ranst 

 were some of the names to be associated with 

 this early racing on the Union Course. 



The importation of Messenger and of Trustee, 

 both of which were sires of extraordinary power, 

 gave the necessary out-crosses for the blood which 

 Wildair and Lath had already left in the country. 

 And, as well, the Northern gentlemen interested 

 in racing did not hesitate to betake themselves to 

 Virginia and other parts of the South, and there 

 to purchase such blood as seemed best adapted 

 to the crossing of the lines which they had pos- 

 sessed at home. Breeding intelligently and using 

 great sums of money in judicious investment, it 

 is not surprising to know that within a very few 

 years after the Revolution the Northern breeders 

 had themselves established a distinguished family 

 of thoroughbreds ; and after the Union Course 

 came into existence they had such horses at their 

 command that they could, and did, defeat the very 

 flowers of the Southland. The Virginians suf- 

 fered the humiliation of being beaten at the 



