First Thoroughbreds of the North 143 



started a most formidable stable North, three of 

 which, however, falling out of condition, did not 

 reach Long Island. 



The horses selected by the Southerners for 

 this great occasion and also to race for the 

 three purse events to be run for on the three 

 days subsequent to the match, heats respec- 

 tively of four, three, and two miles, were Betsey 

 Richards, five years old ; her full brother, John 

 Richards, four years ; Sir Henry, four years ; 

 Flying Childers, five years — all by Sir Archy; 

 and Washington, four years old, by Timoleon, a 

 son of Sir Archy. With one of the three first 

 named, it was the intention of Colonel William 

 R. Johnson to run the match. Of these, at the 

 time he left home, John Richards was his favor- 

 ite ; his next choice was Sir Henry, and thirdly 

 the mare ; although some of the Southern gentle- 

 men — and amongst others, General Wynne — 

 gave their opinion in favor of running the mare, 

 fearing lest Henry might get frightened by so 

 large a crowd of people and swerve from the 

 track. 



Unfortunately for the Virginians, their favor- 

 ite, John Richards, in a trial race, while at 

 Mr. Badger's, met with an accident by receiv- 



