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The celebrated Peytona was in their stable. She beat Fash- 

 ion, the ideal mare of the North, for $20,000 a side. They 

 also owned Quadrille, Jig, Rory O'Moore and Topaz. On 

 the American turf of their day they were among the fore- 

 most men, and everybody who knew them held them in 

 high esteem. Their trainer was Isaac Van Lear, a very 

 able man, 



Vince Hunter, of Alabama, owned Red Eagle and a 

 number of other horses. He was a polished gentleman 

 and came from a most distinguished family. 



" Red '' Tom Watson, of Virginia, stood high on the 

 turf and was noted for his sagacity in making matches. 

 He owned vast tracts of land and was popular. 



"Red" Tom Watson, of Tennessee, was frequently 

 designated as " the man of cunning." Some people called 

 him "■ the early bird," because he was always up early in 

 the morning watching the performances of other men's 

 horses. His methods were most peculiar, but nothing 

 unfair was especially found against him, and he was noted 

 for his shrewdness. 



Ottaway P. Hare came from Petersburg, Va., and was 

 a distinguished turfman. He had one of the clearest heads 

 and the best judgment of any man on the turf. When he 

 saw two horses running at the same meeting he could 

 always lay his money accurately on the winner. He fig- 

 ured it out by careful observation. Hare owned Andrew- 

 etta, who beat Boston a heat at Broad Rock, together with 

 many other distinguished horses. Bostona was in his string 

 and added materially to his winnings. The people called 

 him " the old rabbit," because he could take care of himself 

 against any kind of talent. I regarded him as one of the 

 finest men with whom I had ever come in contact. 



John Minor Botts was a statesman and turfman of Vir- 

 ginia and was held in high esteem. He was the breeder 

 of Financier, Revenue and Two Bits. He often acted as 

 judge at the races and gave general satisfaction. 



W. R. Travers, of New York, was one of the most pop- 

 ular men I ever knew, and he numbered his friends by the 

 score in both the South and West. No gentleman from 

 either section could land in New York that he did not try 

 to locate him and make him his guest. As a wit he was 



