ANNALS OF THE TURF. 307 



as I nave owned, can be of service to you. Old Medley was im- 

 ported to this country about the year 1785, was owned by Mr. Mai- 

 comb Hart, and stood at Hanover Court House. He was one of 

 the most beautiful horses I ever saw. I cannot at this remote period 

 pretend to describe him further than he was a grey horse of the 

 finest proportions and not more than 14 1-2 to 15 hands high. I 

 have always esteemed him one of the best horses ever imported into 

 the United States, and concur with you in opinion that his stock 

 is decidedly the best we have had. His colts were the best racers 

 of their day, although they were generally small ; but their limbs 

 were remarkably fine, and they were distinguished for their ability 

 to carry weight. I owned some of the best of his colts. Bellair 

 and Calypso I bred ; Grey Diomed and Quicksilver, I purchased 

 from the profits which I realized from their successful performances 

 on the turf. I have reason to hold Medley in grateful remembrance. 



" As respects Bellair, he was strong built and rather stout, good 

 eyes and remarkable fine bony legs : rather above fifteen hands. 

 I do not think his bottom was surpassed by any horse on record ; 

 if ever he locked his antagonist I felt confident of success. When 

 he ran with Mr. Randolph's Gimcrack, he was in excessive bad 

 order, after a long journey, in bad weather, from Maryland, 

 they ran tlwee 4 mile heats, in each of which Bellair mended, and 

 was not beat far. I refused 500 guineas for him immediately after 

 the race. 



" I concur with you respecting the old Virginia stock, which 

 should not be lost." 



Having given an account of Col. Tasker's imported mare Selima, 

 it may not here be improper to add that of Carter Braxton's im- 

 ported inare Kitty Fisher : as those two mares bred more fine stock 

 in Virginia than any other imported mares brought to this country ; 

 it being well known to the sportsmen and breeders for the turf, 

 that some of the highest formed racers and stallions bred in that 

 State were descended from those two mares. 



- Kitty Fisher was a gray mare foaled in 1755, and imported by 

 Carter Braxton in the fall of 1759. She was bought by Mr. Brax- 

 ton, at New Market, England, in the spring of 1759, being then 

 the property of the Marquis of Granby, and stood at the time en 

 gaged in a sweepstake for 3GOOZ. for three years old fillies ; but the 

 Marquis being abroad with the British armies, he was allowed to 

 withdraw himself from his racing engagements, and directed all his 

 running stock to be sold. At the sale she was purchased as above 

 and sent over to this country. She was got by Cade, (one of the 

 finest sons of the Godolphin Arabian) her dam by the Cullen Ara- 

 bian, out of the famous mare Bald Charlotte. (Bald Charlotte was 

 a high bred mare, of the finest form and winner of King's plates.) 



Kitty Fisher was trained in this country and run, and won easily 

 several matches. 



It is peculiarly pleasing to recur to those periods in Virginia, 



when the blooded horse held such a high place in the estimation 



of the people; when men the most distinguished for their wealth, 



their talents or patriotism, were seen vying with each othei wiio 



27* 



