166 



were Ranger, Rosetta, Flora, Shark, Actgeon, Ariadne, Childers and 

 Trumpetta. 



Shark was a very distinguished animal, a dark bay. His first appear- 

 ance in public was in 1794, as a three year old, carrying 92 lbs., when 

 he was beaten over the Washington Course, near the city of Charleston, 

 S. C, for the Jockey Club Purse, 3 mile heats, by Dictator, a horse bred 

 by Gen. McPherson in 1790, (see his pedigree in "Turf Register," vol. 

 2d, p. 463.) Five started — Dictator, Shark, Mr. McPherson's Escape, 

 Mr. Burns' Paragon, and Mr. Hugh Rose's Coquette. Shark won the 

 first heat. Dictator the second and third heats. 



Time — 1st heat, 6 m, 34 sec. ; 2d heat, 5 m. 58 sec. ; 3d heat, 6 m. 

 8 sec. 



1795. — Feh. 11. — 4 mile heats — Washington Course. — Shark, as a 4 

 year old, 106 lbs., beat Capt. Warren's Echaw. This was on the Wed- 

 nesday of the race week. On the following Saturday he also won easily, 

 against a good field, the Handicap Race, three mile heats. 



1797. — Shark, 6 years old, carrying 129 lbs., over the same Course 

 on the Monday preceding the regular race, won a Sweepstakes of £1,200 

 sterling — two mile heats — beating Col. Alston's celebrated g. f. Alborac, 

 and Gen. Hampton's Hazard. This was a most excellent race, and run 

 in good time — 1st heat, 3 m. 54 sec; 2d heat, 3 m. 57 se(5. On Satur- 

 day of the same week he beat Alborac, three mile heats. 



1798. — Monday^ Feb. 12. — Shark was beaten by Commerce for a 

 Subscription Purse of $1,000, 4 mile heats. This was a very exciting 

 race. Shark won the second heat. Commerce the first and third heats. 

 Col. Hampton's Patiiot also started. We shall give further particulars 

 of this race in our notice of Commerce. 



1799. — Wednesday, Feb. 13. — Over the Washington Course, Jockey 

 Club Purse, 4 mile heats. Shark, aged, 133 lbs., beat Harpoon and 

 Greyhound. 



Same year. — Shark won the Handicap Race at Charleston, 3 mile 

 heats ; beating, after a severe race of four heats, Alborac, Merry An- 

 drew, Greyhound and Harpoon. Merry Andrew won the first heat, 

 Alborac the second heat. Shark the third and fourth heats. 



Shark started several times in 1800 and 1801, but without success. 

 He was then advertised as a stallion, and became as popular in the stud 

 as he had been on the Turf. 



Shark was conquered in 1800 by Black Maria, who had been sent on 

 by Col. Tayloe from Vii'ginia to Gen. Hampton, for the express purpose 

 of a trial with him. The famous race mare Virago was first applied for 

 to accomplish the same purpose. It is often stated and regretted that 



