40 THE PORTRAIT GALLERY 



been developed through his experience as a director of two 

 national banks. 



Senator Fairfax had an inborn love of fine horses, and with 

 his acquisition of Oak Hill in 1885 he entered extensively into 

 the breeding and showing of Hackneys. His animals were taken 

 into the prize ring of every large horse exhibition in America, 

 and two of his best were practically undisputed champions of 

 the Hackney breed. Mr. Fairfax was the first man in America 

 deliberately and skillfully to breed for horses genuinely fitted in 

 form and action for show arena and park or boulevard. His 

 foundation stock was secured in the well-bred Kentucky and 

 Virginia mares, while a thorough scouring of Europe for a sire 

 led to his choice of the Hackney stallion, Matchless of Londes- 

 boro. Throughout a series of years, his progeny, bred and fitted 

 at Oak Hill for harness use brought an average at public and 

 private sale of nearly $900. For many years eastern Hackney 

 breeders sent their mares to the cover of Oak Hill stallions, and 

 the care of mature and young stock from other studs formed a 

 substantial part of the work on the 1,700-acre estate. 



Henry Fairfax was for many years president of the Hackney 

 Breeders' Association of America, and at the time of his death, 

 July 11, 1916, was president of the Virginia State Fair Associa- 

 tion. His spiritual life was deep and wholesome, and for many 

 years he was vestryman in the Protestant Episcopal Church of 

 Aldie. 



