Another historical question

[Joltman]

Years ago I was wandering the backroads southwest of Houston and came across an historical road sign that talked about the first American winner of a major race in Europe (Epsom Derby?) back in the 1800s. It was such a strange story I dismissed it at the time - but I'm sure someone on the board would know about it if there was a story here. Thought it would make an interesting novel or short story.

jm

[vineyridge]

Back during the Civil War, the great TBs of Jefferson Wells were evacuated to Texas. This meant Reel, dam of Lexington and Lecompte, and her last foal, War Dance (by Lexington) was born there or sent there and had some foals there. She was the dam of Lexington, and her 1856 son, Starke was sent to England to race in the 1860's or 70's and won the Goodwood Cup.

Iroquois was the first American winner of the Epsom Derby, but I can't think of any connection he might have to Texas

[Pan Zareta]

Back during the Civil War, the great TBs of Jefferson Wells were evacuated to Texas. This meant Reel, dam of Lexington and Lecompte, and her last foal, War Dance (by Lexington) was born there or sent there and had some foals there. She was the dam of Lexington, and her 1856 son, Starke was sent to England to race in the 1860's or 70's and won the Goodwood Cup.

Viney, maybe your typing's getting ahead of you? Lexington's dam was Alice Carneal, and he was almost never bred to Reel at all. Wells & Ten Broeck were not each others' biggest fans after the Lexington/Lecomte rivalry. Wells said he'd never breed Reel to Lexington, but finally relented. The result was Reel's last foal War Dance 1860, purchased as a yrlng by Keene Richards. His and Wells' stock was moved first to Louisiana in mid to late 1861, then to Wells' nephew's place in Texas after Butler took New Orleans in 1862. War Dance was among them, and stayed long enough to cover Texas mares in 1865. But his dam more or less drops off the map after he was foaled, one source stating she lived out her life in KY. There's no reference to her among anything I've read on the 'war refugees' and I've wondered if she died before the war. Would love to know the specifics on that historical marker! It seems a bit more logical that Goodwood-winner Starke would be mentioned in the context of his dam then his half-bro.

[vineyridge]

Oops.

Thanks for correcting me, PZ. It was late when I posted, and I was kind of vague. For some reason, I seemed to remember a very closely inbred foal from that band of evacuees.

[vineyridge]

Reel's daughter Prioress was the first American bred and American owned horse to win a classic race in England. She was bred by T. J. Wells, although owned by Ten Broeck, so it's possible that the marker was commemorating the place (wasn't it to one of Wells' brothers farms) that the TBs were sent.

Nice mystery.

[Pan Zareta]

For some reason, I seemed to remember a very closely inbred foal from that band of evacuees.

Lizzie G. 1867 b f (2x3 Reel; 3d dam Reel's 3/4 sister Judith) was the dau. of a known (War Dance) and a probable (Lecomte Mare) evacuee. Whether the breeding occurred in Texas is anyone's guess. Stud book records indicate that War Dance covered a few mares here (TX) before being moved to New Orleans, spring, 1866. Keene Richard's 1866 stud catalogue places him there (NO) before being moved back to KY May or June of '66.

Mackay-Smith (The Racehorses of America 1832-1872) says the Wells & Richards stock was moved in 1862 to land belonging to Wells' nephew, but offers no specifics as to where other than the fact that it was in Texas. Anecdotal evidence places some of the stock with Houston breeder Geo. Feris, a friend of Wells & Richards, later in the war. If their initial point of refuge was fairly close to the Louisiana border, it's quite possible that they were moved again during the Red River campaign.

[sunshine]

Looking at the Texas Historical Commission's online atlas (http://atlas.thc.state.tx.us), using keyword "derby", I found a marker in Fulshear, which is just west of Houston:

"On July 16, 1824, land grant of Mexico to Churchill Fulshear, one of the "Old 300" settlers of Stephen F. Austin, father of Texas. Churchill Fulshear, Jr., veteran of Texas War for Independence, built 4-story brick mansion in 1850s, bred and raced horses at Churchill Downs (at Pittsville, 2 mi. N). His pupil, John Huggins, won world fame by training first American horse to win the English Derby. Town platted here 1890 by San Antonio & Aransas Pass Railroad, soon was trade center, with many facilities. The Rev. J. H. Holt was first (1894) pastor of the still existant Methodist church."

[sunshine]

From the City of Fulshear's website:

"Churchill Fulshear Jr. was interested in horses and horseracing. His stables were also on the ground floor of his home. The famous racehorse Get-A-Way, known as "Old Get" by the local people, was bred by Fulshear and competed on numerous tracks throughout the United States and Europe. Between 1850 and 1870, Fulshear operated a racecourse on his plantation that was called Churchill Downs. It is believed that it was located on land that is now in the northern part of the City of Fulshear. Old timers have said that Fulshear often returned from the racetrack with his buggy loaded with sacks of gold coins."

[/url]http://www.fulsheartx.com/history.htm[url]

I think this would make an excellent story![/url]

[vineyridge]

Something is wrong with the marker.

I just looked up the Derby winners here:
http://www.racingbetter.co.uk/races/derby/winners.html

John Huggins trained Volodyovski, the 1901 winner, who was owned by C. W. Whitney. But according to the database here, he (not Mr. Whitney) was a GB horse, by GB Florizel II (St. Simon) out of GB La Reine. According to the JC, none of those horses were ever in North America.

Iroquois was American bred, won the 1881 Derby, was owned by American Pierre Lorillard, and trained by American Jacob Pincus.
http://tinyurl.com/c28o77

[Pan Zareta]

Something is wrong with the marker.

The same could be said for a lot of historical markers in TX, unfortunately.

Getaway (1878 b c x Enquirer - Colossa x Collossus) was bred by either Abe Buford or Belle Meade, and purchased from Buford by Milton Young 3/1881 for $1K. He was at stud in Texas by 1884 and stayed here through the 1892 season, after which he covered at Belle Meade. Churchill Fulshear Jr. may have had full or part interest in the horse at some point. He died the last year Getaway covered in Texas. His stock was not recorded in the ASB, tho' that shouldn't be taken to mean he wasn't raising TBs.

Huggins started out training Quarter racers in Texas. Iirc, he was one of the first trainers to routinely pony his horses to the track.

[Joltman]

Thanks everyone! I seem to recall the story relative to Fulshear. Maybe some old library or something to poke around in if I ever go back that way. The history of

There are some great stories here. It could make a terrific movie ...

jm

[Joltman]

here's a NY Times article on Huggins -

http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-fr ... 946097D6CF

So Iriquois was the first American bred to win the Epsom Derby. Volodyovsky was the first American owned winner (Whitney) trained by Huggins from Fulshear. The NY Times article speaks to his innovations as a Texas horseman teaching the NYC boys a thing or two, then going to England and teaching them a thing or two. (He was leading trainer that year).

This article shows that the Whitney activity in England didn't last long.

http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-fr ... 946097D6CF

Got hacked off because of an entry snafu.

I think its fascinating how some Americans were high profile winners in Europe (including African American jockeys) in those days.

jm

[vineyridge]

Actually Pierre Lorillard IV, the one in question, was an American for all his French name. So Iroquois was the first American bred, American owned and American trained horse to win the Epsom Derby and the St. Leger.

But it does seem that Huggins trained for him both here and in Europe. He just isn't listed as Iroquois's trainer for the Derby.