Received a copy of this new title from UVA Press by Julie Campbell. It has been very informative not only about the general scene of horses in the state but because this mirrored the development of the thoroughbred (and racing) to see how owners and breeders valued certain things.
One thing that is striking is how small many of the Tb horses were and I would assume the 'Arab' influence. 14.3 - 15.3 quite the norm and not many noted to be larger than that. The drawings (and later pictures) might also be interesting for those with an eye for conformation and what a 'good' horse looked like then, compared to what is deemed desirable now.
Another thing highlighted was the development of the horses (from TB stock) that ran short, and the effect on what would become the Quarter horse breed. Great pix and excellent notes for the researchers (Shammy take note!)
About half through and a good resource for anyone but especially us Virginians - both home grown and transplanted.
jm
The Horse in Va
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The Horse in Va
Run the race - the one that's really worth winning.
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Shammy Davis
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I think its on Amazon now... I can certainly lend you mine if you like. I got it from an 'inside source'.
http://www.amazon.com/Horse-Virginia-Il ... 616&sr=8-1
I think you'll enjoy it and most likely learn a few things - even for a guy like you who reads a lot. For example, I didn't know just how widespread the TB business was in southern Va around from Richmond, Petersburg, Mecklenburg etc.
jm
http://www.amazon.com/Horse-Virginia-Il ... 616&sr=8-1
I think you'll enjoy it and most likely learn a few things - even for a guy like you who reads a lot. For example, I didn't know just how widespread the TB business was in southern Va around from Richmond, Petersburg, Mecklenburg etc.
jm
Run the race - the one that's really worth winning.
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Shammy Davis
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- Joined: Sat Oct 02, 2004 8:23 am
JM: I'll look for it on the web. I am building an extensive equine library that hopefully one day my youngest daughter, the other true horse lover and equestrian in the family, will cherish as much as I do. But thanks for the offer, you are very kind.
I spent some time researching the history of VA horseracing and one of the more active tracks prior to the 1865 was in Petersburg. Most everyone knows that Alexandria was also an active horse racing center. Unfortunately, I've found little information on Petersburg. I've always been curious to where it was located. My mother's side of the family is from the Hopewell and Petersburg area. She was a Riddle, but I've had no luck making the Man O'War connection. Would love to be able to say Sam was a cousin and Walter Jeffords robbed me of my inheritance.
Many families from the Tidewater area were also active in racing.
Some years ago, I found that colonial Fauqier County, VA actually reached to Lexington, KY. You've got to wonder what was going on back then to allow horseracing in VA to decline so drastically following the Civil War. I am sure that much of the problem was economic losses that the south suffered, but you would have thought the passion might have been rekindled as time and progress heeled wounds. I am sure some would blame the likes of Pat Robertson or Jerry Falwell. They may be closer to being right than we might think. I'm sure both Jerry and Pat are clones.
To no one's surprise, QH history books give more information on colonial and pre-Civil War racing than any others. We often forget that the TB stud book reaches back only some 200 years.
I'm so glad you posted about this book. I'm anxious to read it. I found this book description in case anyone else is interested.
Book Description: The University of Virginia Press, VA, 2010. Hard Cover. Book Condition: Brand New. Dust Jacket Condition: Brand New. Photographs (illustrator). First Edition. 4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall. Signed by Julie A. Campbell on the half title page. Not to anybody in particular, just the author's full name. 296 glossy pp. 8 x 10 in, 46 color and 113 b/w illustrations. Campbell is the associate director of communications and public affairs at Washington and Lee University, in Lexington, Va. Hers is the first book to cover the complete history of the horse in the Old Dominion, and much of the research was undertaken at the NSL. Virginia's horse tradition goes back 400 years to the first settlement at Jamestown. Since then, the state’s special relationship with the horse has never waned. Virginia has been known for centuries for its production of Thoroughbred racehorses and as the birthplace of the native Quarter Horse breed. The state has also produced many famous individual horses, including the great Triple Crown champion Secretariat and Misty of Chincoteague, one of the most beloved animals in children’s literature. The most significant figures in the Commonwealth’s history have almost invariably enjoyed a special bond with horses, from George Washington—whom Thomas Jefferson called "the best horseman of his age"—to Robert E. Lee, who rode into battle on his well-known gray, Traveller. This tradition has continued into the present day, when horse farms are still a proud feature of the Virginia countryside and famed equestrians such as David and Karen O’Connor have represented their state and their country in the Olympics. Campbell was raised in Santa Fe, N.M., and earned a B.A. in history from Arizona State University and an M.A. in history from the University of Arizona.
I've been wanting to get to CD, but can't break away. The wet weather is holding up things. I remember in Joe Taylors "Guide to . . ." book that cool climates were the only place to produce good quality horse hay. The mid-Atlantic doesn't qualify. Of course, considering his previous employers and how well his three sons are doing, I guess he could afford to buy up North.
I spent some time researching the history of VA horseracing and one of the more active tracks prior to the 1865 was in Petersburg. Most everyone knows that Alexandria was also an active horse racing center. Unfortunately, I've found little information on Petersburg. I've always been curious to where it was located. My mother's side of the family is from the Hopewell and Petersburg area. She was a Riddle, but I've had no luck making the Man O'War connection. Would love to be able to say Sam was a cousin and Walter Jeffords robbed me of my inheritance.
Many families from the Tidewater area were also active in racing.
Some years ago, I found that colonial Fauqier County, VA actually reached to Lexington, KY. You've got to wonder what was going on back then to allow horseracing in VA to decline so drastically following the Civil War. I am sure that much of the problem was economic losses that the south suffered, but you would have thought the passion might have been rekindled as time and progress heeled wounds. I am sure some would blame the likes of Pat Robertson or Jerry Falwell.
They may be closer to being right than we might think. I'm sure both Jerry and Pat are clones.
To no one's surprise, QH history books give more information on colonial and pre-Civil War racing than any others. We often forget that the TB stud book reaches back only some 200 years.
I'm so glad you posted about this book. I'm anxious to read it. I found this book description in case anyone else is interested.
Book Description: The University of Virginia Press, VA, 2010. Hard Cover. Book Condition: Brand New. Dust Jacket Condition: Brand New. Photographs (illustrator). First Edition. 4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall. Signed by Julie A. Campbell on the half title page. Not to anybody in particular, just the author's full name. 296 glossy pp. 8 x 10 in, 46 color and 113 b/w illustrations. Campbell is the associate director of communications and public affairs at Washington and Lee University, in Lexington, Va. Hers is the first book to cover the complete history of the horse in the Old Dominion, and much of the research was undertaken at the NSL. Virginia's horse tradition goes back 400 years to the first settlement at Jamestown. Since then, the state’s special relationship with the horse has never waned. Virginia has been known for centuries for its production of Thoroughbred racehorses and as the birthplace of the native Quarter Horse breed. The state has also produced many famous individual horses, including the great Triple Crown champion Secretariat and Misty of Chincoteague, one of the most beloved animals in children’s literature. The most significant figures in the Commonwealth’s history have almost invariably enjoyed a special bond with horses, from George Washington—whom Thomas Jefferson called "the best horseman of his age"—to Robert E. Lee, who rode into battle on his well-known gray, Traveller. This tradition has continued into the present day, when horse farms are still a proud feature of the Virginia countryside and famed equestrians such as David and Karen O’Connor have represented their state and their country in the Olympics. Campbell was raised in Santa Fe, N.M., and earned a B.A. in history from Arizona State University and an M.A. in history from the University of Arizona.
I've been wanting to get to CD, but can't break away. The wet weather is holding up things. I remember in Joe Taylors "Guide to . . ." book that cool climates were the only place to produce good quality horse hay. The mid-Atlantic doesn't qualify. Of course, considering his previous employers and how well his three sons are doing, I guess he could afford to buy up North.
If you want to dive into research, the author is a scholar, so there is a lot of footnoted documentation. You could get lost in that stuff...
While searching for something else today, I ran across Powhatan Stables - apparently a big operation in Va that owned/bred Tom Rolfe. One has to wonder what happened to the rest of the major operations (Nydrie and Barracks Stud come to mind) - and what Central Va must have been like in the 50s-60s.
jm
While searching for something else today, I ran across Powhatan Stables - apparently a big operation in Va that owned/bred Tom Rolfe. One has to wonder what happened to the rest of the major operations (Nydrie and Barracks Stud come to mind) - and what Central Va must have been like in the 50s-60s.
jm
Run the race - the one that's really worth winning.
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Shammy Davis
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According to this link, VA helped the KY industry to flourish.
Helping Kentucky establish its foothold on horse racing was Virginia's struggle to maintain racing under the burden of religious censure and bad business practices. The Revolution had damaged their stock, which was then replaced by low quality horses from dishonest British horse merchants. Diomed, who never performed up to par after his 1780 Epsom Darby win, was them sent to stud, although his sires floundered in England. He was then considered useless and thereby suitable for trade to America and shipped to Virginia in 1800. For some reason his luck changed in Virginia; each year his crop of sire champions grew, even to the point of joining the line of Aristides, who won the first Kentucky Derby in 1875.
http://onlinehorseracing.info/race_history.html
Helping Kentucky establish its foothold on horse racing was Virginia's struggle to maintain racing under the burden of religious censure and bad business practices. The Revolution had damaged their stock, which was then replaced by low quality horses from dishonest British horse merchants. Diomed, who never performed up to par after his 1780 Epsom Darby win, was them sent to stud, although his sires floundered in England. He was then considered useless and thereby suitable for trade to America and shipped to Virginia in 1800. For some reason his luck changed in Virginia; each year his crop of sire champions grew, even to the point of joining the line of Aristides, who won the first Kentucky Derby in 1875.
http://onlinehorseracing.info/race_history.html
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Shammy Davis
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- Joined: Sat Oct 02, 2004 8:23 am
Joltman wrote:I think its on Amazon now... I can certainly lend you mine if you like. I got it from an 'inside source'.
http://www.amazon.com/Horse-Virginia-Il ... 616&sr=8-1
I think you'll enjoy it and most likely learn a few things - even for a guy like you who reads a lot. For example, I didn't know just how widespread the TB business was in southern Va around from Richmond, Petersburg, Mecklenburg etc.
jm
Hi Jolt,
Secretariat was foaled at Meadow Stud near Richmond VA. TJ
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Shammy Davis
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JM: VA was a pretty fertile breeding ground for the TB. Willis Sharpe Kilmer bred KY winner RALEIGH COUNT at Manor Court near Winchester, but few know that he had a very large breeding facility near Saluda, VA that was called Remlik. He had ties w/Chris Chenery and as I recall either Sun Beau or Sun Briar are buried at the Meadow as Chenery purchased a number of Kilmer's stock at a dispersal after Kilmer's death in 1940.
http://www.pine3.info/USS%20Remlik.htm
Here's an interesting read about Fredericksburg. Check out the paragraphs on the Fredericksburg JC and the following chapter on racing.
http://ggcweb.com/nnht/pages.asp?pg=Fred8
http://www.pine3.info/USS%20Remlik.htm
Here's an interesting read about Fredericksburg. Check out the paragraphs on the Fredericksburg JC and the following chapter on racing.
http://ggcweb.com/nnht/pages.asp?pg=Fred8
Good stuff guys. T
The 18th and 19th c info is interesting because it parallels so many important events in these parts - Revolution, Jefferson/Madison/Washington et al,, slavary, Civil War, etc. The horses were a given, but the presence of the racing element gave society something of sporting interest. The comment about the public's interest in the race results despite the high drama of the pending revolution speaks volumes. Without sport/racing, life would have been simply utilitarian and the horse's ability to pull a wagon it's only virtue. The trend seems to eventually get going again after the Civil War (I'll use that more common misnomer) and thrive again in the 20th c, only to practically come to a screeching halt in our own day, Secretariat, notwithstanding.
jm
The 18th and 19th c info is interesting because it parallels so many important events in these parts - Revolution, Jefferson/Madison/Washington et al,, slavary, Civil War, etc. The horses were a given, but the presence of the racing element gave society something of sporting interest. The comment about the public's interest in the race results despite the high drama of the pending revolution speaks volumes. Without sport/racing, life would have been simply utilitarian and the horse's ability to pull a wagon it's only virtue. The trend seems to eventually get going again after the Civil War (I'll use that more common misnomer) and thrive again in the 20th c, only to practically come to a screeching halt in our own day, Secretariat, notwithstanding.
jm
Run the race - the one that's really worth winning.