Boston (Horse)

Following last weeks post I thought I'd add another horse bio. Take note of the price money being offered in the years that Boston raced.

BOSTON, foaled 1833, was bred by Mr. John Wickham, of Richmond, Va., and was by Tiruolecm out of Sister to Tuckahoe, by Ball's Florizel. He first started at Broadrock. Va., April 20, 1836, in a sweepstakes for threeyear-olds, mile heats, but was beaten by his only opponent, Colonel White's colt, by Carolinian, Boston bolting when in the lead. He did not run again until the Fall, when he started for, and won, the two-mile-heat purse at Petersburg, Va., Oct. 12, 1836, beating Nick Biddle and five others, 4:01—4:00, over a heavy track. The following month, he won the Jockey Club Purse, at Hanover, Va. As a four-year-old, at Washington, D. C., he won the three-mileheat race in 6:04—6:10, beating Norwood and four others. At the same place, Oct. 5,1837, he won the three-mile-heat race, in two heats, beating Prince George, Stockton and four others, in 5:55—5:53. A fortnight later, at Baltimore, he won the three-mile-heat purse, in 5:51—6:08, from three opponents, and at Camden, N. J., a week later, he won the three-mile-heat purse, in 5:51—6:02, beating Betsy Andrew. May 3,1838, he walked over for the three-mile-heat purse at Union Course, L. I., and two weeks later beat Dosoris for the fuur-mile-heat purse of $1,000 over the Beacon Course, N. J. A week afterwards, he beat Decatur at Camden, N. J., in the four-mile-heat race, in 8:36—8:41, and on June 1, on the Union Course, L. I., he beat Charles Carter, who had been brought on purposely from Virginia to meet him, in the four-mile-heat race, in 7:40. Charles Carter was drawn in consequence of having injured his leg, after the first heat, of which the first three miles were run in 5:36 J—the best time ever made in America at that date. On June 8, over the Beacon Course, he beat Duane for the four-mile-heat puree; time, 7:52—7:54—8:30. l)u;me won the first heat, which was the first that Boston had ever lost; the latter ran unkindly, sulking repeatedly in the second and third heats, in starting for which he was obliged to be whipped off. The same Fall, he beat Polly Green, at Petersburgh, in 9:25; Balie Peyton, at Baltimore, in 8:05 (both drawn after first heat); and Decatur, at the Union Course, L. I., in 8:00— 7:57} and the Beacon Course, N. J., in 8:12—8:26, all four-mile-heat races; besides recovering forfeit twice. On April 16, 1839, he commenced his six-year-old career by being beaten by Portsmouth, in a match for $20,000, twomile heats, in 3:50—3:48. At Richmond, Va., he beat hady Clifden and Brocklesby with ease, in one heat, in 5:46; and at Washington, D. C., he won the four-mile-heat race in 7:53—8:06, from Tom Walker, Black Knight and two others. After walking over for a $1000 purse, fourmile-heats, at Camden, N. J., he next proceeded to Trenton, N. J., and won the Jockey Club Purse of $1000, fourmile-heats, in 7:57—8:24, beating Decatur and Vashti with great ease. The week after, on the Union Course, L. I., he beat Decatur and Bailie Peyton, for the four-mile-heat purse, in 7:47—8:02. Boston won the four-mile-heat purse of $1000, at Petersburg, Va., Sept. 26, 1839, beating the Queen and Omega in 8:02—7:52. October 17, he beat Omega at Camden, N. J., for a purse of $1000, four-mileheats, easily, in 7:49; Omega being drawn after the first heat. Six days after, Boston won the four-mile-heat purse at Trenton, N. J., beating Decatur in 7:57—7:58. On May 1, 1840, at Petersburg, Va., he encountered the gray mare Andrewetta for the four-mile-heat purse. The mare won the first heat in 7:50, the best time ever made over that track, but in the second heat, the game old chestnut turned
the tables on her, and won with ease in 8:04. Andrewotta was then withdrawn. Just a week afterwards, he defeated Reliance and Cippus for the four-mile-heat purse of $1000, at Washington, D. C., in 8:02—8:06, in a heavy rain. After walking over for a $1000 purse at Camden, N. J., he had a summer's rest until October 2, when he defeated Bandit, at Petersburg, Va , in a four-mile race, in 7:57, Bandit was drawn after the first heat. On October 8, at Broadrock, Va., he defeated Texas, Bailie Peyton, and Laneville, for the Jockey Purse of 8500, three-mile-heats, in 5:56—5:49. He next beat Gano, four-mile-heats, winning the first heat in 7:57, when Gano was withdrawn. Ten days after, at Augusta, Ga., he beat Santa Anna and Omega, four-mile-heats, in 7:52—7:49.
Boston then went to the stud and made the season of 1841 at Chesterfield, Va., where he covered forty-two mares, at 8100 each. In the Fall he was again put into training, and made his reappearance on the turf at Petersburg, Va., for the Jockey Club Purse of 8700, four-mile-heats, which he won in one heat from his only opponent, Texas; in time, 8:14}. A week after, at Alexandria, Va., he walked over for the Jockey Club Purse of $800, four-mile heats. Boston next appeared at Washington, D. C., October 15,1841, and there won the four-mile purse of $1000, beating Accident, Ned Hazard, and Green Hill; time, 7:59—8:24. A week later, at Baltimore, he beat Mariner in three heats, for the Jockey Purse, four-mile-heats, Mariner winning the first heat in 8:00}, and Boston the second and third in 8:05 — 8:06. The week after, at Camden, N. J., he started, when dead amiss, against Fashion and John Blount for the fourmile-heat purse, but was distanced in the first heat, won by John Blount in 7:42. Fashion won the second heat and race in 7:48, John Blount breaking down and being withdrawn. In consequence of this unexpected defeat, he was matched against Fashion, four-mile-hcats, over the Union Course, L. I., for $20,000 a side, and on May 10,1842, the great match came off. The number of spectators was estimated from 50,000 to 70,000 ; the weather was fine, and the track in fine order. The betting was $100 to $60 on Boston. In the first heat Boston on the inside took the lead and maintained it to the commencement of the fourth mile, when Fashion collared and passed him in half a dozen strokes, at a tremendous flight of speed, which she maintained to the end, winning the heat by a length, in 7:32 }, the fastest heat run in America up to that time. In the second heat Fashion came home an easy winner in 7:45.
Only two days after this great match, Boston beat Mariner (Fashion's half brother) over the same course for the Jockey Club Purse, four-mile-heats, in 8:13—7:46—7:58} ; Mariner winning the first heat. Boston was, of course, very sore from the previous race, and would not extend himself. On May 26, at Camden, N. J., he won the Jockey Club Purse of $1000, four-mile-heats, in 8:00}—8:05, beating Treasurer. In the Fall he again came out, and at Baltimore, won the four-mile-heat race, in 8:09—7:57, beating Wilton Brown, Reliance, and Spectre. This was his last race in 1842, and the year following he only started once, at Petersburgh, Va., fall meeting, when he won the Jockey Club Purse of $300, four-mile-heats, beating Black Dick over a very heavy track, in 6:10—6:21; a race which terminated a racing career unexampled in brilliancy on the American turf. Boston started in forty-five races, winning forty, of which thirty were at four-mile-heats (including five walks over); nine at threemile-heats (one walk over), and one at two-mile-heats.
Source: Famous Horses of America ©1877