The American thoroughbred . ors of breeding him belongto Squire Wickham, a Virginia gentleman whoowned a few mares and gave a loving atten-tion to the thoroughbred. The grandam of Bos-ton had originally been owned by Randolph ofRoanoke. Squire Wickham purchased her fromRandolph in 1802. Boston was foaled on theWickham plantation in 1833. He was a little chestnut colt with a broadblaze on his face, and not much was thought ofhim on the home farm. When he was a two-year-old and not yet used to the saddle or bridle,Squire Wickham sold him to Nathaniel Rivesof Richmond, Virginia, for $800. Captain
The American thoroughbred . ors of breeding him belongto Squire Wickham, a Virginia gentleman whoowned a few mares and gave a loving atten-tion to the thoroughbred. The grandam of Bos-ton had originally been owned by Randolph ofRoanoke. Squire Wickham purchased her fromRandolph in 1802. Boston was foaled on theWickham plantation in 1833. He was a little chestnut colt with a broadblaze on his face, and not much was thought ofhim on the home farm. When he was a two-year-old and not yet used to the saddle or bridle,Squire Wickham sold him to Nathaniel Rivesof Richmond, Virginia, for $800. Captain JohnBelcher first had the care of Boston in was a three-year-old before anything wasasked of him. The horse seems to have had some strikingpeculiarities, those peculiarities which go witha strong individuality. Belcher, who was oneof the trainers for Colonel William R. Johnson,had seen Boston do things in the early morningwhich made him think that perhaps in this fel-low he had a high-class animal. Yet he could. Boston the King 233 not convince Colonel Johnson that Boston wasof any account at all. But for a trial which took place down in Vir-ginia one morning, Boston might have beenrelegated to bush racing, and Johnson, whowas the greatest active turfman of his day, mightnever have had him. Johnson was at the Peters-burg track to try a pair of horses. Belcherbegged him to permit Boston to take a samplinggallop with them. Argyle and Mary Blunt werethe trial horses with Boston. Both of themhad already raced themselves into considerablereputation. The two trial horses went away from Bostonjust as they pleased, and he seemed to be unableto keep within striking distance of was so disgusted that he gave Bostonup, and turned away to escape the badinage ofColonel Johnson and the other trainer, ArthurTaylor. Argyle and Mary Blunt were runninga fast trial head and head, and Boston was trail-ing far behind them when they turned into thehead of the stretch at the
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookidamerica, booksubjecthorses
