![]() Billy Jackson operated the farm with his brother and brother-in-law as partners, until William Giles Harding’s death in 1886. The remaining interest went to his son John Harding, Jr. Modern racing is still dominated by the bloodlines sired by Bonnie Scotland and Enquirer, thus establishing William Giles legacy as one of America’s most successful breeders.īy 1883 William Giles Harding had passed the operation of the farm and one-third interest in the blood horses to his son-in-law, William Hicks “Billy” Jackson. William Giles had many successful studs, starting with Epsilon in 1844. Starting in 1867, this annual sale attracted the most prominent horsemen of the day from across the country. The quality of the stallions standing at stud and the mares used for breeding made the annual yearling sale highly sought after. By 1860, William Giles Harding was considered as having the largest collection of silver trophies and cups of anyone in America. William Giles saw racing as a means for properly selecting horses (sire and dam) to produce a quality Thoroughbred. Unlike his father, William Giles was more interested in improving the blood stock of Thoroughbreds than in racing itself. So I too have procured a little of the real grit, which by-and-by I hope to increase.” And increase he did. To be without it is to be out of fashion, and destitute of taste. In it he said, “Blood stock here is all the go. However, it would be up to his son, William Giles Harding, to make Belle Meade world renowned as a Thoroughbred stud farm through “blood horses” and the science of selective breeding.Īfter taking over the operation of Belle Meade for his father in 1839, William Giles wrote a letter to the editor of the American Turf Register. In 1816, Boaster became the first sire to stand at the stable on the “old Natchez Road.” Harding served as president of the Nashville Jockey Club and in 1823 registered the maroon racing silks of Belle Meade. ![]() As a Virginian, he had a passion for Thoroughbreds and immediately began stabling horses. ![]() John Harding established the farm in 1807. While the farm did not continue past 1904, the bloodlines established at Belle Meade through Bonnie Scotland and other famous stud horses continues a legacy of speed and endurance that still dominates the Thoroughbred racing scene today. Through three generations of the Harding/Jackson family, Belle Meade became the preeminent stud farm and nursery for the American Thoroughbred industry. During the 19th century, Tennessee was near the center of American thoroughbred racing and breeding it was a proud southern extension of Kentucky’s premier horse industry. ![]()
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