Boston, a Hall of Fame Virginia-bred thoroughbred horse, was feted December 1 at Historic Tuckahoe in Henrico County with a historical highway marker dedication that recognizes his prominence in the racing world.
The marker was recently installed near his foaling location in the county along the westbound lanes of Route 6, at 10400-10402 Patterson Avenue. The dedication ceremony took place inside the original horse stable at Historic Tuckahoe — situated just outside of Richmond about 35 miles from Colonial Downs — which is the boyhood home of Thomas Jefferson.
Boston, a regal chestnut colored horse with a white blaze on his nose, was a grandson of Sir Archy and lived from 1833-1850. He was the most accomplished racehorse in an era when thoroughbred racing was the nation’s most popular sport.
Bred by Richmond attorney John Wickham and foaled near Historic Tuckahoe, Boston was known for his vicious temperament as well as his speed and endurance. He was trained in the stable of William R. Johnson, known as the “Napoleon of the Turf.” Boston won about 40 of 45 known races between 1836 and 1843 on tracks from Georgia to New York, once in front of a crowd of 70,000. He was an inaugural inductee into the National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame in 1955.
During his racing career, he was undefeated as a 4- and 5-year-old starting in 15 races. Thirty of Boston’s victories were in four-mile heats and nine were in three-milers. In the era of grueling marathon contests, Boston was in a class of his own. Thirteen of Boston’s starts took place in Virginia including eight in Petersburg –- all of which he won. Post-racing, Boston was the leading sire in 1851, 1852 and 1853 and eventually sired 95 winners of 293 races. Among his noted progeny were Lexington and Lecomte.
Moderators at the dedication ceremony were Sarah Pace, President of the Henrico County Historical Society, and Josh Pons, equine author and co-owner of Country Life Farm in Hartford County, Maryland. Pons bred Fulmineo, winner of the inaugural $125,000 Boston Stakes held July 13 at Colonial Downs. The 3-year-old Bolt d’Oro colt also competed in the September 7 Virginia Derby.
Special appreciation for Boston’s renewed attention this year — which led to the historical highway marker and inaugural stakes race in his honor — was extended to Becky Francois, sponsor of the highway marker, along with Jennifer Loux of the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, the Virginia Equine Alliance, Colonial Downs, Virginia Racing Commission, Virginia HBPA and Historic Tuckahoe.
