Sir Archy - On The Track

On The Track

When Sir Archy was two, Tayloe and Randolph sold him to Ralph Wormely IV for $400 and an unknown filly. When Wormely later decided to quit horse racing Sir Archy was offered for sale, but there were no takers. Still owned by Wormely, Sir Archy made his first start in the Washington (D.C.) Sweepstakes late in his three-year-old season; by now, he already stood 16 hands high. Though Sir Archy had not yet recovered from a case of strangles Wormely ran him, rather than pay a forfeit fee. Still unwell, Sir Archy made his second start a month later at the Fairfield Sweepstakes in Richmond, Virginia. Though he won only the third heat and finished third overall to Colonel William Ransom Johnson's colt True Blue, Johnson promptly bought Sir Archy for $1,500.

Now in the hands of Johnson’s trainer, Arthur Taylor, Sir Archy became one of the greatest runners of his day, excelling in four-mile heats. His racing days ended when Johnson made a standing bet of $10,000 that Sir Archy could beat any horse in America and there were no takers. He finally quite racing because there were no opponents willing to race against him. His record on the racetrack was 7 starts, with 4 wins and 1 second. Sir Archy then became what most experts consider to be the first great Thoroughbred stallion bred in America. Johnson sold Sir Archy for $5,000 to General William Richardson Davie. Later, though, Johnson was very generous about his decision; he called Sir Archy the best horse to ever race in America and Sir Archy’s daughter, Reality, the best filly.

In 1827, the Washington DC Jockey Club and the Maryland Jockey Club announced that only a limited number of horses were eligible to run in their races. Although the fine points of the announcement were complex, it effectively barred all horses sired by Sir Archy; his offspring were so successful that few, if any, horses not sired by Sir Archy bothered to race. Both Jockey Clubs admitted they were concerned about their long-term viability.