An honor for Boston, in Henrico

Boston soon will have a historical highway marker in Henrico.

No, not the city – the thoroughbred racehorse.

Boston, a regal chestnut-colored horse with a white blaze on his nose, is generally regarded as the first great racehorse in American history. He lived from 1833 to 1850 and was born in Henrico County, owned initially by Virginia attorney and breeder John Wickham (who was best known for his role in Aaron Burr’s trial for treason).

The Virginia Board of Historic Resources Sept. 21 approved a request from Becky Francois for the erection of a historical highway marker that’s likely to be located across from an office building at 10431 Patterson Avenue in the Far West End – a spot close to where Boston was foaled. It will take between eight and 12 months for the marker to be installed, according to the Virginia Department of Historic Resources.

When the horse was two, Wickham gave him to a friend, Nathaniel Rives of Richmond, to settle an $800 card-game debt.

A year or so later, Boston (named after a popular card game of the time) began what would become a seven-and-a-half-year racing career during which he won 40 of his 45 starts, including 15 consecutive races. All but three of those races were three or four miles in length, across open country, during a time when such races were the standard.

Boston was nicknamed “Old Whitenose” and was well-known for his difficult temperament, regularly biting other horses and people alike. He routinely threw his riders and sometimes, if they didn’t fall off, dropped to the ground and rolled, a tactic that injured several.

Rives sent him to be trained by John Belcher, then to another trainer, L. White, who famously said, “The horse should either be castrated or shot – preferably the latter” before he was sent back to Belcher.

Ultimately, it was a slave named Ned who helped break the horse of some bad habits, in part by hooking him to a cart and having him take people on rides through Richmond and nearby areas.

Rives then transferred Boston to the stables of William R. Johnson, who was called the “Napoleon of the Turf.”

One of Boston’s most well-known races occurred in May 1842, when he faced a filly, Fashion, at the Union Course on Long Island, New York – a race witnessed by more than 70,000 people. Despite cutting a gash on his hip along a rail and having to dodge attendees who often surged onto the course, Boston led for three miles but ultimately lost by about 60 yards.

Boston was an inaugural inductee into the National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, New York.

Boston’s grandsire, Sir Archy, is considered to be the first great stallion bred in America. He was raised in Goochland County.