Beautiful Jim Key

Last updated
Jim Key at the 1904 World's Fair Jim Key, the spelling horse standing by his numbers and letters. (attraction on the Pike at the 1904 World's Fair).jpg
Jim Key at the 1904 World's Fair

Beautiful Jim Key was a famous performing horse around the turn of the twentieth century. [1] His promoters claimed that the horse could read and write, handle money, perform arithmetic for numbers below thirty, [2] and recite Bible passages "where the horse is mentioned." [3] His trainer, "Dr." William Key, was a former slave, a self-taught veterinarian, and a patent medicine salesman. [1] Key emphasized that he used only patience and kindness to teach the horse, never resorting to the use of a whip. [4]

Contents

The stallion, Jim, stood 16 hands high and was a bay with a mahogany coat. He had a white star on his forehead, a small white blaze on his nose, a white stocking on his right hind leg, and a tiny stocking on his left foreleg. As an Arabian-Hambletonian cross, his sire was Tennessee Volunteer, who stood at stud at a livery stable in Bell Buckle, Tennessee. Tennessee Volunteer was the great-grandson of Rysdky's Hambletonian.[ citation needed ] His dam, Lauretta, Queen of Horses, also had an impressive pedigree, being an Arabian horse originally owned by Sheikh Ahemid of Persia.[ citation needed ]

Early years

Dr. William P. Key, a mulatto former slave, bred his mare to a stallion at Bell Buckle Farms in Shelbyville, Tennessee. The mare gave birth to a highly unusual colt with extraordinary talents and exceptional intelligence. At birth, the colt was considered quite unattractive and gangly. In fact, he was so sickly that stable hands repeatedly urged Dr. Key to euthanize the foal. However, through patience and care, Dr. Key managed to nurse him through his first year of life.

He was a highly observant horse and began mimicking tricks performed by one of Dr. Key's dogs. Dr. Key provided him with the best hay and oats, and Jim Key drank only mineral water. As a yearling, he lived in the Key family home, where his conformation developed into the beautiful lines inherited from his sire and dam. By 1890, he transitioned to sleeping in a stall in the Keys' barn.

Because Jim Key was such an inquisitive animal, Dr. Key began teaching him the alphabet, how to cipher numbers, and various other tricks. Dr. Key then hired a promoter, and together they spent nine years traveling across the United States, performing at prestigious music halls and opera houses. Their tours included regular appearances at venues such as the old Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Broadway in New York, and locations in Syracuse, Chicago, Cincinnati, Atlantic City, New Orleans, and Boston. They also performed at the Pittsburgh Exposition, the 1900 Export Exposition in Pennsylvania, the South Carolina Inter-State and West Indian Exposition in Charleston, and the St. Louis World's Fair.

Tours

A programme of events, with an image of the horse's trainer, William Key Drwilliamkey.jpg
A programme of events, with an image of the horse's trainer, William Key

The horse became a celebrity, largely due to the progressive promotion efforts of A. R. Rogers. He performed at major venues across the country, from Atlantic City to Chicago, [1] and was even made an honorary member of George Thorndike Angell's American Humane Association. [5]

Beautiful Jim Key and his trainer periodically toured the United States in a specially outfitted railroad car to promote the emerging cause of humane treatment of animals. They performed in venues across most major American cities, including New York's Madison Square Garden. The horse became one of the most popular attractions at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair. Beautiful Jim Key was said to be so intelligent that he could solve mathematical problems, possibly even including trigonometry.

President William McKinley witnessed Beautiful Jim Key perform at an exposition in Tennessee and declared, “This is the most astonishing and entertaining exhibition I have ever witnessed.” He also remarked that it was a testament to what “kindness and patience” could achieve. [6] In April 1904, Jim Key performed for President Theodore Roosevelt's daughter, Alice Roosevelt, at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition. However, due to his advancing age and an ongoing struggle with rheumatism, Jim Key gave his final public performance in March 1906 at the Kansas City Convention Hall.

Death

Beautiful Jim Key passed away three years after the death of his owner, Dr. William Preston Key, also known as Doc Key or Doc Bill, who died on October 18, 1909. The horse died on September 18, 1912, in Shelbyville, Bedford County, Tennessee. He is buried along the Tullahoma Highway in Bedford County.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Louisiana Purchase Exposition</span> 1904 worlds fair in St. Louis

The Louisiana Purchase Exposition, informally known as the St. Louis World's Fair, was an international exposition held in St. Louis, Missouri, United States, from April 30 to December 1, 1904. Local, state, and federal funds totaling $15 million were used to finance the event. More than 60 countries and 43 of the then-45 American states maintained exhibition spaces at the fair, which was attended by nearly 19.7 million people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eclipse (horse)</span> British Thoroughbred racehorse

Eclipse was an undefeated 18th-century British Thoroughbred racehorse who won 18 races, including 11 King's Plates. He raced before the introduction of the British Classic Races, at a time when four-mile heat racing was the norm. He was considered the greatest racehorse of his time and the expression, "Eclipse first, the rest nowhere" entered the English vernacular as an expression of dominance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Messenger (horse)</span> Late 18th century Thoroughbred stallion

Messenger was an English Thoroughbred stallion imported into the newly formed United States of America just after the American Revolution. He is most famous for being the great-grandsire of Hambletonian 10, the father of all American Standardbred horses. Though he did not have a long racing career himself, he was a common ancestor in many successful racing horses into the 20th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marske (horse)</span> British Thoroughbred racehorse

Marske was a Thoroughbred racehorse, best known as siring the great Eclipse.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hambletonian (horse)</span> Late 18th century Thoroughbred racehorse

Hambletonian, was one of the best Thoroughbred racehorses of the late 18th century, having won all of his race starts, except one, and was later a good sire. His victories included two Doncaster Cups in the late 1790s and the St. Leger Stakes at Doncaster in 1795.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waxy (horse)</span> British Thoroughbred racehorse

Waxy was a British Thoroughbred racehorse that won the 1793 Epsom Derby and was an influential sire in the late eighteenth and early part of the nineteenth century. Waxy was bred by Sir Ferdinando Poole and was foaled at Lewes in 1790. He was sired by Pot-8-Os, a son of the foundation stallion Eclipse, whose genetic lineage traced to the Darley Arabian. Waxy's dam, Maria, was sired by the influential stallion Herod and produced one full-brother to Waxy, who was named Worthy. Waxy derived his name from a variety of potato, a choice that was inspired by his sire's name. Trained by Robert Robson, Waxy won nine races out of 15 starts during his four-year racing career, retiring from racing at the age of seven in 1797 after sustaining an injury during his last start.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black Allan (horse)</span> Foundation sire of the Tennessee Walking Horse

Black Allan or Allan F-1 (1886–1910) was the foundation sire of the Tennessee Walking Horse. He was out of a Morgan and Thoroughbred cross mare named Maggie Marshall, a descendant of Figure and the Thoroughbred racing stallion Messenger; and sired by Allandorf, a Standardbred stallion descended from Hambletonian 10, also of the Messenger line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration</span> Annual horse show in Shelbyville, Tennessee

The Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration (TWHNC), sometimes known as the Celebration, is the largest horse show for the Tennessee Walking Horse breed, and has been held annually in or near Shelbyville, Tennessee since its inception in 1939. The Celebration was conceived by Henry Davis, a horse trainer who along with several other horsemen, felt the Shelbyville area should have a festival or annual event. Although the Celebration was originally held in Wartrace, Tennessee, it moved to Shelbyville, the seat of Bedford County, a few years later. The Celebration spans 11 days and nights in late August and early September annually, and finishes with the crowning of the World Grand Champion Tennessee Walker on the Saturday night before Labor Day. The TWHNC draws an estimated 2,000 horses and 250,000 spectators to Shelbyville each year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roan Allen</span>

Roan Allen (1904–1930) was one of the founding sires of the Tennessee Walking Horse. It is believed that all Tennessee Walking Horses alive today trace back to him.

Strolling Jim (1936–1954) was the first Tennessee Walking Horse to become World Grand Champion of his breed. Since Strolling Jim's death, a restaurant, street, and an annual ultramarathon in his hometown of Wartrace, Tennessee have been named after him.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Am Jose</span>

I Am Jose is a Tennessee Walking Horse stallion and three-time World Grand Champion. He is the first stallion and second horse to win the World Grand Championship three times. I Am Jose is black with a star on his forehead.

Wilson's Allen (1914–1939) was an influential early Tennessee Walking Horse sire. Although he himself was not used as a show horse, he sired the first three World Grand Champions of his breed.

Shaker's Shocker was a Tennessee Walking Horse stallion who won his breed's World Grand Championship in 1966.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dark Spirit's Rebel</span>

Dark Spirit's Rebel was a Tennessee Walking Horse who won a World Grand Championship in 1992. Nicknamed Rebel, the horse was trained by Alabama resident Bud Dunn. After his show career was over, Rebel sired the 1999 World Grand Champion Tennessee Walking Horse, RPM.

The Coach (2004-2017) was a Tennessee Walking Horse stallion who won the World Grand Championship in 2010.

Game World is a Tennessee Walking Horse stallion who won the World Grand Championship in the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration in 2011.

Gen's Black Maverick is a Tennessee Walking Horse stallion. He has won two World Championships and the 2017 World Grand Championship in the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration.

Waterfall Farms was a Tennessee Walking Horse farm located in Bedford County, Tennessee. During their heyday, they stood World and World Grand Champion stallions such as JFK, He's Puttin' on the Ritz, Pride's Generator, and Watch It Now at stud and had multiple show horses. Waterfall Farms was later sold and no longer is an operational horse facility.

Out On Parole (1997–2018) was a Tennessee Walking Horse who won the World Grand Championship in the 2002 Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jewel's Leo Bars</span> Cutting horse

Jewel's Leo Bars (1962–1978), commonly known as "Freckles", was a sorrel American Quarter Horse stallion sired by Sugar Bars, out of Leo Pan by Leo. He is considered to be one of the early cutting horse foundation sires, most notable for his influence on the performance horse industry. He was owned by Marion Flynt and stood at stud at Flynt's Square Top 3 Ranch in Midland, Texas, the home of "many legendary horses". In addition to being a notable foundation cutting horse sire, Freckles also competed in three different disciplines—racing, halter, and cutting—earning an AQHA Register of Merit in Cutting, Halter Stallion points, and a National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Certificate of Ability.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Hunt, Paula (July 17, 2005). "Accepting author swallows incredible horse's tale". San Antonio Express-News.
  2. ↑ "Jim Key Does Sums for 8,000 Children". The Minneapolis Journal. Journal Print. Co. 1906-04-04. p. 10. ISSN   2151-3953. LCCN   83045366. OCLC   1757631. Archived from the original on 2020-05-28. Retrieved 2020-05-28.
  3. ↑ Rogers, Albert R. (1901). The Story of Beautiful Jim Key.
  4. ↑ "Beautiful Jim Key". Boston Daily Globe. October 24, 1901. p. 3.
  5. ↑ Mim Eichler Rivas (2005). Beautiful Jim Key: The Lost History of the World's Smartest Horse. William Morrow. p. 197. ISBN   9780060567040.
  6. ↑ Mim Eichler Rivas (2005). Beautiful Jim Key: The Lost History of the World's Smartest Horse. William Morrow. p. 155. ISBN   9780060567040.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.