John Morrison Clay
Encyclopedia
John Morrison Clay was a Kentucky
thoroughbred
breeder, a son of statesman Henry Clay
, and a husband of Josephine Russell Clay
and the brother of Henry Clay, Jr.
and James Brown Clay
. He was also called John M. Clay.
Upon his father’s death, Clay inherited a portion of the large estate, Ashland. To distinguish John Clay’s land from the mansion and lands that went to his brother, James Brown Clay
, John’s holdings were called Ashland Stock Farm, Ashland Stud, or, sometimes, Ashland-on-the-Tates-Creek-Pike.
In 1866 John M. Clay married his nephew’s widow, who became known as Josephine Russell Clay
. The couple had no children, but they poured their time and energy into training and racing horses for about twenty years. John Clay traveled the racing circuit throughout the East, South, and Midwest. Josephine ran Ashland Stud. Their famous race horses included Skedaddle, Survivor
, Star Davis, Sauce Box, Squeeze 'em, and Victory. Victory (Vic), in 1873, was bought by General George Armstrong Custer
who rode him at the Battle of Little Big Horn in 1876. It is believed that Vic died in the battle.
Following an illness, Clay died in 1887. He is interred at Lexington Cemetery. Josephine Clay continued to very ably run Ashland Stud until her own death in 1920.
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
breeder, a son of statesman Henry Clay
Henry Clay
Henry Clay, Sr. , was a lawyer, politician and skilled orator who represented Kentucky separately in both the Senate and in the House of Representatives...
, and a husband of Josephine Russell Clay
Josephine Russell Clay
Josephine Russell Erwin Clay was one of the first significant woman thoroughbred horse breeders in America and a writer. She was also known as Josephine Deborah Russell, Mrs. Eugene Erwin, Josephine Erwin, Mrs. John M. Clay, and Josephine Clay.-Life as Mrs...
and the brother of Henry Clay, Jr.
Henry Clay, Jr.
Henry Clay, Jr. was an American politician and soldier from Kentucky, the third son of US Senator and Congressman Henry Clay and Lucretia Hart Clay. He was elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives in 1835 and served one term...
and James Brown Clay
James Brown Clay
James Brown Clay was a Democratic Party member of the United States House of Representatives from Kentucky....
. He was also called John M. Clay.
Upon his father’s death, Clay inherited a portion of the large estate, Ashland. To distinguish John Clay’s land from the mansion and lands that went to his brother, James Brown Clay
James Brown Clay
James Brown Clay was a Democratic Party member of the United States House of Representatives from Kentucky....
, John’s holdings were called Ashland Stock Farm, Ashland Stud, or, sometimes, Ashland-on-the-Tates-Creek-Pike.
In 1866 John M. Clay married his nephew’s widow, who became known as Josephine Russell Clay
Josephine Russell Clay
Josephine Russell Erwin Clay was one of the first significant woman thoroughbred horse breeders in America and a writer. She was also known as Josephine Deborah Russell, Mrs. Eugene Erwin, Josephine Erwin, Mrs. John M. Clay, and Josephine Clay.-Life as Mrs...
. The couple had no children, but they poured their time and energy into training and racing horses for about twenty years. John Clay traveled the racing circuit throughout the East, South, and Midwest. Josephine ran Ashland Stud. Their famous race horses included Skedaddle, Survivor
Survivor (horse)
Survivor was an American Thoroughbred racehorse that was foaled in Kentucky in 1870 and is best known as the winner of the first running of the Preakness Stakes in 1873 at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. Survivor's record winning margin of 10 lengths lasted for 132 years until Smarty...
, Star Davis, Sauce Box, Squeeze 'em, and Victory. Victory (Vic), in 1873, was bought by General George Armstrong Custer
George Armstrong Custer
George Armstrong Custer was a United States Army officer and cavalry commander in the American Civil War and the Indian Wars. Raised in Michigan and Ohio, Custer was admitted to West Point in 1858, where he graduated last in his class...
who rode him at the Battle of Little Big Horn in 1876. It is believed that Vic died in the battle.
Following an illness, Clay died in 1887. He is interred at Lexington Cemetery. Josephine Clay continued to very ably run Ashland Stud until her own death in 1920.