Beautiful Jim Key -
Educated Horse
A mixed-breed Hambletonian and Arabian
horse that lived from 1889 to 1912. His sire was Tennessee Volunteer (Hambletonian)
and his mare was Lauretta (Arabian). He was uncommonly skilled in many
ways.
Dr. William Key intended to breed the
fastest racehorse possible when he chose the two breeds. The resulting
colt was a huge disappointment when at birth and for weeks thereafter
the "spindle-legged" colt could not even stand. However, the colt soon
demonstrated an aptitude that pleasantly surprised the Key family.
Jim started by stealing apples and
hiding the fact by closing the desk drawer. He soon was letting himself
out of the gate and even insisting on staying in the house with William
Key. Through kindness and patience, William was able to teach Jim a
number of tricks and used him to help drum up an audience for his
medicine show.
When Albert Rogers saw the horse
perform, he realized there was significant potential for a nationwide
tour showing off the educated horse and the former slave who was
training him.
Dr. Williams Key, Albert Rogers, Monk
(the dog) and Beautiful Jim Key formed a team that for nine years was
the hottest attraction in the United States. Beautiful Jim Key exhibited
inexplicable abilities to read, write, spell, do mathematics, tell time,
sort mail, cite biblical passages and debate politics. He even
predicted the future when he identified Alice Roosevelt and added the
name Longworth to her name two years before her marriage to Nicholas
Longworth.
Beautiful Jim Key
was a most unusual horse! |