Beautiful Jim Key

Beautiful Jim Key

The Smartest Horse in the World

Dr. William Key (Bill) was born a slave in 1833 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Captain John Key was his master. Upon the Captain’s death when Bill was five years old, he willed a certain family of slaves including William to his cousin, John W. Key of Shelbyville, Tennessee. Bill demonstrated a special way with animals as early as six years of age. He also was a great help to the John W. Key family when it was observed that the disabled father of John W. Key was much calmer when Bill was around. However, the place where he really shined was around horses. He was so effective with horses that he was soon being sent to the pasture alone to train the horses. Additionally, he was given special attention because of his work keeping his master’s father company. His master was taught reading, writing, mathematics and science. Martha, his master’s wife, really appreciated the effect Bill had on John’s father as it saved her from having to deal with the recalcitrant old man. She taught Bill such gentlemanly skills as presentation, elocution and etiquette. These skills would all come to be most valuable to him later when he became an adult and found himself in need of them to succeed as a free man after the Civil War.

The relationship between the John W. Key family and Bill continued to grow stronger and even after the Civil War when the Key family lost everything, Bill, who by then had accumulated quite a sum of money, stepped in and helped send John W. Key’s two sons to Harvard. These are the same two young boys that Bill had followed into the Civil War fighting to protect them from harm. When asked about his unusual generosity toward his master’s family over the years, he is said to have responded, “I was one of those fortunate men who had a kind master.”

Upon returning to Shelbyville after the war, Dr. William Key opened a hospital for horses on a lot he purchased on North Main Street. His reputation of being able to do wonders for horses caused him to be considered a veterinarian even though he had no formal training as such. In five years he was among the most prominent and prosperous individuals in Shelbyville. This was but the first of many such entrepreneur steps that brought Dr. Key increased wealth and standing in the community.

After several successful years in Shelbyville, Dr. Key began to take interest in racehorses and determined to breed the fastest horse in the world.

He chose to breed a Hambletonian horse and Arabian horse. 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 Key, the horse that ended up being considered the "smartest horse in the world" lived from 1889 to 1912. His sire was Tennessee Volunteer (Hambletonian) and his mare was Lauretta (Arabian). He was uncommonly skilled in many ways.

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.

See the Book by Mim Eichler Rivas