Content note: Partisan caricature of named politicians that uses the epithet 'Black Dan' for Daniel Webster and regional stereotypes in the speech balloons. This object is shown as it was published. Why
"Political race course - Union Track - fall races 1836"
Lithograph of the 1836 race as a horse race: Harrison (Old Tippecanoe) leads, then Van Buren (the Kinderhook Poney, ridden by Jackson), Webster and White (LOC's left-to-right order; the title numbers White third and Webster fourth), with a crowd throwing up hats. Tells: the riders' speeches declare the result ('Old Tip is winning the prize', 'Thank God he's beaten') and rival-labels such as 'Cold blooded Kinderhooker' and 'Black Dan'.
- Date
- 1836
- Period
- Pre-1914
- Made by
- H. R. Robinson, New York (print publisher; LOC attributes the artwork to Edward Williams Clay)
- Region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Cartoon
- Issuer type
- Media
- Regime
- Jackson Administration
- Leader
- Andrew Jackson
- Audience
- Domestic public
- Purpose
- Persuade or win support
- Event
- 1836 US Election
- Techniques
- BandwagonName-calling
- Source
- Identified Openly sourced: the speaker is who they say they are
- Source
- Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, retrieved October 2, 2026
- Rights
- Public domain: published 1836, US; LOC rights note: "No known restrictions on publication."
Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division
Text on the object
[Balloon, Harrison's rider] "OLD TIP" has been in training but a short time, yet his wind and bottom are staunch as his backers are honest. I say Old Hickory that Kinderhook Nag of yours has been over trained!!! [Balloon, Jackson] By the Eternal! I'll never back a Northern Horse again. They have neither wind nor bottom, and so cursed slippery withal that it's hard to keep your seat on them. The People too are all throwing up their Caps for OLD TIP and WHITE SURREY, while this cursed Cold blooded animal is disgracing his groom & training. — I say Old Boy if you'll stop a minute I'll jump off & beat you myself. [Balloon, southern rider] The game is up! & OLD TIP is winning the prize notwithstanding the training of OLD HICKORY. I always told him when he was backing that Cold blooded Kinderhooker, he would find him wanting bottom in the hour of trial, & any thing but a race horse. — Thank God he's beaten! so we may as well hold up. [Balloon, Jack Downing figure] Well I want to know! I guess I'll jist tote along & a kinder look out in case OLD TIP he mout git a tumble. — As for that tarnel Kinderhooker, by ging he's used up & he wont only be distanced, but I kinder think he'll throw his rider into that 'are dirty pool near the Central Post! POLITICAL RACE COURSE - UNION TRACK - FALL RACES 1836 N° 1 Old Tippecanoe. N° 2. The Kinderhook Poney. N° 3. Tennessee White. N° 4 Black Dan of Massachusetts Printed and Published by H. R. Robinson 48 & 52 Cortland[t] St. New York.
Read from the 1,024-px scan; the small script is mostly clear. 'Southern rider' and 'Jack Downing figure' are inferred speaker labels, not printed. 'too' (The People too), 'Old Hickory' and the imprint's street name (Cortland or Cortlandt) are uncertain at this resolution; checked against LOC's quotation of the speeches.
