The Midway Matron
by Lisa Harkema
She had six foals, all daughters, but died way too early at 12. Despite this, Mamie has left an exceptional legacy and is counted as one of the most important broodmares in trotting history.
The story of Mamie and the Leyburn-trotters originates in Midway, Kentucky, so named for its location midway between Lexington and Frankfort. During the Civil War, the Kentucky legislature declared the state to be neutral, but quite a few Kentuckians still joined the army on either side. One of those was Philemon Price Parrish, born in Midway in 1839, who joined the Confederate army. Records show that he served as a private in the 5th Regiment, Kentucky Cavalry of the Confederate army throughout the civil war.
Afterwards he returned home to Midway. In 1870 he married Margaret Emma McGoffin. By that time he had established himself as a farmer and already laid the foundation for future success in the harness world. According to an 1901 article published in The Inter Ocean, “Shortly after the war Mr Parrish bought at the sale of a Mrs Martin in Scott Country the broodmare Kit, by American Boy. He bred her to Star Almont and got the founder of the Leyburn family in Mamie. W.B. Brashfield said she was the fastest 3-year-old he ever drove, but she developed a quarter crack and was turned out, thus entering the broodmare ranks.”