"Molly and Tenbrooks", also known as "The Racehorse Song" is, by some definitions the first recording in the bluegrass music genre. It was recorded by Bill Monroe and His Blue Grass Boys. In 1947 The Stanley Brothers recorded it in the Blue Grass Boys' style, marking the first recorded adoption of this style by a second band.

Song plot

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The song deals with a match race between two champion horses. According to most song versions, Tenbrooks "ran all around Memphis and beat the Memphis train," while "out in California Molly done as she pleased, came back to Kentucky and got beat with all ease."

Historical facts

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This song is known to be based on a historical race. Although today a horse race of 1.5 miles is considered long, in the Nineteenth Century, horses regularly raced distances of many miles. The song commemorates one of the last such races, run as a match race between two champions, Molly and Ten Broek. Ten Broek was buried near Midland, Kentucky, and his grave can still be seen there.

Bluegrass songs | American folk songs | Ballads