Molly and Tenbrooks

There are many songs about horses and horse races such as Camp Town Races, but the one about Molly and Tenbrooks, arranged by Bill Monroe as a vehicle for Earl Scrubbs and his banjo in 1937 has become one of the most popular. First published in1947, but not recorded until later, it was in his concert repertoire and in radio broadcasts.

The song tells of a race between a Kentucky thoroughbred, Ten Broeck, and Molly McCarty, a California based mare. The song is called Molly and Tenbrooks, but is also called, Run Molly Run. There are many versions, some have Molly winning the race and others Tenbrooks. New verses are constantly being added, changed around and new threads started.


Ten Broeck Grave Marker

Records show that the race was on the 4th of July at Churchill Downs in 1878. The purse was for $5000 a side for a three-heat race, all heats to be four miles each. If either horse was distanced in a heat, the other horse was to be declared automatically the winner. Ten Broeck won the race and was ridden by William Walker, an ex-slave who said it was the best race he ever rode. Unlike the verses in the song, Molly McCarty did not die and won many races after this one and produced several foals.

The race between Molly McCarty and Ten Broeck was the last four mile race in American turf history.

Lyrics to Molly and Tenbrooks

Run oh Molly run, run oh Molly run

Ten-Brooks gonna beat you to the bright and shining sun

To the bright and shining sun oh Lord

To the bright and shining sun

Ten-Brooks was a big bay horse, he wore a shaggy mane

He run all 'round Memphis, and he beat the Memphis train

Beat the Memphis train oh Lord

Beat the Memphis train

Ten-Brooks said to Molly, what makes your head so red

Running in the hot sun with a fever in my head

Fever in my head oh Lord

Fever in my head

Molly said to Ten-Brooks you're looking mighty squirrel

Ten-Brooks said to Molly I'm leaving this old world

Leaving this old world oh Lord

Leaving this old world

Out in California where Molly done as she pleased

She come back to old Kentucky, got beat with all ease

Beat with all ease oh Lord

Beat with all ease

The women's all a-laughing, the children all a-crying

Men all a-hollering old Ten-Brooks a- flying

Old Ten-Brooks a- flying oh Lord

Old Ten-Brooks a- flying



Kiper, Kiper, you're not riding right

Molly's a beating old Ten-Brooks clear out of sight

Clear out of sigh oh Lord

Clear out of sight

Kiper, Kiper, Kiper my son

Give old Ten-Brooks the bridle and let old Ten-Brooks run

Let old Ten-Brooks run oh Lord

Let old Ten-Brooks run

Go and catch old Ten-Brooks and hitch him in the shade

We're gonna bury old Molly in a coffin ready made

In a coffin ready made oh Lord

In a coffin ready made

The Stanley Brothers @1948 rendition of Molly and Tenbrooks