CHAPTER HI. 

 Some Great Races* 



There was probably no race ever run in the history of 

 the country that attracted as much attention as did that 

 between Wagner and Grey Eagle in 1839. As in all the 

 other great races, it was between the North and the South, 

 and these two sections were arrayed against each other in 

 the betting. 



Grey Eagle was a four-year-old gray horse by Wood- 

 pecker out of Ophelia, by Wild Medley, and was owned by 

 A. L. Shotwell, of Kentucky. Wagner was a five-year-old 

 chestnut horse by Sir Charles out of Maria West, by Marion, 

 and was owned by John Campbell, of Maryland. 



The race took place at Louisville and was run over the 

 old Oakland course. Stephen Welch, a white boy, had the 

 mount on Grey Eagle, while Cato, a little black negro be- 

 strode the Maryland horse. Wagner won the first heat, 

 shaking off Grey Eagle on the last turn. Up to that time it 

 was thought by the Kentuckians that the gray horse had a 

 chance. 



The next and deciding heat was won by Wagner, after 

 one of the grandest battles ever fought. All the way around 

 Grey Eagle led, with Wagner hanging on closely. First 

 one surged ahead and then the other. The result was al- 

 ways in doubt, but Wagner finally won by a neck. The 

 time was 7:48 and 7:44. 



Thad Stevens won a four-mile-race in California from 

 True Blue and several others. It attracted some attention 

 in the West at the time, from the fact that it was thought to 

 have been an unfair one. The other horses were thought to 

 have been pulled. 



Boston and Fashion ran a four-mile race over the Union 

 Course at Long Island in 1842, in which Fashion won. The 

 race was hotly contested, but Fashion was first in both heats. 



Rudolph and Angora raced over the old Oakland track 

 at Louisville in a match, and the former was easily the victor. 

 Considerable money was wagered on the result, and the 



