VIRAGO'S DOUBLE EVENT n 



who, introduced at 8 to i, closed, after a large 

 outlay, at 4 to i taken, 5 to 2 being offered 

 against the mare. On Wednesday, at the City 

 rendezvous, the eagerness of Marc Antony's sup- 

 porters for the City and Suburban slightly preju- 

 diced the position of Virago, and at the close 

 there was little to choose between them, 7 to 2 

 being taken about each.' When the numbers ap- 

 peared on the telegraph board on the day, as 

 little as 6 to 4 was taken about Virago, Mr. 

 Howard (the owner) and a great many of his 

 friends at the same time backing her at 20 and 25 

 to 1 for the double event. The Danebury party 

 nevertheless swore by Marc Antony, ' young John 

 Day ' declaring that ' nothing but a flyer ' could beat 

 him. Virago proved to be that flyer. Virago, 3 yrs., 



6 st. 4 lb., was first, with Marc Antony, 3 yrs., 5 st. 

 1 lb., second, the verdict being, ' won in a canter by 

 three lengths.' Carrying 6 st. in the Great Metro- 

 politan, including the 5 lb. winning penalty, Virago 

 won cleverly by a length, Muscovite, 5 yrs., 7 st. 



7 lb., being second. The City and Suburban was 

 run over the last mile and a quarter of the New 

 Derby course, and the Great Metropolitan em- 

 braced a distance of ' two miles and a quarter, to 

 start from the winning-chair.' They took 10 to 3 

 about Virago, first favourite, for the second race, 

 and 5 to 1 about Muscovite. The confidence of 

 the public in this great mare was unbounded. 

 They took 5 to 1 about her at Epsom for the 

 Great Northern Handicap, which she won. She 



