H2 Making the American Thoroughbred 



named in this chapter. The four winners in 1841 were 

 owned by Charles Lewis; three of the four were by Levi- 

 athan. Another of Leviathan's get, owned in another 

 county, won at this meeting. In 1841 A. P. Yourie jogged 

 out to CarroIIton, Booneville and Dover, Missouri, with 

 three samples of Sumner County "nags," won six races, 

 lost one and paid forfeit in one. He "showed 'em" so 

 well they thought he was a native of their own state. 



WAGNER AND ALBION 



In 1843 Maj. Geo. A. Wyllie brought Wagner, by Sir 

 Charles, dam Maria West by Marion, to Sumner County; 

 and after Leviathan's death Col. Elliott put Albion at 

 the head of his stud. 



Wagner played a leading role in two of the most memor- 

 able contests in the annals of Kentucky racing. At 

 Louisville, on Sept. 30, 1839, he met the great Kentucky 

 champion, Grey Eagle, by Woodpecker, in a 4-mile heat 

 contest for a sweepstake, $14,000. Wagner was 15^ 

 hands high, a handsome chestnut with a blaze in his face 

 and white hind feet. Grey Eagle was "one of the finest 

 looking horses that ever charmed the eye. He was 16 

 hands high, a beautiful gray, with flowing silver mane 

 and tail." Wagner was owned by John Campbell, of 

 Maryland, and run by James S. Garrison, of Louisiana; 

 Grey Eagle was owned by A. L. Shotwell and run by Oliver 

 and Dickey. All Kentucky witnessed the race and not a 

 dollar of Kentucky money was bet against Grey Eagle; 

 that would have been an unpardonable sin. Wagner won 

 the first heat; the close of the second is thus described by 

 Editor Porter of The Spirit: 



"From the Oakland House home it was a terrible race. By the 

 most extraordinary exertions, Wagner got up neck and neck with 

 the gallant gray, as they swung round the turn into the quarter 

 stretch. The feelings of the assembled thousands were wrought up to 



