THE SECOND RACE. 267 



and euergy than ever. Some one wrote from Louisville, direct- 

 ly after the race, to the effect that Wagner had declined to meet 

 Grey Eagle in a match for $10,000, fom'-mile heats ; which let- 

 ter made its aj^pearance in the column of a Lexington journal. 

 This statement the friends of Grey Eagle did not deny, though 

 it was made without their authority ; and in consequence Wag- 

 ner was forced to notice it. Li an article " by authority," from 

 the pen of a distinguished correspondent of the " Spirit of the 

 Times," published in the Louisville " Journal " on the 5th Oc- 

 tober, the writer remarked to the following effect ; — 



" Wagner and Grey Eagle. — The re'pntation of his horse is 

 dear to a turfman, and it is his duty to shield and defend it as 

 he would his own honor. The contest between Wagner and 

 Grey Eagle will long be remembered by those who witnessed it. 

 Wagner's lionors were nobly won ; he earned them in a field 

 where every inch of ground was closely contested ; and any one 

 who would attempt to pluck a laurel from his brow, by false- 

 hood or misrepresentation, deserves the scorn of every honor- 

 able man. 



" The writer of this has been induced to make these remarks, 

 from the fact that a letter has been published in a Lexington 

 paper, written from Louisville, containing a statement that Grey 

 Eagle had challenged Wagner for $10,000, and the latter had 

 declined the contest. This statement is positively y«7.s<', and the 

 owners of Grey Eagle will cheerfully bear testimony to the 

 truth of the assertion. The facts of the case are these ; Wagner 

 had gained a victory over Grey Eagle — a victor}^ in which even 

 the defeated party gained the brightest laurels, and won for 

 himself imperishable fame. Hence Wagner's friends prized his 

 victory the more highly ; and, with that courtesy towards the 

 friends of Grey Eagle which is ever due from the victor to the 

 vanquished, they would have been willing to leave Kentucky, 

 perfectly satisfied with his performance. But the communica- 

 tion, above referred to, leaves but one course to the owner of 

 Wagner. He is willing to run him against Grey Eagle, or any 

 other horse in the United States, four-mile heats, for $10,000, or 

 any amount above that sum. This offer is made with no dis- 

 position to detract from the reputation of the game and gallant 

 Grey Eagle, but solely on account of justice to Wagner, who 



