THE TilHiD HEAT. 2T3 



Too soon the gallant Grey was called upon, but true as steel the 

 noble animal responded to it. With the most dauntless courage 

 he made his run down the descending ground, and though Wag- 

 ner, like the bravest of the brave, as he is, made the most despe- 

 rate efforts, Grey Eagle came round the last turn on the outside, 

 with his head and shoulders in front, at a flight of speed we 

 never saw equalled. Both jockeys were nearly faint with their 

 exertions, and Stephen, poor fellow, lost his presence of mind. 

 Up to the distance stand it was impossible to say which was 

 ahead ; whips and spurs had been in constant requisition the 

 entire mile, but at this moment Stephen gave up his pull, and 

 unconsciously yawed his horse across the track, which broke 

 him oif his stride, while Cato, holding Wagner well together, 

 and mercilessly dashing in his spurs, at length brought him 

 through a gallant winner by a neck, having run the last mile in 

 1.48, and the heat in 7.43 ! 



This was without exception the most game and spirited race 

 we ever witnessed. The heat was Wagner's, and while we ac- 

 cord to him all the reputation so brilliantly won after a bloody 

 struggle of near three miles, we feel bound to express the be- 

 lief, that for an untried four-year-old. Grey Eagle's perform- 

 ance is without a parallel in the annals of the American Turf ! 

 The last three miles of a second heat, in a second four-mile race 

 the same week, were run in 5.35, and the eighth mile in 1.48 ! 



The enthusiasm of the spectators was now excited to the 

 highest pitch. There was not on the ground, probably, an in- 

 dividual who would not have been pleased to see the horses 

 withdrawn, and the purse divided between them, rather than 

 farther task the indomitable game and courage of these noble 

 animals ; but no such proposition was made, and after the usual 

 respite they were brought to the post a third time, and it would 

 have been diflSlcult to decide which had recovered best. So 

 much feeling was manifested in reference to the horses, that the 

 baser impulses to bet on the result of the concluding heat were 

 almost entirely disregarded ; odds, however, were in a few in- 

 stances offered on Wagner. 



In detailing the contest for the third heat, we are compelled 

 to record 



" A few of the unpleasantest words 

 That e'er man writ on paper ! " 

 Vol. I.— 18 



