274 TllK IKJKSE. 



At the word " Go," they broke off with a racing stride, 

 "Wagner taking the lead by about two lengths ; the pace was 

 moderate, for Stephen on Grey Eagle was expressly charged to 

 pull him steady, and wait for orders. Wagner accordingly led 

 with an easy stroke through the first mile, and being cheered as 

 he passed the stand, he widened the gap soon after to four or 

 five lengths. At the half-mile post Grey Eagle made play, 

 and had nearly closed the gap as they came opposite the Oak- 

 land House, when he suddenly faltered as if shot, and after 

 limping a step or two, abruptly stopped ! " Grey Eagle has let 

 down ! " was the cry on all hands, and when the spectators be- 

 came aware of the truth of the painful announcement, the tear- 

 ful eyes of a radiant host of Kentucky's daughters, and the 

 heartfelt sorrow depicted in the countenance of her sons, indi- 

 cated the sincerity of the sympathy with which they regarded 

 the untimely accident to their game and gallant champion ? It 

 was supposed, on a hasty examination, that Grey Eagle had 

 given way in the back sinews of his left fore leg, but it has 

 since been ascertained that the injury was in the coffin joint. 

 Mr. Burbridge on the instant tightly bandaged the leg with a 

 stout strip of dry canvas, which being kept wet, would have 

 prevented the horse from coming down on his pastern joints 

 even had his leaders given way. A fortnight after the race 

 the horse j^romised to recover perfectly ; Mr. Shotwell informed 

 us that the ankle and joint were a little swollen, but that neither 

 the horse's pastern nor cannon bones were afi'ected, and his 

 leaders were as sound as ever. We doubt, however, whether 

 he will ever stand another training; a slight wrench would 

 render him as lame as ever. We need not add, that, while his 

 owners and managers have the cordial sympathy of their 

 friends, and the Sporting World generally, there is no one 

 " with soul so dead " as to withhold the expression of their ad- 

 miration of the gallant gray, and their heartiest wishes for his 

 Bpeedy recovery. 



Soon after Grey Eagle was stopped, Cato pulled Wagner out 

 of his stride, and galloped him slowly round. The intelligence 

 of the High Mettled Ilacer was clearly indicated by Wagner's 

 subsequent action ; from the head of the stretch home he inva- 

 riably went at a racing pace, and appeared as if he did not 



