Tboroiighhreds of the West 189 



old Mason and Dixon line, suffered much by the 

 Civil War. Its streets sometimes were patrolled 

 by Grays, and at other times guarded by the 

 Blues. Still the association maintained its or- 

 ganization ; and racing was kept up, no matter 

 what flag floated from the staff. Many of the 

 most celebrated horses that have graced the 

 American turf made their debut on the Lexing- 

 ton Course ; and the brilliant leading men of the 

 state, such as Clay and Crittenden and Marshall, 

 have watched the trials of speed from the grand- 

 stand and mingled with their fellow-citizens on 

 the quarter-stretch. 



For a number of years Kentucky and Tennes- 

 see kept up a generous rivalry, a horse owned 

 or bred in one state being selected to run against 

 one owned or bred in the other. 



But the most memorable races ever witnessed 

 in the commonwealth were those between Wag- 

 ner and Gray Eagle, decided at Louisville in the 

 autumn of 1839. Wagner, a son of Sir Charles, 

 was a handsome chestnut, with a blaze in his 

 face, standing 15^ hands. As a four-year-old, in 

 the summer of 1838, he had defeated many com- 

 petitors and won proud distinction. Gray Eagle, 

 perhaps, was one of the finest-looking horses that 



