198 Tbe American Thoroughbred 



still laying back, and Gray Eagle had not yet 

 made a stroke. Wagner came first to the stand, 

 and at the turn Cato having held up his whip 

 as a signal to a crowd of rubbers and boys on 

 Garrison's stable, that 'the old Sorrel Stud' was 

 going just right, they gave him a slight cheer, 

 at which Wagner broke loose, and made a spread 

 eagle of the field in ' no time.' The other jock- 

 eys were not a little startled at this demonstra- 

 tion of Wagner's speed, and each called upon 

 his nag, so that opposite the Oakland House, 

 near the three-quarter mile post, the field closed. 

 Stephen here let out the phenomenon he so 

 gracefully bestrode, and like twin bullets the 

 gallant gray and Wagner came out of the melee. 

 At the head of the quarter-stretch, Stephen was 

 told to ' pull him steady,' so that before Wagner 

 reached the stand. Queen Mary had changed 

 places with Gray Eagle, notwithstanding her 

 saddle had slipped on her withers. Hawk-Eye 

 was already in difficulty, and for him the pace 

 was getting ' no better very fast' Gray Eagle 

 set to work in earnest on entering the back- 

 stretch, first outfooting the Queen and then 

 challenging Wagner. From the Oakland House 

 to the head of the quarter-stretch, the ground 



