204 The American Tboroiigbbred 



By the most extraordinary exertions Wagner got 

 up neck and neck with ' the gallant gray ' as they 

 swung round the turn into the quarter-stretch. 

 The feelings of the assembled thousands were 

 wrought up to a pitch absolutely painful — 

 silence the most profound reigned over that vast 

 assembly, as these noble animals sped on as if 

 life and death called forth their utmost energies. 

 Both jockeys had their whip-hands at work, and 

 at every stroke, each spur, with a desperate stab, 

 was buried to the rowel head. Gray Eagle, for 

 the first hundred yards, was clearly gaining; but 

 in another instant Wagner was even with him. 

 Both were out and doing their best. It was any- 

 body's race yet ! Now Wagner — now Gray 

 Eagle has the advantage. It will be a dead 

 heat ! ' See ! Gray Eagle's got him ! ' — 'No — 

 Wagner's ahead!' A moment ensues — the 

 people shout — hearts throb — ladies faint — a 

 thrill of emotion, and the race is over ! Wagner 

 wins by a neck, in 7.44, the best race ever run 

 south of the Potomac ; while Kentucky's gallant 

 champion demonstrates his claim to that proud 

 title by a performance which throws into the 

 shade the most brilliant ever made in his native 

 state. Summary : — 



