Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1841-05-06
A Great Race.

leans races, made the following report OF
the mos: exciting and best contested race
ever run in this country. 1t took place
on the goth Of March. The repor, was
made for the New Orleans Bee:
From tie N. II Spira Of As Times.
THE BEST RACE EVER RUN IN AMERI-
CA!
After Sarah BLADDER beat Luda on Wed.
nesday last, in Z: 45 z: 40, wrote you
that l had just returned from witnessing
"he best race ecer run south of The Poto-
mac" have now to write that on this,
the 10Th day of March, have seen race
which throws the one referred 10 com
paratively in the shade. Rely upon it
Grey Medoc's race to-day is the REST
RACE EVER RUN IN AMERICA! ! have
witnessed nearly all the great performance
es on the Turf for several years past, but
never have seen a race more desperate.
" contested and more CALAMITY won.
Even the beaten horses have acquired
reputation which a succession of bloodless
victories would not have won for them.
doubt if it will ever be my good fortune
10 see such another performance, and
much do regret that want of ability, not
less than leisure, prevents my dong JUS
tice to race that will occupy the most
distinguished place in the Racing Calen-
dar, and go down through all time as one
Of the most magnificent exhibitions on re-
cord OF the surprising speed and game Of
the High Melted Racer Of America.
The race to-day was the Jockey Club
Purse Of $1,000, for four mile heats. The
entries were Mr.. Campbell's Aiors train.
ed by Watson and Van Leer--Mr. Board
mans Denlzen, temporarily in the stable
OF Camp & Blevins, and Messrs. Kenners'
Grey Medoc, trained by Graves. The
latter being well known as one of the fast
est horses on the Turf, and in condition
to run for mans life, was backed freely
at and to l against the Geld. Altori,
capital performer in Virginia, where
$4,000 was paid for HIM, had lost ground
since his arrival at the South, from hav-
ing run several races ont OF order. He
had lately arrived too from Mobile, and
suffered much from exposure in stormy
passage across the Lake, as also had Dem
zen. Indeed the public generally seem.
ed TO regard the race when advertised as
one likely to be "of no account" and
consequently there was limited attend.
ance. Altorf and Denzen were beth low
IN ilesh--not up to the mark for a bruising
race-stlll, their race day quite eclipses
any previous performance, brilliant as
they have been, and adds an amount to
their value 20 which the purse itself is no
parallel. The sporting world has been
IN the dark as to Grey Medoc's speed
highly as it was appreciated--a still
more so with regard 10 his unilinching,
thorough game. 1t is within my knowl-
edge that few weeks previous to his
tremendous race with Bees Wing, in
which he ran her up to 7: 3s, he run a
mile trial with his shoes on and his weight
up, over deep training course, in ]: so,
aitergallopingtwo miles in 2: 10 and 2: 90.
His trainer, MIR. Graves, land there is none
better in the country has assured me over
and over again, that Grey Medoc was
dead game horse, "-as much so as Luda
or any horse he ever turned loose. On
reference to the "Turf Register" you will
find that in the three years he has been
upon the turf, he has started twenty-five
times and uon eighteen raccs-many of
them at three and four heats, while you
will also remark that, in majority of
them he has made most capital tune, aud
defeated the best horses of the day. In
! deed | do not remember an instance of
his losing race after having won n heat;
depend upon it, he has about as nice an
idea Of perpetual motion, and can go as
long undr whip and spur as ever did his
grandsire-old Eclipse himself. Think.
OF his making heat in Z: 35.-of his
running his eighth mile in /: 48--of his
winning third four mile heat in Z: AZ
And had you seen him come alone up the
quarter-streich at the close Of his Siaieenih
mle-so CALAMITY and so beautifully
with crest erect, and dilated nos,rils, and
observed his proud bearing and flashing
eyes, you might have deemed him the
limpersonation OF the Bucephalus Of tho
victorious Macedonian, and added your
voice TO the many crude throats" which
greeted him with an enthusiasm that baf-
iles all description.
THE RACE.
Denizen led off at moderate pace with
Atorl I'd and Grey Medoc well up; AL
torfs stride and Minnow' pull, however,
soon caused Denizen to change places
with him and Altorf led through the mile;
John Ford all this time was pulling Grey
Medoc double TO keep him behind. The
mile was run in l: 56-of course "the
ravishing had moi commenced" Denizen
tapped Altorfjust as they passed the stand,
and maintained this position TO near the
head Of the quarter stretch where Deni-
zen's jocky (Minnow-the loose fish"
just designated) was ordered not to run
for the heat. Altorf again led past the
the stand (time Of this mile Il 55) while
Grey Medoc Tapped Denizen, being evil
IDENTIFY bent on mischief His stride soon
gave him the second place, and he kept
Altorf at his work throughout the mile,
which was run in l:44. Upon getting
into straight work, on the back side, the |