Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1877-11-23
OLD.TIME RACES RETOLD.
1s39-wAGsER VS.. GREY EAGLE.

hiter inc DasComoe-rost Doy race
the great interest in the turf shifted to
Kentucky. and at Louisville. September
80, 1889, was run the first OF the two
great races between Wagner and Grey
Eagle. Both races were sectional,
Wagner representing Louisiana and
Grey Eagle Kentucky. The occasion
OF their first race was a stake for all
ages at $4,000 each, half forfeit, four
mile heats, which had 10 subscribers;
seven kentuckians, two Eirginians and
one Louisianian. The race attracted an
enormous crowd and made good betting
from New York to New Orleans. OF
the ten subscribers only four went TO
the post. viz: Garrison's fve-year old
chestnut horse Wagner, by Sir Charles,
out of Maria West, by Marion; Oliver
& Dickey's four-year-old gray colt Grey
Eagle, by Woodpecker, out of Ophelia,
by Wild Medley; Viley's four-ye ar-old
chestnut fily Queen Mary, BY Bertrand,
dam by Brimmer, and Bradley s Steers
four-year-old chestnut colt Hawkeye,
by Lowell, out Of a mare BY Jenkins's
SIR William-three kentuckians TO one
Louisianian. Notwithstanding, Wagner
was the tavoritc against the field, with
Grey Eagle the favorite at small odds
for the first heat. Wagner was ridden
by colored boy named Cato, who rode
very nearly at 10 pounds, in all
scarlet, while for Grey Eagle, whose
colorS were red, blue and orange, an 50
pound boy named Stephen Welch, who
had to carry l3 pounds OF lead, was Ia
ken at the last moment, owing to some
thing crooked" being suspected of the
rider first engaged. At the signal to
start for the first heat Wagner went
away like Quarter-horsc, but was
quickly pulled behind Queen Mary and
/ llawkcys: but as they game to the
stand at the end Of the first mile Hawk
eye led, with Wagner second, Queen
Mary third and Grey Eagle fourth.
Hawkevc held the lead for half mile,
when Wagner closed up and al the end
Of two miles led. On pa>>ir--. Wagner
was received by the cheers Of his sta
bic boys, which excited the horse and
at once he rus he'd righta away and opened
a biz gap, up To- which time Grey Ea-
! gle had not moved out of big easy
! gallnp. and as they began the last mile
he was third. with Wagner leading. In
the first half Of the last mile Grey Ea-
7 gle began 10 move up slowly. bmt did
not reach Wagner until Just past the
| hait-uilc post. When he drd, Cato
( called upon Wagner, and for 800 wards
7 49,, y-.,,,,,,.i.,n. I'r,,. I',,ri.,
once got his head and neck in front. but
Wagner quickly came again, and when
half way up the stretch had the heat
we'll in hand. He won easily in 7.iS.
/ Grey Eagle second. Queen Mary third.
I Just saving her distance. which Hawk
eve failed To- DO. The result Of the heat
was / tremendous disappointment to The
| kcntuckians, as they had backed Grey
! Eagle To 4 man. and ii is said that not A
I man of them could be induced to hedge
dollar. For the second heat Grey
Eagle forced thc pace, and he race was
. quickly reduced to match between
the two champions. Grey Eagle took
. the lead and held II at good strong
pace for two miles and a half, when
Wagner closed up, but Grey Eagle held
/ the lead. and both began to feel the
whip and spur. Passing under The string
for the last mile. Grey Eagle led by a
head and shoulders, and continued 10
do 80 for nearly thrce-quartcrs of mile
further. Cato, having taken slight
pull in running down the backstretch,
came with rush as they began the last
quarter of mile. The struggle was a
terrific one, both Jockeys using both
whip and spur. WEIGH, on Grey Ea-
gle. was quickly exhausted. Fifty
yards from the string Wagner showed a
head in front, and keeping it there, won
the heat and race by neck in IA,
Queen Mary again just saving her dis
lance. The scene that followed the
race was naturally one of great enthu-
sia>m. After weighing, Cato, who had
won his freedom by his success in the
race. was again mounted on Wagner.
and with the stakes (Si4, oool he was
paraded IN front OF the stand preceded
by band of music PLAYING Ole Nir-
g,nny Never Tire" The result of the
race caused much discussion. and il was
alleged that Grey Eagle was badly
handled. and that with good Jockey he
would have won the second heat and
possibly the race. In fact. 80 bitter w a.
the contro, cr>y that the owners of both
horses were forced into another match
which was fixed 10 take place in five
DAYS.
Saturday. October :. broke bright anC
clear, and again there was a trenend
Gus crowd present, and "a the race va:
for a purse Of $1,000, Nilcy's Emil,
Johnson. BY Bertrand, was entered
Wagner was Of course big iavoritc ant
vas again ridden by Cato, while Gre,
Eagle was again under the guidance Q
Stephen Welch. In The first heat Gre,
Eagle ou;san Wagner in every part Q
the heat. which he won BY length il
Isl, with Emily Johnson second. Tn
enthusiasm that followed GREY Eagle
success is said TO have been somethin
never eGuailed, and from Wagner hav
ing the call q; ). aud to /, the gray be
r came the iavorite ut 10 ). The sec
ond heat Is said TO have been the hard
est ridden ever known. Grey Eagl
: took the lead al the start, and no,wIth
e standing all the Punishment Wayne
y got he could not reach Grey Eagle, W h
: held the lead until the very last hur
!, drei yards, when Weleh los; his hol
az3 /. waved ac:e:s he ::aek, wiz!