Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-11-14
THOROUGHBREDS
The Duke of Magenta Question of
the Superiority Of English and
American ThOrouahhreds
to be Solved.

1nO SOCdAhcl GS9pN Will tdhc " IN
gland the Duke of Magenta, the best
three-year-old colt in the country, and,
indeed, one Of the greatest horses that
ever trod the American turf. Ever
since Mr.. Ten Brock made his ven
'ture on the British turf, there have
been discussions time aud again in re-
gard to the relative merits Of thor
Oughbreds, hers and in England, and
many shrewd American turfmen, who
have had experience on the other side,
contend that the animals bred in En-
gland are a stone Tor fourteen poundsl
better than those bred here, Why
this is SO, patriotic Americans are
anxious to find out, as no satisfactory
theory has been advanced why such
should be the case. because the Amer
lean thoroughbred is closely descended
from the stOutest English strains, and
the Bluegrass region of Kentucky is
regarded as furnishing the most nutri-
tious pasture for yearlings in the world,
The question of superiority will soon
be thoroughly tested, as a determined
effort is to be made to land a first
class horse on the other side. When
Harry Bassett swept everything before
him in 1871, Sterling was the great
horse in England, and a strenuous
effort had been made to bring the two
together, but the owner of Sterling
refused to send him across the water,
although a tempting offer had been
made, and it was declared at the same
time that Sterling could give Bassett a
stone in weight. However, as the
mountain refused to go to Mohammed
the latter must 80 to the mountain,
and on this principle there have been
several important shipments of thor
oughbreds during the past year, and
henceforth American horses are to
play an important part, it is hoped, on
the British turf
In regard to the departure of the
Duke Of Magenta it may be said that
many turfmen regret that he had not
been sent much earlier, for at his age,
and the shaking up he will get on the
Atlantic at this season of the year, the
voyage must necessarily impair his
chances, and it will require all the
skill of Mr.. Brown to bring the Duke
up to the higest racing form next
spring. The Duke of Magenta has
started nineteen times-seven times as
a two-year-old and twelve times aa j
three-year-old. His first appearance
was on June 8, 1877, when he ran sec.
ond to Perfection for the Juvenile
Stakes, half a mile. His next appear.
ance was on July "a, in the Flash
Stakes, halfa mile, at Saratoga, which
he won in 0:494. A week afterwarC
he appeared in the Saratoga Stakes
where he displayed a vicious temper
and worried himself at the post, anC
was finally beaten by Bramble, who
had the best Of the start, but only de-
feated the Duke by a head. On Au
| gust II he appeared again in the Ken.
lucky Stakeg, and again showed TEN
= per, and was beaten by Pride of tn,
: Village. On August 16 he met Spar
| tan in the Grinstead Stakes, and CAV,
e the latter FIVE pounds. The result wa
!, a dead heat, in the remarkable time o
1864 The stake was divided. Com
ing down to Jerome Park, on Septem
:. Der %, he won the Nursery Stakes i
1:17t, and finished tho season at Bal
timore, where, on October %, he wol
c the Central Stakes, one mile, in 1:50l
a His entire winnings for the yea
5 amounted to $9,9S7 80. The Duk
d wintered well and opened the cam
T paign Of 1873 at Baltimore, May p
where he easily won the Preaknes
+ Stakes; one mile and q half, in 2.4li
valued at $3.50. Coming to Jerom
Park, he won the Withers Stakes, on
is mile, in las, worth $1,000, and tn
following week took the Belmor
Stakes, one mile and a half, in 2:43l
d value, $3.50. His next essay was i
e the Jersey Derby, on June %, when h
lg was entirely out Of condition, an
10 had been running at the nose f
D. several days, and he was beaten bot
o by Spartan aud panlcheff, He r,
/ covered his form again in the bracir
mountain air of Saratoga, and July :
won the Travers Stake, one mile az
three-quarteFs, In a.0a, which, vii
&c the weight, lis pounds, ON IA tire
IL ycar-Old, is the best mile and thre
quarters ever run. The value Of Il
it. stake was 1880, besides $500 in plat
to On August 3, carrying l13 pounds,
It won the Sequel Stakes, eAe mile Al
three-qqaFters, IN ala, value $l,8C
at, On the 18th Of the same month
re won the Kenner Stakes, two miles
m, 341A, worth s. 100, He then finish
ne the season Al Saratoga by winning t
I'D Harding Stakes, one mile and a ha
on in 2:503, value s 1850. Coming do,
rst to Jerome Park, he won the Ioyoi
I'm Stakes, one milo and t~hree-quarte
re- in Bill, value $3,450, and supp
IN, mented this by taking the Ann
zen Sweepstakes, two miles, in 9;43, {
II value Of which was $1,000, On DC.
to Der "a he easily won the Dixie Stalk.
hat two miles, in BAL, worth 1920, a
wound up his American career W.
al placing the BFeokinridge Stakes, t
OF miles, 10 his credit, Ihe distance '
5he run in 3:43, and the value Of the sta
vas was $500.
OF Thus, Duke of Magenta had v
O fourteen times; was second four tin
zen and once third, his entire Wiupii
ner amounting IA the m%gBIHcont sum
US $45,dJf, aud also $500 in plate. /
lis, conceded that America could have
Q a better representative than Magente
Ved the English cup races peyt year, F;
us his career will be watched with q
Nv interest by a large class of people Y
kee can not be brought to believe chat
ere English thoroughbred Is superior
ana the American To the degree elaiI
rne by turfmen, William Brown,
men trainer Of the RancOcus essSblishm,