St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-09-20
The Great stallion virgil.

The death of this noted stallion is one of
the marked events of this season among
horsemen. His history was curious one,
as will be seen from the following sketch of
him:
Virgirs history is almost as romantic as
Eugene Sues narrative OF the Godolpbin-
Arabian and, in many respects. more 50. He
was ''born in the purple, and as a three-year-
old he may be said TO have won that honor,
for his career at that age was very creditable.
at four he went amiss, and at i've he covered
several mares. Atsix ne had lost his speed to
an extent that rendered it out of the question
for him to meet such giants as Helm
bold, Glenelg, PreahneSs and Longfellow,
who then dominated the turf, and Abe
Perry taught him to jump, and he performed
principally as a hurdler during almost all the
rest of his career. In the eyes of the average
racing man, from fiat racing to hurdling is
degradation; but Virgils did not stop here.
Eugene Sue. in his novel, states that GodOl-
phin-Arabian drew @ water cart through the
streets of Paris. However this may be, Vir-
gil certainly spent portions of 1871 and 1872
drawing Col. Simmons buggy through New
Orleans. Even then he went begging. Col.
Simmons returned him TO Mr. Sanford,
who had Just founded the magnificent North
Elkhorn stud. But he had no use for the old
black horse, and gave him to MIR. B. G. Bruce,
who in turn offered him for sale for $500, and
once more the old horse went begging. No
one would take him as gift.
1t is well known that a single move upon
the chess board often changes the complexion
of the entire game. Virgil might have gone
to his grave without the opportunity to make
q name for himself had not Bay
wood been taken i'll and unable to serve
mares in 1872, and Virgil took his place
for the want of another stallion Thus Vir-
giPS chance came about very curiosly. In
1875 his sons, Vagrant and Virginius, had
4o.xx foI how
were of the type which subsequently made
the Virgil two-year-old famous, long and
light, but of the wire and whalebone order,
much Of the type of the best Leamingtons.
Their success brought Virgil at once into no
tice as a sire, and Mr.. Sanford FASTENED to
repossess him and attach him to the North
Eikhorn stud, out of which he had cast him
two years before. 1t was the turning point
of Virgil's career. All his winners he had
gotten from mares of no prestige and the
public reasoned that with advantages he
would prove the coming sire. And so it
proved, for from this on to the day of his
death, VirgirS stud career was a succession
of notable triumphs. His return to North
Elkhorn was signsiZed by bis son Vagrant
winning the Kentucky Derby. Then came the
stalwart Vigil, the flying Vera Cruz, and then
Hindoo, one of the best horses that has ap-
peared during the present century in any
portion of the W orld.
Local Horse Notes.
Commodore Kittson's Brown Duke won in
handsome style on Thursday last at New
York against HousatOnic and Pontiac. The
betting OF Brown Duke was even money
The start was good one. Brown, Duke who
had leen last up to the head of the home
stretch, then began to increase his pace, and
gradually creeping forward ended an easy
winner three lengths ahead of Housatouic
while Pontiac barely got place.
George W. Sherwood has engaged the SER
vices of c. Q. Weeks, who has been out to the
fair grounds for the past year or more. fitting
and preparing horses, to handle his stock