Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-31
V|RG|N|A'S SLOGAN
WHEN WAR EAGLE WON
How the Old Dominion Horse
Defeated Drake Carter at
Ivy City.
By C., y, Pettus,

Col Thomas B. Davis of Romney. w. Va.
the veteran turfman, who in his day has
owned some of the best race horses ever
sent out Of the Old Dominion. said at Ben
ming the other day: Il never come here
and listen to the shouts of my fellow Vir-
ginians over successes of the Garth, Dos
well, Coles or Bradley horses but my mind
goes back to old Pimlico and Ivy City
days, when my horses Tubman, Fadla-
deem, Ella Warfield and War Eagle de-
feated the best horses in the country. And
when my friends and we'll wishers from my
beloved old state would cheer my horses
on to victory with the familiar old slogan
Of Come on, Virginia! Virginia never
tires""
famous chief was the great War Eagle.
When T. B. and w. X. Davis named their
young colt by Leader after the red man of
the forest the selection was voted good
one. The youngster, out of the mare Red
Eyes, thrived and grew, but was allowed to
mature, not running many, if any, races
as a two-year-old.
The brothers a decade before had the
four-mile horse Tubman by War Dance
Lass of Sidney, that they afterward sold
also Fadladeen by War Dance-Nora Creina,
who was the first horse in America to
run a mile in 1:43; also the fast mare Ella
Warfeld, who beat the northern cracks at
saratoga ana SneepSneaQ.
But somehow they thought more of War
Eagle than any horse that ever carried
their "blue-red cap" and the horse was
certainly worthy foeman of the best per-
formers Of his day.
War Eagle, foaled in 1880, won his first
race Of any account as a three-year-old
at Pimlico's October meeting of 1888. 1t
was the day of special race, the PIN
lico stakes. between Miss Woodfin. George
Kinney, Iroquois and Drake Carter, and d
tremendous crowd hand.
An additional attraction was also the
presence of the great gelding Parole in
the days sport. Only four opposed the IA
nous old hero of two hemispheres. who
was back again at the time-honored cause
where six years before he had lowered the
colors of the mighty Ten Brock.
Paroles opponents included the stake WIN
ner Greenland, and also Clencure. Sam
Cummings and War Eagle. The latter a
three-year-old, was carrying 95 pounds to
115 on Parole, the latter naturally being a
great favOrite. Although the track was
slow from rain, betting was-Parole, 800;
the field, $50.
War Eagle Defeats Parole.
Parole did not ever fancy a slow track,
though he has won races in that sort Of
going. And the Davis brothers liked their
colt so we'll after his warm-up that they
bought number Of pools on the field with
\. ar Eagle in 1t, and advised all their
friends to do likewise, as their colt was a
glutton in mud.
Most of the Virginians. however. who
backed the Davis colt to defeat horse of
international fame like Parole did so out Of
sentiment pure and simple, not expecting to
see their faith In the Virginia colt justified
So when at the start War Eagle took the
the lead and was never caught, he finished
mingled win the Virginia slogan of Come
on, War Eagle; Virginia never tires"
From that day War Eagle became Viz
ginia turf idol, and he was destined by an
lite with lovers of the Virginia-bred race
horse. The same day War Eagle defeated
Parole at Baltimore Miss Woodford and
George Kinney proved victors over the
Derby winner Iroquois and Drake Carter.
Both pairs were coupled in the betting,
the Dwyer champion selling for 81 coo, and
Pierre Lorillard's cracks for $3.50 The race
was for 5000 purse, added to the starting
aggregate Of $1,000, large sum for those
days. 1t was at a mile and five furlongs.
Iroquois had up 125 pounds; the others
10 and 1O7 each, according to sex, and
that great f1lly, Miss Woodford, won easily,
after making all the running. She was rid
den by James Mclaughlin, who is now an
owner and trainer at Benning. And the
| great daughter of Billet was at her best
| right then.
War Eagles breeders and owners, after
his defeat of Parole, realized that they had
good colt. 80 they retired him early that
| fall, and entered him in Coney Island
| new event, the Suburban handicap, and
other events, for the following spring and
summer. The colt wintered finely at Rom
ney and grew and developed into a sturdy
| four year-old.
| That year $3.50 War Eagle made his sea-
| sons debut at Ivy City. The National
| Jockey Clubs spring meeting began on
May IS. and while the Lorillard and
Dwyer stables did not come down from the
| north, a good lot of hoses was on hand
| and the sport was. first-class.
War Eagle did not start until the third
| day In handicap at mile and quar-
| ter So good had been his work that he
was made top weight over Compensation
| Ten Strike. Torpedo, Infanta and other
good performers.
Wins at Washington.
| Ridden by Blayloek, War Eagle won ali
] the way from ". 3. Jennings Ten Strike