El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-04-03
By ARTHUR R king.
Copyrighted 1913 By the NntIonnI News Bureau.

THERE was a golden age OF rae
ing in the United States which
began early in the 18TH century
and extended to the middle Of the 18Th.
II was an age when gentlemen raced
Tor the sport Of the race and bred for
the pure love Of the horse Race
courses were more or less private al
fairs and races were, more frequently
than not, matches made on the spur
OF the moment between men who loved
their stables and were willing to back
them
Then there came the development Of
great racing plants which we Of later
generations have come TO know so well
and in. which the click Of the turnstile
measured to a great degree the sue
cess OF failure Of the efforts Of the
promoters. I should say that this
might be called the commercial age.
Midway between these two periods
there occurred at Louisville a race
which, with the possible exception Of
the Peytona and Fashion contest at
Long Island few years later. will be
known as one OF the great and epoch
making events Of the American turf.
That il occurred in the south is man
1festly proper, for II was the south
that first brought the thoroughbred
from England and developed him on
this side. But il is especially remem-
bered in the SOUTH because il was not
only a battle Of stables, but a battle Of
states on which tremendous sums were
won and lost and resulted in the an
tipathy in Kentucky to gray horses
which survives to this day
Years OF Rivalry.
For years the rivalry in racing had
been between Kentucky and Tennessee
but the battle to which refer was be-
tween the Kentuczians and louisiana
ans, with the Tennesseans plainly
showing their sympathy for their for
mer rivals and opposing with all their
feelings the champions Of the Louisi-
ana horse, an animal named Wagner
That a horse from the extreme south
should dare TO come TO Louisville and
beat the pride OF the blue grass was
unheard Of and unthinRable TO the
Kentucky spOrtsmen. especially as the
pick OF all their stables was carrying
their colors and their hopes. The bet
ting on the event was heavy. but II is
said that not hentuckian bet dollar
on Wagner even after ne had won the
first heat and seemed assured of the
race.
on January 1, 1888. a stake for all
ages, four mile heats, closed with 10
subscribers at $1,000 each, half forfeit
Among the entries were Wagner five
years old. the Louisiana horse 7 al
ready have referred to, and the Ken
lucky champion, Gray Eagle. four
years old Only four Of the nominal
tons started in the race which was
run on Monday, September 80.
A Summers Sensation.
This race had been the topic Of con-
versatiOn over the south during the
whole summer. on two entries were
discussed except Wagner and Gray
Eagle, and in them the whole interest
appeared TO be ceutered- The day OF
the race doWned fair and the assem-
hlage that came out TO see the contest
is said TO have been the most brilliant I
that ever graced a race course in the !
south
From Louisiana the hackers Of Wag- !
ner came with thousands Of dollars +
and the kentuckians had other thou
sands with which TO cover it. Louis ]
vile never had known such a day in 1
ali Of its sporting history
Coming TO the post with Gray Eagle 3