"The Great Race for the Western Stakes, 1870." This print shows Cornelius Vanderbilt and James Fisk in a race for control of New York's rails. Throughout 1868 and 1869, the two men had fought for control of the Erie Railroad. Here, Vanderbilt straddles his two railroads, the "Hudson River R.R." and the "New York Central R.R.", admonishing his competitor, "Now then Jim--No Jockeying You Know!" The dwarflike Fisk, sitting astride the "Erie R.R.", replies, "Let em rip Commodore!--But Dont Stop to Water or You'll be Beat." Cornelius Vanderbilt (1794 - 1877), was an American business magnate and philanthropist who built his wealth in railroads and shipping. He is best known for building the New York Central Railroad. James Fisk, Jr. (1835 - 1872) was an American stockbroker and corporate executive.