I did not know Virl well but I did ride his horses once in a while (he pretty much let anyone ride them).

He told me all about the GAHR in the Tavern in Amaden. One of the things I remember was him telling me that some of the Arab riders accused him of cheating so he told them that he would put his winnings in a Bank in New York and they could match it and he would race them back to it winner takes all. He said that shut them up pretty good.