The New York herald., 1870-10-22
PROSPECT PARK FAIR GROUNDS.
Trotting Match Between Goldsmith Maid and
George Wilkes to Wagons-Ths Mare
the Winner in Three Straight
Heats Extraordinary Time Made

tIo Wlnu0I III AAEcc clThlBAt
Heats Extraordinary Time Made.
The match for $1,000, mile heats, best three IN
five, 10 wagons, between Dcble Jackmans bay
mare Goldsmith Maid, ana Mr.. summons brown
stallion George Wilkes came or yesterday afternoon
az the Prospect Park Fair grounds. There was
rather slim attendance; but this was 0ccasioned
by the heavy rains OF the day before, great num-
ber OF people who would have been at the Park
deferred from going under the belief that the track
would be unit for the purpose. To our surprise,
however the track In most excellent condition,
the water that fell having been all drank up by the
thirsty nature or the soil. This track, unlike all
others In the country, becomes comparatively dry In
few hours after the heaviest rains. AT an early
nour In the afternoon, when being "honed,n dust
followed the scraper on the course The time that
was made by Goldsmith Maid was extraordinary,
and proves conclusivey the excellent condition OF
the track. Her hrst heat was made in 2:24H, the
last fifty yards being done without pressure.
Both horses looked In the finest possible condi-
ton, although It was argued against Goldsmith
Maid previous to The start that she could not be up
10 the marx, not having had any work since she
came from Narraganset Park. Instead OF this
being detriment we think the let up was IN her
favor, and IL has been the case In many instances
that have come under our observation. Horses gen.
orally are trained and worked altogether too much.
The trainers OF crack trotting norses In their
great anxiety to develop extraordinary speed, over
step the mark In one vital polnt-they give no rest
10 the animal while under their care. Experience
demonstrates that all creatures require q season Of
perfect repose for the enjoyment OF sound health.
The horse In train under the present system is al
lowed no such period-he Ii overworked
Over-rubbcd, Oyer-watched, and continuously
'fussed" with. His stall Is visited at all
hours by day and by night by interested
friends or privileged loungers, who never tire Of rails
ing his blankets to inspect his condition, while each
IN his wisdom suggests some new device to annoy
the patient animal. Reason plainly says that under
such treatment II Is wonder the horse should be
restive and feverish and at last become nervous In
the extreme, from the lack Of that undisturbed quiet
which his nature especially requires after feeding
and 'doing up.'' There IL no doubt that perfect
cleanliness OF ssn and Judclous hand rubbing are
great aids to the iull development OF speed and en-
| durance but the constant manipulation to Which
the trotter IN train Ia subjected must tend sore
ness ol bone and unduy lrritate the cords and mus
cles instead Of mparng that hrmness and strength
| which are Aimed at. AZ rule our 1eet-
est trotters are brought upon the track
| TO perform their wonderful Nights OF speed
| booted and bandaged gaunted and hard, as a
hound hard cnase. their blood boiling with u-
natural excitement. Tney wllted with one quick
dasl-so wited that 1t Is apparent to the most
less observer they lack all the elements OF endurance
and travel only on the lndoniaDle pluck for which
| the thorous shDred Is neted. This want OF rest
amounts to absolute cruelty. N1ne-tenths OF our
tr0tlng horses become crlppes before they arrive at
then prime, and IT Is all traceaDe to the nhuman
which nature has prescribed, and without which sne
cannot and VIII not work for good. What sense Is
there IN reducing horse to perfect feeble
| nessY What reason In driving him eight or ten
! times around track when hls endurance IL
only required to last for one turn at high rate Of
| speed9 What use OF sweating and scraplng every
/
What logic can there be III fsning nature ut every
turn, when the past has proved the system to be
| disastrousY None OF our fast horses would be sore
and out Of iix on the day OF race II they n9d les
training ana more rest. No one knew this better
| ing was above all Others. Common sense exercised
| by trainers would do away with thousand misnaps
aud would renect favorably upon their humanity
Let them try systematic rest, and II viii do away n
great measure witn the firing and clustering ant
turning out, which is the result OF their presen
mode oi training.
Goldsmith Maid was great favorite over Geory,
Wilkes, selling IN the pools for three TO beiOr
the first heat but after tnat the mare was ouered
100 to l5, without takers. Few were willing to IN
vest dollar on Wilkes when they how steadll
ard speedily the mare could trot 10 wagon.
great many people, among them the owner q
Wilkes, were under the Impression that from thu
conformation and nervous excitabiIty OF Goldsmith
Maid sne would not trot well In this rig anu al
though they knew tlat in harness she possessed fa
more speed than tho stallion they were willing te
& he .o rdre .aas me w0ua % pea. mea "a te race
advent Oh the turf, and 1t seemed that the wagon
her specially. George Wilkes tr0tied as well as was
anticipated, but he could not keep step nor mark
| time with the mare.
The following are the details OF the race:-
FIRST Hedt.-George Wilkes won the pole. At the
third scoring the word was given, with Goldsmith
Maid leading over length. She increased this ad-
vantage and took the inside track at the beginning
OF the upper turn leading two lengths TO the quar-.
| ter pole IN thirty-fve seconds The clip was too
rapid for the stallion and he broke up, not badly,
however, Tor when ne recovered he was only three
| lengths behind. On the backstretch Goldsmith Maid
| made skip, but did not lose an incn by the acci
dent merely changing her feet. She passed the half
mile pole IN lilo, two lengths and hall In front OF
Wilkes the latter having trotted very fast along the
backstretch-too fast Tor safety as he broke up
TO the threequarter pole five lengths passing there
In LAG. The stallion was again forced beyond his
| bounds, and this time he made the worst break he
was ever known to have made in u race as he never
| recovered until he was good distance up the
homestretch. The mare was taken In hand when
near the stand, and she passed under the string a
winner OF the heat ny ten lengths in 2:241s.
Second Hedt-Ge0rge Wilkes had the best Of the
send-o this tlme and he took the pole, in rounding
into the upper turn, :wo lengths in front Of Gold
smith Maid. The latter gained gradually and the
stallion led 2 length only a. the quarter pole, IN
soon recovering made O dash and took SIDES with
Wilkes. They were together but few moments,
mile pole she led one length in 1ll4 She was soon
two lengths In front, and after making one OF her
tnc threequarter pole in l:4o1z. From there to the
stand both horses trotted steadily, and Goldsmith
Maid won the heat by three lengths in 2:25A.
ThD'd Hedt.-Tne start this time was even, and
| the horses trotted head and head for fifty yards
The mare then began 10 draw away from the siailOn
| and at the quarter pole was Two lengths and hall
in front in thrty-six seconds She soon afterwards
| made break, but lost no ground. She was three
lengths ahead OF Wilkes at the halfmle pole In Ill.
| They both troted steadily and squarely down the
| Dackstretch the mare passing the three-quartcr
pole three lengths ana half ahead in 1:iS. From
that point 10 the score there was no change, the
mare winning the heat and race by three lengths in
| 2:25X. -e :-;ss----t-~ -.,sp.,.
The following Is a W.. ts
! SUMMARY.
PROSPECT PARK FAIR GROUNDS Oct. q. -Tr0tting
match for 81 ,000 mile heats, best three In ye 10
| wagons
| w. II. Borst named br 4. George Wilkes... 2 2
i TIME