Wilmington daily gazette. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1872-1874, 1874-08-12
GOLDSMITH MAID.
An Exciting Episode In her Career

The wonderful time made by this splendid
trotter, Goldsmith Maid at tho Buffalo races,
yesterday, 2.15l, the fastest time on record,
| and assuring her the proud title of Queen of
the Turf, recalls an exciting episode in her
career. Upon the same course, July 80, 1863,
the mare established her reputation for speed
and endurance. Wilkes Spirit says.
The entries against her were Rhode Island
the great son Of whitehall; the thoroughbred
horse Silas Rich, the gymnastic trotter, who
had scored fourth heat in 2.29i and could
run, and skip, and catch in his trot every few
rods as dextrously as conjuror performs his
sleight- OF hand tricks; also, the mighty mare,
American Girl, who has since equalled, in q
genuine race, Dexters 2.17t, notwithstanding
she was hopelessly crippled with two immense
bone spavins.
Budd Dobie was behind Goldsmith Maid
and Hiram Howe held the lines over Ameri-
can Girl, while Dan Mace, all smiles to the
ladies, brushed Rhode Island up and down
the quarter stretch
The start was announced, and away they
speeded to the half mile pole. 1t was a splen-
did sight. All the horses were in group; no
one distinguishable from the others till the
| long, low form and steady stride of Goldsmith
Maid was seen slightly leading around the
| turn and down the home stretch. She came
in first, the winner of the heat in the then
remarkable time of 2 2244!
The second heat was almost q repetition of
the first, with the single exception that the
| time was q quarter of a second slower. Dur
ing these heats the willy Dan Mace had per-
sistently pulled back Rhode Island, Just saw
ing his distance each time, in order to keep
fresh for the finishing heats, which he vainly
| hoped to win after Goldsmith Maid had ex-
hausted her powers.
| Then Mace began to develop his masterly
policy. He trailed behind Goldsmith Maid
until the quarter was passed When they
reached the back stretch and straight work
Goldsmith Maid and challenged her for the
lead. For some time they looked much like a
flying double team, but he carried her to the
half mile pole SO rapidly that her immense
stride began to tire her machinery. When he
yoked her she could not endure the strain,
but broke up and tangled in demoralizing
Il galop. When she again struck her trot Rhode
Island was too far in advance of her to be
easily overcome, and he won the heat in gal
liant style in 2.26
The fourth heat was an exact repetition of
the third, the Maid again showing evident
signs of distress at the half-mile POLE break
ing into bewildered run as Rhode Island
passed her and won the bravoes by the as
again hung upon the board.
i Doble was pale with resolute desperation
about the concluding heat. Both he and
Mace had thrown off their caps and jackets,
working like beavers to restore the falling
Il energies of their respective horses. The sta
BILE boys were down on their knees diligently
Iapplying rubbing cloths to each leg and hand
rubbing the fiexor tendons Others were
scraping sheets of perspiration from the loins
and TANKS; others were sponging out their
mouths with cooling draughts of water, every
now and then bathing the loins and muscles
with rum and stimulating their exhausted
systems with drench of diluted whskey.
Tactics. equally shrewd, were employed by
Doble. The heats of the two races on each
day at the Buffalo meeting are alternated, in
order to finish the days programme before
dark. Doble was driving in the alternate
race the gray gelding Surprise, and Lady
Il Hamilton hia ExriI In
Doble was willing to sacrifice this race to win
with Goldsmith Maid, SO his point was to
delay with Surprise by troublesome scorings
and false starts as long as possible, in order
the final heat as possible.
! This he accomplished with admirable con-
icealment. At least from u half to three
tquarters of an hour were consumed before the
heat between Surprise and Lady Hamilton
was concluded. Then the bell sounded for
the appearance of Goldsmith Maid and Rhode
Island. The Maid looked weary and jaded.
Her stride was sluggish and her head droop-
ing. Rhode Island with his nervous, pony
action, logged up and down before the people
fresh as daisy.
Mace, as usual resorted to the waiting poll
Icy till he reached the back stretch. Then the
two drew along head and head, neither gain
ing an inch, while the vast throng rose to
their feet i'll breathless suspense, to see If the
mare would again break at the fatal half mile
pole. Doble, anticipating her hightiness,
ste.died her back, giving to Rhode Island the
lead by half length, and the Maid passed
| the place without breaking her gait.
/ The crowd was spell bound us they reached
the draw gates. Rhode Island was still leading
Every man and woman in that vast concourse
linvoluntarily held their breath. The excite
ment became absolutely painful. They had
now reached within forty rods of the outcome.
The stallion was still in advance.
Thinking he had the race, Mack began to
Smirk, and bow, and wave to the ladies'. In
thus taking his attention and skill away from
his struggling horse he caused him to slacken
l in his speed and stagger in his gait. Mean
time, Doble sat in his sulky, wrapt in rigid at
tention to the mare. He lifted the mare with
the reins, and his fingers delicately twitched
the bit in her mouth, in order to inspire her to
the highest fight of speed.
l In an instant Goldsmith Maid shot to tho
head of Rhode Island. At the same instant
Mace saw the critical danger into which his
foolish vanity had beguiled him. The silly
smirk died away. HIS face assumed q deadly
aspect Of earnestness: He righted himself in
his seat and rallied his horse, at the same time
late. The critical moment had passed. His
opportunity of winning the race was gone.
] The noble stallion could not regain his stride,
and the splendid little mare passed over the score
ahead, winning the heat by throat-latcb She
was materially assisted just at the last stride by
her artistic driver letting go OF the reins which
caused her to stretch out her neck like q wild
goose thereby increasing the short lead by which
she won one of the most remarkable heats,and ra-
ces in the annals OF the trottng turf. The time
In the closing heat was only quarter OF second
slower than hhode Islands time.
l -----A-