The Louisiana cotton-boll. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], Attakapas, La.) 1872-1883, 1874-09-30
TROTTTNG TIME.
Goldsmith MaId's Recent Un rccedented
achievements

achievements
The extraordinary trotting record
made by Goldsmith Maid at Mystic
Park, Boston, on the second inst, is
worthy of more than passing notice, for
it marks an era memorable in the history
of the American trotting turf. Thirty
years ago, two-forty on the plank
road was supposed to denote a trot-
ting horse of more than ordinary speed.
and when, in 1849, Lady Suffolk trotted
mile heat under saddle on the Cam
bridge course, Boston, in 2:26, against
Mac and Gray Eagle, the aeme of speed
was then supposed to have been
reached. Seven years later, Flora Tenn
pie, in the hands of the great American
horseman, Hiram Woodruff, reduced
the record to 2:24B, made in race
against Tacon on the Union cours e,
Sept. 4, 1856, the latter going under
saddle and Flora in harness. For years
this record remained unequaled, but
Flora Temple herself subsequently re-
duced it to 2:233, 2:22, 2:214, and 2:192,
the latter time being made at KalamG-
zoo, on Oct. Is, 1859. Dexter, Robert
Bonner's famous horse, was the first TO
beat this record, which he did in his
memorable match against time, when
his then owner, George Alley, backed
him to beat 2:19 under saddle, with
three trials, at the odds of $1,000 to
800 The contest took place On
Oct. 10, 1866, Dexter winning in
2:1S 1-5, in the hands of John Murphy,
who rode him. In 1865, at Buffalo,
Dexter, trotting against his time of
2:18 5, under the saddle, placed 2:18
on the record, and two years later, over
the same course, on August IA, 1867, in
harness, made his fastest and most
memorable record of 2:174. Immedi
ately after the great performance he
passed into Mr.. Bonner's possession,
who withdrew him from the turf. At
the time of his retirement Dexter was
only nine years old, had not attained
the full development of his wonderful
speed, and if retained in regular train
ing would undoubtedly have reduced
the trottipg record far below anything
that has yet been seen. On his apd1ca-
tion Goldsmith Maid assumed the va
cant throne, and has clearly shown her
undoubted right to the position, for on
the Cold Spring course, Milwaukee, on
Sept. 6,1871, tour years after Dexter's
record had been made, she trotted a
second heat in 2:17, or a quarter of a
second faster than the renowned son of
Hambletonian. She was then fourteen
years old, and it is striking proof OF
the fact that trotting horses do not at
tain the full developmet of their speed,
and powers of endurance, that she has
since continued to trot faster every
year. On June 27, 1872, Goldsmith
Maid made the record of 2:162, driven
by w. II. Doble. (the father of Budd
Doble, the trainer of the mare) at Mys-
tic Park, Boston, in second heat. I'm
til the California horse Occident, at
Sacramento, on Sept. II, 1873, repeated
the great feat, this remained unequaled.
This year, however, this famous mare
has surpassed herself, for at Buffalo, on
Aug. z, in trotting against her own best
time, in a second heat she placed 2:153
on the record five days later, on Aug.
10, at Rochester, she trotted second
heat against Judge Fullerton and Amer
lean Girl in 2-142 and on Wednesday,
Sept. 2, at Mystic Park, Boston, for a
special purse of 50, 500. offered for her
to beat her own record of Ala, ! she
trotted second trial of one mile in
Ola, amid the cheers Of the assembled
thousands. How low she is destined to
reduce the trotting record it is unsafe
to predict, for she accomplishes her con-
secutive triumphs SO easily as to lead to
the conviction that she has a power OF
speed still in reserve, to be exhibited
whenever occasion requires. York
Ty.ib9t42e