Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-08-24
THE GREAT TROgTING RACE.
Lula ana Goldsmith Maid.
DUDD DOBLE INTERVIEWER.


the readers Of the Spirit of the Times
the fullest and most complete history
of everything pertaining to the great
trotting meetings, sent for Budd Doble,
when the following conversation took
place:
CORRESPONDENT. Well, Mr.. Doble,
it has occurred to the SPIRIT OF the
Times that you would ike to give your
own account Of this great race, which
has Just taken place, to the tens of
thousands who look to our reports for
a correct history Of all great trotting
contests. VIII you tell rs to what you
attribute the defeat which the Maid
has met with to-dayP-s
DoBLE. Solely to the fact that one
cannot expect horse t. last always.
The old mare Is now IN her nineteenth
year, and it Is not to be expected that
she could beat a horse Of nearly equal
speed, and in the prime Of life.
G. But did the Maid not trot to-day
a better race than she ever trotted in
her life?
D. Yes; it is the fastest race that she
ever trotted; but she has seen the day
when she could have trotted a faster
one. She probably has as much speed
row as she ever had, but she cannot
keep itup 80 long, she cannot finish her
heats as she once could.
@. But did she not show a wonderful
burst Of speed when she collared
American Girl at the three-quarterpole
on the first heat, and went by her? 1t
appeared as though the Maid fairly
flew around the big mare and down the
hOmestretch.
ID. No; 1t was not the increased
speed of the Maid. The apparent in
crease was but the slackening Of the
pace on the part Of American Girl,
who gave it up at the head of the
stretch, and the Maid, who was able to
keep it up at the same rate for another
quarter, OF course, left her. You will
see by the records that the Girl went TO
the half IN LOO. She kept up this
pace, and held her lead to the next
quarter in 94s., when she began TO fail,
and the Maid came home on the last
quarter In 353s., which was considera.
bly, slower rate Of speed than while the
Girl kept the lead.
@. But did not the game manner in
which she finished IT. the last heat. neck
and neck with Lula, making the last
quarter in SIS. indicate that the Maid
was still able to finish her heats wells
d. Yes; she finished well In all of
these heats, better than she ever did
before in a race, but not as well as she
could have done last year had she been
driven to it. Had Lula met the Maid
at any time last year, as good, as fast.
and rs steady as she was to-day, the
Maid would have beaten her in spite of
all that she might have done, for last
year the Maid could do her last half as
fast as the first one, as her time when
she made her 2;l4 clearly proves.
@. Do you think that, from this time
on, Lula will be likely to beatthe Maid
IN their races?
d. 1t is reasonable to suppose that
she viii. The Maid Is old, and is get
ting weak on her legs l notice that
she has not her wOnted activity aud
sprightlin5ss in turning and scoring,
and 1t is quite probable that such a
hot race will injure her, while
it ought to improve Lula, as she is vet
a young mare. 1t cannot be hoped
that the Maid VII improve, while i'm
provement ought to be expected from
Lula. But the old mare (andshere Mr..
Doble's eyes kindled as he spoke, has
disappointed rs 50 often IN the past,
that she may yet have another one IN
store for us.
G. Do you think that Lula will ever
be as good and reliable q Urotter as the
Maid has been:
d. Lula is a wonderfully fast mare,
and is possessed Of great endurance,
but / do not think thar she will be able,
in her nineteenth year, to trot such a
race as the Maid has trotted to- day. II
deed, 1 never expect to see another such
mare IS she has been.
G. Do you think that Lula Will ever
become T liable in a race:
d. She has improved much IN that
respect since ] first knew her, but l
don't believe that she or any other horse
will ever become as reliable as the Maid
able to trot, always nearly up to the
top of her speed, under all conditions
and IN all climates. The world has
never seen her like before, and IL
never will again, for IN this respect, as
well as Il neT speed, she VS. a mir
acle.
G. Do you think that Lula has as
much speed now as tie Maid had last
year?
D. No, think that Lula might trot
a faster mile than she yet has done, but
l have never seen her show the speed
that the Maid possessed last year.
q. Well, there Is no disputing the
fact tlat the Maid is a great mare, and
everybody that loves a trotting horse
Is proud Of her, and all are sorry that
she was not permitted to rest on her
laurels before she met with defest.
D. Yes, and / share IN this geneSsl
regret; but / also regret that there was
onthe turf last year that could
follow the Maid down the home stretch,
for If there had been, you would have
seen a greater race than you have seen
to-day. The fact Is, the old mare was
entirely let up last winter, instead Of
being logged as on the previous one,
and on being t. ken up this spring, her
old muscles were all relaxed. ] went |
10 work on her very gradually on my
return from California this spring, but !
Dne Of her legs began to swell. and |
had to 60 back and make a more |
gradual approach with her. 1 again |
got her TO going a little and the other |
lind leg began to show signs Of weak |
ness. The time came for Eic to start !
West TO Michigan, and 7 o)uld not find |
il IN my heart % leava the old mare at |
bone. l had almost concluded t. send
her back 20 the farm. but ] knew the /
people wanted 10 see her, and besides, |
she had always appeared to like car
riding, and / had a theory that the |
constant Earring motion Of the long
trip would improve her legs. In /
his | was correct, for on our arrival |
NJ Saginaw she was much better, and
| again commenced working her. But |
1t KalamLzoo her legs again failed, |
and 1 consulted an exp lrienced veterj- |
marian, j whom / have great conf |
irnce, with reference to her condition. |
He examined her, and frankly told me /
that To old mare was gone, and that I |
rad better send her me. Still hat i /
10 part with her, and / took her &c De |
-rOit. Here she began to grow better; |
md at Chicago, a few days before the |