The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-10-29
ATROTTIHG WONDER.
aMaSad Il. i Cincinnati RnIy, TrOts q
lille In a,17k.
The FASTEST Time on Record For fOu'

LNnEOta
Cincinnati Commercial.
The trotdng season Of ls7s,which is rap
idly drawing to q close, has been the most
brilliant in the annals Of the American
Turf. We presume, from the marvellous
improvement that Is made in the trotting
stock Of the country from year to year, thpt
the same assertion will be made next fall
Of the season OF 1879, but 50 far us this
year Is concerned there can be no manner
OF doubt. d Thousands Of people without
even tinge OF grey in their abundant
locks can remember when "2:4O on the
Shell road" was regarded as almost light
ming speed, and the same good people can
recall the successive shocks Of amazement
they experienced when Flora Temple FIRST
beat 20, when Dexter trotted In 2:l7l, and
when Goldsmith Maid and American Girl
trotted up to Flora's time whenever they
pleased. Last year was pretty fairy year it
self for trotters, and several OF the fastest
Of them materially reduced their records,
until Flora Temples 2:l9l was simply an
ancient landmark, held in but little more
repute than the still more ancient Shell
road record. Goldsmith Maid, the Queen
OF the Trotting Turf, trotted in the almost
incredible time OF 2:l4, and tho Oldest
hands at the ribbons threw up their arms
and exclaimed, THAT settles it; no horse
will ever beat hat time" And yet along
comes the imperial Rarus and nonchalant-
" trots in 2:l3l and 2:l3t, with every sign
OF ability TO 90 still faster. And Edwin
Forrest gets down to half q mile in l:04,
and full mile in 2:l4l along comes Hope
full with his 2:l4i, and Edward and Crox.
lie, and Lucille and Proteine, and several
Others gracefully descend into the free
for:-all class, which always means good
deal better than 20 when they go for
"blood." ......
The performances Of the young trottcrs
we're remarkable last year, but they have
been still more so this season. As a two
year.old last wear, $50 So" trottcd mile
In 2:3lf, which Il was thought like Gold
smith Maids 2:l4, would never be beaten.
On his way TO Lexington, to attend the re-
cent trottihg meeting there, an experien-
ced New York horseman, Mr.. J. d. Wal
ton, said 10 q reporter for the Commercial:
cts hard 10 believe that q two-year old
ever trotted that fast, but It's record, aud
must be accepted. I'd like to bet some
thing pretty, however, that the like Is not
done again in the next five years" An
hour later, at the finish Of heat, he put
his timing watch to his ear, and, with q
startled expression compared It with that OF
q friend. The time pieces agreed, and re-
corded that Memento, Colonel r. s. Stra-
ders beautiful two-year.old FLY, had trot-
ted mile in $50. Mr.. Walton was 80 as
tonished by the performance that no
thought his watch must have stopped. 1t
would require more space than We have
TO spare to enumerate all the brilliant
things that have been done by trotters, old
and young, this year, but an event occur
rcd at Lexington yesterday which calls for
more than passing notice. That event was
that Maud s.. the magnificent four-year..
old tilley OF Captain George n. Stone, OF
this city, tfotted mile over the track OF
The Kentucky Trotting Horse Breeders as
ISOLATION, in he altogether unprecedented and
unexpected Zine q 2:l7l.
o.
fast, and her owner has not for some time
doubted her ability to beat 20, but he was
by no means sanguine OF her trotting in
any such time as she made yesterday.
The Ally has been at Lexington some three
weeks, and in consequence OF the bad
weather that has spoiled all Of these weeks
for turf exercise, was worry "short OF work"
Early in the week she was given d go in
the face OF a strong, piercing wind, that
drove all but the most robust men from
the track, and trotted mile in 2:229, re-
petition Of her performance several Sum
DAYS ago at Chester Park. Captain Stone
was for bringing her home after that per-
formanoe, but Mr.. WV. Bair, her jealous
and enthusiastic trgincr, pleaded hard for
few days in the Blue Grgss region, ex-
pressing the utmost confidence In Ills abil.
ity TO absolutely frighten the people OF
Kentucky with the marc, II he could only
strike a.'good day and good track" The
Captain reluctantly consented 10 his re-
naming the balance OF the week, and yes
terday being the last day OF grace, another
ieo'' was given the mare. The conditions
were not the best possible for a trial OF
speed, there being considerable wind, and
he track being somewhat "ouppy." Still
II was decided 10 let Maud show what
she could do. There were probably hun.
bred men on the track, large number oil
whom held Watches on. the mare. The
gentlemen who specially "held on her" in
hejudges' stand were General James f.
Robinson, Dr.. L. Herr, Colonel X. >. stra-
der and Colonel Ferguson. The trial took
place about hall, past eleven O. clock in
the morning, and after Jogging the mare
around tho course . couple OF miles, Bair
nodded 10 the timers 10 let them go, and
away they went in earnest, Without a
skip or false movement OF any kind, but
going at her work like an old horse, the
wonderful Ally went TO the quarter pole
in Ssh seconds, TO-. the half.mile pole in l
minute and Al seconds, and finished the
mile in 2:l7a. The. timers in the judges
stand, as well as the other spectators could
hardly believe their watches, but there
they stood, and amongthe four gentlemen
named above there was not the variation
OF q fraction Of q second. /,
Captain Stone, who witnessed the trial
with no little .solicitude, considering the
condition OF the weather, was, OF course,
highly gratifed by, this. remarkable per:
lO[lluuGCI iMuu hA9' Nahiy tSHhteeS'otSA
on ali hands as the possessor OF the fastest
four-year.old in theworld.
1The2:l7i Is, of course, not record, not
having been made in race or trial for a
consideration, but it beats all Of tho four
year.old private trialsTever made, the next
being that fthe stallion Governorsprague,
2:2lf.
Maud S. is a beautiful golden chester
filly,, without white, fifteen hands three
inches high; BY Harold, out Of Miss Rus
sell by Pilot, i. She has graceful, easy,
yet determined way of going, and II she
tr6tsi PIN attour years old, the Lord
only knows how fast she will go in the
time to come. H..
4, geological Batiie-Terrible Fight of
~ Enraged Bears.
A fatal and terrific combat occurred at
the Geological Gardens in the Fair Grounds
Yesterday between two OF the bears con.