Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1880-11-13
History of the Fastest TrOt.
ter ON Earth.
Chicago Letter in Louisville Courier
Journal.

EoTsenen generally understand
how Maud 5. was brought TO the
surface, bat as thousands are un-
acquainted with the general facts,
and several minor details have
come TO me from authoritative
source, they are sufficiently inter-
esting to bear repetition.
In July, 1876, William Bair,
Maud's driver, whose handling of
the animal cannot but greatly dis
tingulsh him, came from Pennsyl-
vania to Cincinnati. In the for
tune of things he came here with
out employment, and, which, is
no discredit TO him, without
means. The simple truth is he
was in hard luck, though he had
good letters Of recommendation
he applied to Captain Stone as the
President OF the Chester Park As
soclatlon,requesting that he should
assist him to secure of some mem
Der or the association the hanu ling
OF his horses over the track. Cap
tain Stone spoke to several but
could get nothing for him to do
he noticed that Bair neither
swore, drink, chewed nor smoked.
1t occurred to him that whatever
such mans abilities might be,
his reliability could be depended
on. Not because he had anything
for Bair to do, but more from a
generous impulse than otherwise,
he gave Barr his Lady Chester,
and told him to go ahead and see
what he could do with her. She
was not thought speedy, and had
only shown about $50 Bair went
to work with her, brought her
down to about 2;30, and made sew
eral matches with her, which he
won. Captain Stone, judging that
the limit of her speed had been
reached, withdrew her from the
track and placed her In his private
stables. He then told Bair to look
about and get hold of something
he could go to work upon again.
Bair attended the Bugher sale and
bought the wo-year-old FLY
Maud s. whichthad been purchas-
ed by the elder Bugher of The AL
exanders, of Kentucky, who bred
her. The price paid for her by
Captain was $3.50 She could not
be bought for one thousand times
that amount to-day, and is worth
five hundred times $3.50 or
binary chances as an investment.
She was wintered carefully, was
broken by Bair, and in her 3-year-
old form she next Spring showed |
on the Chester Park track a half
mile in 1:13. The next season, in |
her 4-year-old form, she was most |
thoroughly handled by Bair, and |
first astonished the world when |
she showed mile over the Lex
ington track in 2:173. Vanderbilt
Immediately purchased her of
Captain Stone, the purchase price
being $21 900, and straighway a
great cry went up regarding "a
fool and his money! ect. Maud
S., on being shipped to New York,
was at once turned over by Mr..
Vanderbilt to Mr.. Carl Burr, a
handler of very great reputation,
but whatever the reason may have
been, she did not do we'll under
his care. Burr had charge of her
one year. Mr.. Vanderbilt then
wrote Captain Stone, asking him
if he would not again take charge
of her and fully develop her. He
had been stung and hurt by covert
charges of smart dealing with
Vanderbilt, and while it was pre-
cisely the opportunity he desired,
he would not accede to the propo-
sition until he had thoroughly sat-
isfied himself of her condition. He
slipped down to New York and
did this. He at once satisfied him
self that Maud was all right; that
the failure in her development
was the fault of nobody. She was
simply delicately sensitive, high
strung, was not en- rapport with
her surroundings and driver, and,
sentimental as it may seem, need
ed "sympathetic development"
under the kindliest influences.
He brought her back to Gin
cinnati to her old surroundings !;
Bair went to work upon her again,
and her old groom, the colored
boy Charlie Grant, was her con-
slant companion. The result is
well known. In connection with
this, 1 believe it but proper to
mention certain influences which
/ am sure have contributed to the
magnificent successes of Maud S.
Captain Stone, William Bair,
Charlie Grant and Maud s., are all
the best of friends. Without de-
string to reflect upon other horse
men, il is but fair to state, that,
were not William Bair an honest
man, he could hardly be other
than absolutely trustworthy in his
hondIinn Of tho L nnfnnIZx " trnffinc q.