Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-07-26
VANDERBILT AT The RACES.
D,sinclined to Flowers or speech MAXIM

Dlsinclined to Flowers or speech making.
The recent trial of Maud s.. at Chicago.
was the only time her millionaire owner
ever saw her in public. His presence
occasioned great popular interest among
the spectators. Mr.. Vanderbilt chatted
pleasantly with those around him on rae
ing and other subjects during the regular
races, but it who easily discerned that he
was deeply interested in Maud S. and was
extremely anxious that shc should do
something that would add to her fame.
He had not seen her on the track since he
purchased her, and he had been led to be-
leve that she would lower her record
made at Pittsburgh.
AS the time for the first trial drew near
he manifested a nervous interest in the
matter that increased perceptibly when
the mare came flying down the stretch,
and Bair, her driver, nodded to the judges
that he was ready. As she passed under
the wire her owner mounted chair and
watched her intently, chronometer in hand,
every step of the way, noting the quarters
and making observations with reference to
her conduct. When she broke on the
lower turn an expression of disgust was
observed upon his face, but when she
settled for steady work smile took its
place, and he climbed down from his place
Oh the chair satisfied that she had done
we'll enough for the first trial. When the
mare had finished, Captain John Wander
bilt put down the field glasses he had been
using. and exultingly said swell, |
beat Foster [meaning Mr.. Deweyl out Of
$40. l knew she'd break" Some one
sitting near, who had not caught the
tenor of the captains remarks, asked him
what he had Won, and he repeated what
he had said. Mr.. Vanderbilt hurriedly
crossed the stand, and in a tone that was
by no means mild, said g: It's bad taste
for you to mako any such bet. You'd
have people think she is in the habit Of
breaking" Taste" replied the captain.
It's just like playing poker. You don't
bet for taste you bet to win. find it
pretty safe to bet any horse will break
sometime during three heats" Mr.. Van
derbilt did not continue the conversation,
but it was plain that he was in no pleasant
frame of mind over the captains wager.
The incident was q fOrci3le illustration Of
the interest felt by the gentleman for his
famous mare.
When Maud 5. was again driven on the
track Mr.. Vanderbilt expressed the opin-
ion that she would beat her best time, and
he prepared himself for full view of the
effort. She passed under the wire for a
fast pace and steadily increased it. Her
owner watched her inteutly, and when lie
stopped his watch. at 2:11!!, he expressed
great qualification at tho result. The
third trial was 4 disappointment to him.
He believed she would make the mile in
2:10, if not better, and when she finished
his manner clearly indicated his disap.
pOintment. His watch was stopped at
2:10i, but those Of Col. Conley and tn,
two other gentlemen in the stand were
precisely at 2:11. Mr.. Vanderbilt closely
examined the two timepieces and then
turned away without a word. The mare
had failed and he was not pleased.
Mr.. Vanderbilt and his party were Oh
the point Of leaving the stand to return to
the city when some one said: "Wait,
here are some flowers for you" The gen
tlemau looked over the rail and saw 4 man
approaching with y basket Of cut flowers.
He at once became flushed, and i'll an em-
barrassed tone said: "Oh, don't want
any flowers" The flowers were taken up
stairs and the bearer handed them to Mr..
Vanderbilt. He refused the gift and said:
"Give them to Bair !; don't want Them
g. But Bair has some these arc for you"
Mr.. Vanderbilt took The flowers
reluctantly while the crowd checred,
and Mayor Harrison urged him to
make 4 speech. He was wofully dis
concerted. and protested that he had never
made !, speech in his life, and no timid
school girl was ever more thoroughly en-
Darr:.ssed than was the great railroad
king. Then, with no apparent desire to
he discourtcous, he handed the basket to
the mayor and fairly ran down stairs to
the track, where he was soon joined by
his friends. lie recognized the plaudits
of the crowd us he walked toward the club
house, and seemed relieved that he had
escaped. When at the clubhouse he was
heard to say, Il wouldn't have carried
those flowers across the track for for
tune"