Daily Kennebec journal., 1881-07-18
The Fastest Mile on Record.

The trial of speed by Maud s had been
put down on the programme for the first
although ,.f ...-..---, - s,..pont-
ed that it would be first But. rs being the
great event of the day, il is worthy of men
ton first although it did not take place until
among the last. II was nearly o'clock
when Maud ). was brought out and quietly
warmed up by a jog up the stretch and part
way around to the back turn Bair then
drove her at a moderate gait down the quar-
ter stretch. and came to the wire in a fairly
good trot lie glanced up Mt the judges.
gave a slight nod. and the word Go was
given. The mare kept up the same
gait with which she passed under the wire
until she reached the turn, and every one
thought, while many exclaimed ooh, he
is not going to let her out" But around the
turn her stride seemed to lengthen and her
feet fell with accelerated speed. When she
reached the quarter pole in 033, people who
had timed her realized that she was down to
work in earnest. Along the back stretch she
flew more rapidly than it seemed she was go
ing. But when she finally entered upon the
home stretch. and fair view of the tremen-
dous length of her strides could be obtained.
every one felt sure that Maud $. was going
to make good time. As she passed under
the wire at a laundering gait. she had the
homage of not few cheers. Bair did not
stop her too suddenly. but gently got her
down, after passing halfway around the turn.
She had scarcely turned to come back to
the wire when \ tremendous shout went up
from the crowd. for the magic figures lOB
were hung ont. The first indication that
those outside of the judges stand had that
remarkable time had been officially recorded
was when Mr.. Ira +. Branard. one of the
Judges. who was never known To cheer
before since he was boy. took off
his hat and yelled at the top of his voice
The crowd caught the infection. saw the
time. and as Maud s came slowly back to
the stand. with a groom at each side of her
head. and Bair sitting in the sulkv, the mare
and her driver received regular ovation.
People rushed from the grand stands and
crowded down TO the fence to get better
look at the queen, and to give vent to their
exuberant satisfaction with her performance.
Bair rode up with his cap in hand bowling to
the crowds as he passed. He knew that he
had made good time. but ne was hardly pre-
pared to see the figures that the judges turned
toward him rs he came up. He finally dis
mounted and then Mr. Byers. one of the
judges. had time to officially announce to the
crowd that Maud :. had trotted the heat in
2.loA, beating her own record of 2.l0S and
making the fastest mile ever trotted in the
world. At his proposal three cheers were
given for Maud :. with unanimity and heart
mess.
Following is the official record of the time
bv quarters;
First quarter. % rhrec-Qusrters, Is.I
Ialf-mile, i.oal Full mile, e.goI
Each quarter mile was. therefore. made in
the following time First quarter. o.3S sec
ond quarter. o.S2A; third quarter, 0.sli:
fourth quarter. o.SSt. The third quarter is
probably the slowest one on the whole track.
vet Just at that point was where the mare
made the best time at the same pace through
out she would have made the mile in s0.
The track too. was fully two seconds slow
Capt Stone saws that with the track in good
condition, Maud $. he is confident, could
make as low as e.o>, and possibly better.
For the benefit of persons who do not know
it. il may be stated here that Maud 5. is only
wears old She never tretted in a race but
once. which was at Cincinnati last year. in
which she was entered in the $50 class and
easily won the race, the best time she made
in it being 2.a5 Immediately afterward she
went to Chicago. where she made her first
famous record. 2.la. beating st. Julien's a.lS.
Afterward ST. Julien made a.lli at Hartford
and at the Fall meeting in Chicago last year
Maud s proceeded TO beat his record again.
making the mile in , los. She has never
since then. up to Yesterday. trotted under
3. l3, except probably when being worked
From the Pfttsbsry Psnn.) Commercial,
July IL