The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-11-12
THE RECORD BEATEN.
Maud s. Makes the Fastest Mile Ever TrOtted
in POO IA.

LEXINGTON, KY, Nov. 11-Maud S. has
proved herself greater mare than ever her late
owner, W. H. Vanderbilt, or her present owner
Robert Bonner, even thought she was. hiram
Woodruff, the old-time trainer of trotting-
horses. laid it down as an iron-cad law that you
could never have fast mile after frost had
struck the ground Ice formed repeatedly and
took elasticity from the soil, and sober-headed
ones like Dr. Herr said it was too late for Maud
S. to try to do what no horse except herself had
ever done yet. The enthusiastic ones, however,
predicted that the record would be broken. The
day was bright for November, but the expert
does not look for muscles to be flexible when In
dian summer comes. There was large
gathering of the very best Of people
of the blue grass region at the Playground track.
Hundreds of church -goers were present, among
them several divines and Mr.. Bonner was graf
flied to see placard conspicuously posted on the
grand stand: mo betting allowed
AT half-past IL Bair came out behind the queen
and gave her a warmingup mile in 2:264. The
Col r. West and w. H. Wilson In the oppo-
site stand Mr.. Bonner held watch, hanked on
both sides by General J, F. Robinson, MT L..
Brodhead Mr.. Richard Anderson and Hamilton
Busby. The conditions under when the per
Torrance was made were written in the record
book: Maud S. will start to beat her own rec
ord of 2O92 and should she beat the record,
Woodburn farm, where she was bred, will com
memorate the achievement by awarding to her,
through the Kentucky Trotting Hors
Breeders Association, a cup with the
time made by her engraved thereon
BAR logged round the track went to the head OF
the stretch came down and nodded for the word
The great mare did not make single mistake.
The time Of the first quarter was 322 seconds,
and of the half mile, 1:04; the three quarter pole
was reached in 1:37, and here Mr.. Bowerman
Joined her with a runner hitched to sulky.
The finish was strong, and the judges stopped
their watches at 2:09t The majority of the out
side watches made the time 2:O9.
The scene, when the queen returned to the
stand for Bair to weigh, was indescrioabfe The
crowd filed the quarter stretch, and cheered
until their throats were husky. 1t was the
greatest performance of the kind ever
witnessed in the world, and Kentucky men
shouted as only they can do. Mr.. Bonner was
congratulated on every side, prominent breeders
like General W. Il. Withers, Mr., d. Swigert and
Mr.. Todhunter pressing forward to take him by
the hand When Grant, the colored groom, was
cooling the mare out on the lawn, scores OF ladies'
gathered round and asked for the privilege of
touching her on the nose. Mr.. Bonners first
congratuatory dispatch was to Mr.. Vanderbilt.
The mare will now be turned out for the winter
The whole town to night is talking about the
wonderful performance of Maud S. Even the
ladies discuss it with animation. The excite
ment in the presidential election, which has been
so intense here, is submerged by the tidal wave
produced by seeing what had never before been
Naccomplished-a mile in 2;09t.