The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-09
LADY THoRNE's FAST MILE.
A Graphic Story from the Life of the Late
Dan Mace.


Dan Mace.
New York Times
An intimate friend of Dan Mace has been re-
calling me with entertaining "reminiscences
OF the famous driver. One of his stories may
mildly be called little astonishing. / plainly
manifested my skepticism when heard it, but
the earnestness with which it was reiterated and
the indisputable fact that other veteran horse
men among themselves have seriously recited
and discussed it warrant me in making it public
property now after the lapse Of years in which
it has been treasured in confidence by Maces
ntimates. Mace told the tale to friends in whom
he trusted, but secrecy was always imposed
upon his hearers; for, though it was
perhaps the text of the chief boast of
his ilfe there were some phases of it in
which, for apparent reasons he took no personal
pride General publication of the story even
now will doubtless provoke many warm discus
spicuoas horseman now living at Hartford and
quondam crony of Mace, vouches for the truth
of the chronicle, claiming personal knowledge of
it, while other men well known on the track re-
cite the same narrative as they say they heard
it from Maces own lips Years ago." began
my authority, when forty pound sulkies and
shin and pastern boots were unknown, Lady
Thorne headed the list of trotters. Oh, she was
good one in her day. but she needed careful
nursing and regular straight handling Dan
was the only man who could get the last
loop out of her. Tricky and a trile mean
when she stale, the mare sometimes
got Dan out of patience. and sometimes, as all
the stable boys remember, he went at her in a
pretty lively way. One hot Friday morning in
July, when Mace went to her stall, the animal
was unusually ugly She had done fast work
on the preceding Tuesday against time, and had
been in high feather ever since; now almost
iercely she turned upon Old Blue Jacket and
fastened her teeth upon mis- shoulder. Dan
hurt, and Dan was mad. He ordered his men
to put strong bride on the beast and take her
into covered Enclosure. With the long bridle-
y.oiv, Oh Hn b,I k1,o HAIL
the mares head high into the air, and then TAX
ing new driving whip, Dan laid it on with
might and main, shouting and yelling at the
mare continually; break away she could not,
she was covered with foam and trembling like
an aspen leaf. A wild, frightened look
was in her eye, and if ever
horse appeared heartbIoken Lady Thorne
did on that July day. But Dams ire was not APP
peased. Hook her up, he said to Billy Hunter
who was with him then as his head groom;
hook her up and take this watch and catch my
second mile. I'll loosen her up bit On the first
mile, and then I'm going to send her on the re-
peat for all she is worth. You take that time.
Now, my old girl, I'll fix You, he said sternly, as
he caught the reins behind the affrighted horse
He seemed to hold her back with difficulty on
the first mile. She feared that cruel whip
Gradually letting her out she came down to the
starting post for the second mile like a flash, and
away she went The watch snapped as it began
timing mile, which Dan Mace averred to his
dying day was the fastest ever spun by trot-
ting horse in all the world. How he yelled!
How he laid the lash! He acted like
maniac. Under evcry blow Lady Thorne
sped along faster and faster, while gap
ng awe-stricken hostlers looked on in
speechless amazement, for such trOtting as this
not one had ever dared to even dream of. Down
the back stretch tore the maddened animal, too
frightened to break, trotting squarely without
a skip Around the lower turn and down the
stretch sailed the mare white with foam speckled
Mace let out screech more hideous even than
any that had preceded it, Lady Thorne flew
through the air faster still, and like lightning
shot under the wire Hunter looked at the stop
watch, grew pale and shut the case with ve-
hement snap
"'What was itp breathlessly demanded the
half dozen onlookers.
Never mind wait till they come in.
Almost wholly white, trembling and stun
bling back logged the mare. Dams face
CHASTITY, and the veins Of his forehead stood out
like whipcords
g take good care of her, boys I've been devil
ish rough with the beast, he muttered as they
led the horse away. .t1.f
Hunter said Dan, you and will never
live to see that mile trotted again. Let me look
at the watch When Hunter obeyed Mace
stared almost vacantly at the dial, and then of a
sudden, half in soliloquy, he said simply, II
knew it, i.
''That watch marked 2:O8," SAID my enthu-
siastic friend, and ''2:05 it was" Many horsemen
know this; many believe it, some don't; but to
my mind it is really true | am willing to take
the word of Billy Hunter and the word of Dan
Mace that Lady Thorne that day trotted the
fastest mile this world ever saw.