Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1885-07-10
THE FASTEST MILE
ON A RACE TRACK.
Driver Lost Patience with Lady
Thorne Like Lightning
Under the Wire.

New York Timesl
An intimate friend Of Dan Mace has been
-egaling mo with entertaining "reminiscences
II 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
hat other veteran horsemen among them
'elv,s 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 Mace's init
mates. 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
MS life, there were some phases Of it in
which. for apparent reasons, he took no per-
'onal pride.
General publication of the story even now
will doubtless provoke many warm discus
,ions in trotting circles Billy" Hunter, a
conspicuous horseman now living at Hart
ford, 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 recite
the same narrative "a they say they heard
it from Mace's own lips.
"Years ago. began my authority, 3when
forty-pouni suikies and shin AMI pastern
boots were unknown Lady Thorns hea led
the list of trotters Ga, she was good one
in her day. but she neeIed careful nursing
and regular straight handling. Dan was
the only maa who could ever get tie last
loop cut Of her. Tricky and trifi, mean
when she IVES stale the mare sometimes got
Dan out of patience, and sometimes. As all
the stable boys remember, he went at her in
q pretty lively way.
One hot Friday morning in July when
Mace went to her stall the animal was I'M.
Usually ugly She hal done fast work on
the preceIing Tue day against time. AMI
had been in nigh feath.r ever since; now
almost ;iercely she turnei upon Old Blue
Jacket AMI fastened her teeth upon his
shoulder Dan was hurt End Dan was mad.
He o derei his men to put a strong bride
on tie beat and take her into a covered in
closure With the long bride rein over a
high stringer he had the men haul the
mares head high into the air, and then
taking new driving whip Dan laii it on
with might and MAN, shouting and yelling
at the marc continually; Lreak away 81.
could not, and before the old man got
through with her shs was covered with foam
and trembling like an a>pen leaf. A wild
frightened look was in her eye. and if ever a
horse appeared heartbroksn Lady Thorns
did on that July day.
But Dams ire was not appease1. 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
repeat for oil 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 afrrightcd horse. He seemed TO hold her
back with difficulty on the first mile. Sae
feared tina; cruel whip Gradually letting
her out she came down TO the starting post
for the second mile like flash, and away
she went Tie watch snapped as it began
timing a mile which Dan Mace averrei to
his dying day wa; the fastest ever spun by a
trotting horse in all the world
How he yelleil How he laid on the lashi
He acted like maniac. Under every blow
Lady Thorne sped along faster and faster.
while gazing. awe-stricsen hcstlers looked
on in spcechless amaz .ment for such trot-
tag As This not one hal ever dared to even
dream Of Down the back stretch tore the
maddened animal, too frightened TO break,
trotting squarely without skip Around
the lower ,Crn and down the stretch sailed
the mare white with {, am. specSls1 with
blood Within 100 feet OF the wire Mace let
out a screcci more hideous even than any
that hal preceied 1t; LAZY Thorne flew
through the air faster still. and like light
ming sh I under the wir.. Hunter looked at
the stop watch. grew pale. and shu; the casa
with n ve..em.nt snap
-'Wna; was itf breathlessly dcmlnloi
the balf-iazsd on-l DokerS.
Never mind; wait TIL they come in
almost " holly VIII T., trembling AMI stun
bling. back io-gei tie msre. DiE's face
was gbastly. and the vein' On hi, forehead
stood out like whipcoriS
Take good care OF her. boy. I've been
ievilish rough with the beast be nutterd
as they iel the horse away.
Hunter sal Dan. YOU AMI will never
live 20 So tat mile trotiei again Lit M
look M the watca' When Hunter ooeysl
Mace s;a-ei alInos: vacantIy at the dial,
and then OF n sudden. hall in sClliUquy, he
said Simply, L knew IL
That watch marke 2.lS. said nv eutsu-
siastic friend. ami eos II was Many
horsenen knew thi>; many believe ii; sons
don't; tut to my mind 1t Is really true !
am willing & IaSe the word q Billy Hunter
and the word % Dan Mace that Lai TAorns
on thst day trot;ei the taste; nils tlls
world ever sS.