The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1886-09-03
Fast Horses.


Was further proved that the track meas
ured full mile and that the perform
ance Was strict y to rule. doubt changed
t, amazement and admiration, and sages
of the trotting turf were not slow in as
sorting that this performance marked
the ultimate limit of rotting speel.
Nearly eight years passed before the
mares record was suspassed, though
such rivals as George Wilkes, now so
illustrious as sire; Lucy, the fleet
footed daughter of George NJ. Patchen;
and the great Mambrino Chief mare,
Lady Thorne, were all plucking at the
crown. On the Buffalo track, Aug. IA,
1867, the brown gelding Dexter, driv-
ell by Budd Doble, lowered the record
to 2:l74 and passed into the stable of
MIR. Robert Bonner, the then unpre-
cedented price Of $4,000 being paid
for him. Four years later at Milwau
kee. Goldsmith Maid lowered the rec
ard to 2:l7, and at Mystic Park, June,
9, 1872, she further reduced it to 2.l63.
1t was Sept. II, 1878, that Occident
also trotted in 2:l64 over the track at
Sacramento, and until the following
summer divided the royal honors with
Goldsmith Maid. Since that date no
LEGS than twenty. seven others have OBJ
tanned records better than PIT, while
the record of Flora Temple has been
equalled or surpassed by 1876 other
trUtt, RS.
OF those who have beaten 2:17, four
are dead-Goldsmit Maid, Maxey
Cobb, American Girl, and Occident.
There are twelve survivors who make up
the aristocracy of the trotting turf to
day, judging from the record,
First stands Maud S. whose title Of
Queen of the Turf seems secure, and
whose record of 2:O93 will hardly be
SURF assed by any horse now known to
the turf. She is chestnut mare, foal-
ed in 1874. She was sired by Harold,
son of Hambletonian and brother in
blood to Goldsmith Maid, and herr dam
Miss Russell, combined the choice trot-
ting blood of Pilot Jr. with the royal
thorough bred stock of Boston, When
four years old Maud S. showed mile
in 2:17a. and was purchased by the late
VIM. H. Vanderbilt. Her turf career
has been of unmatched brilliancy. She
has started in but four races against
four other horses, and has never been
defeated. The only animal who has
ever won heat from her is the gray
gelding Charlie Ford, who took the first
heat in race against her at Buffalo in
1880. 1t was her first season on the
turf, and she was then six years old.
At Chicago, ILL.,, in July, she gained a
record of 2:l3aa, and there was but one
rival to her supremacy, the bay geld
ing St. Julian, who had secured rec
ord of 2:l2a at Oakland, CAL. in Oct
ober, 1879.
They met at Rochester Aug. -,
1880, and in separate attempts to beat
2:l24 each gained record Of 2: liz.
At Hartford two weeks later St.
Julien again achieved the fastest record,
trottng in 2:114, and for three weeks
held the crown, but at Chicago, Sept.
Is, Maud S. lowered the record to 2:l04
and for that year the contest was ended.
In 1881 she trotted at Pittsburgh in
2:lO3 and at Rochester in 2:l04, and
then, having placed all competition at
an apparently safe distance, she retired
to the luxurious stable of her owner
where she remained through the follow
ing year. In the summer Of 1883,
driven by MIR, Vanderbilt, she added to
her aurels the fastest recorded mile for
double team, trotting the Fleetwood
track in company with Aldine in 2:l54,
although this was not technical rec
ord.
In 1888 her peaceful possession of
the highest honors was again challeng-
ed, this time by the wonderful FIVE
year old, Jay-Eye-See who closed the
season with record of 2:l03, and who
appeared invincible. The great mare
was put in shape for the emergency and
the first day of August found her tax
ing her work at the Cleveland track.
That Ii 5ht the news came from Provi-
dence that Jav-Eye, See had lowered
the record to 9 10, and the next day
Maud S. was brought out, ostensibly to
beat liz, really to beat 2:lO, and in
the presence of an immense throng she
trntta1 tho mila Uthout 20 ltar in