New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-05-07
HARNESS RACING GOSSIP.
REVIEW OF THE RECORD BREAKERS.
A SKETCH OF NANCY HANKS - PROPOSED
CHANGES IN TIE RULES.

CHANGES IN TIE RULES.
Those who have followed the development OF speed
nj neither OF the harness gats are longer surprised
ut anything the rottcrs and PAGERS accomplish Since
breeding has got nearer TO a science ana trainers
have learned to keep their pupils strong Instead OF
working them to skeleton. was once the system,
the horses have been giving excellent account OF
themselves, ana as the statistics show the record has
made rapid strides toward the twOminute goal since
the first mile below . 80 was accomplished Though
a PAGER was the first start the numerous " fast
list The performance Of Dr0vcr ia 1889. when Hiram
Woodruff won a with him in straight heats. the
third In oS considered wonderful. as the
contest WAS under saddle The trottes even more
I'm favor then than they now, and Lady SUFFOLK
had attracted attention by winning several races also
under saddle before Drover paced bis fast mile
over the old Beacon Course at 1oboken, N. }. Inc
stout gray mare carried her trainer, David Bryan. n
dozen or more heats from :26 l2 to $50 previous
to 1545 when he drew sulky in 2:2o l2 at Behcon
Course defeating Moscow who scored 30 In the next
heat the first geldng to enter the list.
During the forty eight years that have passed since
Lady Suffolk set the example nearly 1900 trotters
have earned IA place I'm the speed roll, but the
champions have numbered only twelve. including the
gray herself Several OF these. however, echpsed
their records than once. Flora Temple
was the first to do this. as she began by lowering
the mark Of Highland Maid. the successor OF Lady
Suffolk, and after trottng I'm 9 "a 12 in 1856 beat
that time four occasions, ending with her crown
Ing triumph at Kalamazoo three years later, when
she placed the record q quarter OF a second below
. 30. Dexter won two championships first winning
the crown from the little stubailed mare by turning
half.mle track in . 10 at Boston IN July, 1867, and
few weeks later achieving his more famous but not
more creditable feat at Buffalo, where he troted in
2:l7 Id. Goldsmith Maid has six best records TO her
credit, beginning with the one In IL, which de-
throncd Dexter, and with the exception when
Occident equaed her mile In 2:16 "a she held the
foremost place till 1873.
Rarls had shorter term OF sovereignty, giving
way to St. Julien in less fifteen months after he
reduced Goldsmith Maids Id TO 2:l3 Ia. Maud
:. appeared queen of the su,y in 1880, and after
interesting duel with st. julien ended that
the undisputed victor. ST. Julien had gone In
, :l2 "a the year before, and the chestnut mare
beat that by second the next August at Rochester.
On the same day. however the great son Of Volunteer
tied this mile, and two weeks after flew over the
at Charter Oak Park, Hartford, in IL II.
Ills last reign BRIEF for within the month Maud
5. trotcd in o:1O Cd at Chicago, and the bay geld
ing made four ineifectutl efforts to regain his lost
honOrs during the remaining season OF 1ooO.
After two more successful Tits against time In
1851 Maud (. held the record for three years, when
Jay Eye See, who had made number OF attempts,
ceeded in placing the figures at . 10 His was the
most shOrtlived Of all the triumpls. for the day fol-
loving his mile at Providence Maud S. turned the
track Cleveland in . 90 ID. As she improved this
on two occasions after Robert Bonner accepted the
offer OF william III. Vanderbilt and became her owner
the chestnut leads all the champions with seven
winning performances against the worlds record.
Sunol has only her single successful effort for the
trottng crown which secured her the pride OF place
for nearly a year, and Nancy Hanks has already
dlsaced all her predecessors three occasions 1t
must be noted that the bicycle sulky has been an I'm
factor In the latest phase OF the speed problem
and neither Maud Suno has been tested with the
improved running gear. Mr.. Bonner has said that he
will have his old favOrite prepared for fresh at
tempt this year, and she is now taking regular ex-
ercise on the covered track at his farm near larry
town. on the Hudson. Sunol will dOubtedlcsS be sent
to Marvin again, and II she back to the form
she showed in California her great flight OF speed
should carry her to the coveted mark.
Before the pneumatic tire was used Senator STAN
ford predicted that his fast FLY would trot in O4
ot four years. and she would probably have come
very near TO his estimate IL she had been kept In
her native State The mistakes made In her man.
agcment during the season OF 1890. when she was
sent on long journeys and driven fast miles where
the conditions unfavorabic, told against the
speedy Californian, and 1t Is likely she never quite
recovered from the trials OF that year.
On the other hand, Nancy Hanks has never had
any serious setback in her career. and, according
o those who should know her ability, she has by no
means got to the limit OF her powers Reared In
the heart of the Blue Grass country, and carefully