The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-03-09
NOTING TURF QUEEN
Maud S., the Most Famous
Ever Bred in America.
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS OLD
Biography of Very Marvel
in HorSeheSh.
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS OLD

| Ill erald. thousands of men and WomeI
VIZ o had gathered for the occasion rose
to their feet in tribute of respect They
.cheered and clapped their hands, waved
hats and handkerchiefs, while the buglel
S ounded the stirring notes of AUD Lang
yne." 1t was scene altogether unusual
| to such an occasion, but there was nc
mi stalking It's spontaneity and heartiness
Ii was called forth by the appearance
of a. graceful little old mare which ad-
vanced along the track moving her head
to right and left as though in grateful
ospition of the ovation in her honor
Perhs Ups the scene recalled 10 her another
day when she had been hailed with even
wilder enthusiasm and more thunderous
applause as she stepped proudly forth to
he crowned as Queen of the American
trottng turf--a title that she relinquished
only on her retirement after the longest
reign in the history of harness racing.
No horse that ever encircled an Ameri-
can track, perhaps no horse that ever
lived, has 4noused the unbounded enthusi-
asm which has greeted Maud s. on her
every public appearance since the men,
orable day, nearly fifteen years ago, when
she lowered the worlds trotting record to
figure before undueamed Of This is
not merely because Maud s. is one of
the most perfect pieces Of animal mech
anism ever produced by careful breeding
It is not because her achievement today
stands unequafled. A score of other
horses, under more modern conditions,
have Bothered the record which she estab-
#
the noble mare in the affections of the
horse loving public. The reason is that
Maud S. is the most, human of horses.
She possesses personality, magnetism,
character She moves the multitude as
great diva moves them. Thus, while she
has yielded up the sceptre of the turf, she
remains the queen-the urscrowned queen
who rules the hearts of those who adj
mire great horses and love good horses.
The little mare stepped proudly along
between the crowde d ranks of applaud
ing admirers. Her neck was arched with
all its old grace. AS she walked along,
proudly mindful of the applause, and &C
cepting it as her due, Maud S. was the
embodiment of equine grace. A touching
and characteristic incident occurred in
opposite the spot where the crowd was
thickest the mare raised her head. and,
looking above those who were crowded
along the rail, she gave a gentle whinny
of recognition. She had espied the faInil-
lar figure OF Mr.. Robert e. Bonner. He
was standing in the rear of the throng, a
considerable distance from her, but the
intelligent mare had not failed to single
him out of the entire multitude and to
show her recognition. Those who wit
messed the incident could not but believe
that she missed most of all on that occa-
sion the touch and voice and figure of the
elder Bonner, who was always her closest
and dearest friend, and whom she now
survives.
Not since her most famous exploit, fif-
teen years ago, has Maud S. trotted in a
public exhibition. OF course she never
again will do so. On March % she will
celebrate her twenty-siXth birthday In
the life Of a horse twenty-six is equal to
the traditional three score and ten in
that Of a man. For the remainder of her
days she will live in the quiet retirement
Of the Bonner Farm, near Tarrytown.
OF this farm she may now be called sole
mistress, nearly all Of her famous COM
panions having been disposed of at the
recent sale She is well preserved, not
withstanding her age. and should live
for many years to come. At the present
time she is being bred to Axworthy, son
Of the famous Axtell, and perhaps she
will leave behind her an offspring worthy
to perpetuate her great name and reputa-
ton.
The daily life of Maud s. at Bonner
Farm is one of comfortable ease and quiet
luxury. During the winter season the
greater part Of her time is spent in a big.
roomy box stall hung about with blankets
and fitted up with every comfort that the
equine heart can desire Her appetite is
frugal the chief item of her daily menu
being a mixture Of bran and oats. which
is fed to her twice a day, along with small
portions Of the very finest hay For an
hour or so each day she is exercised by
being led uD and down a covered shed
built for this particular purpose. This
exercise IS carefully calculated and is in
tended to be just sufficient to keen her in
good health. She receives the constant
attention Of groom especially detailed t.
look after her He carefully rubs her
limbs several times each dav. brushes her
coat with the most EiEilant care. and
examines her hoofs and mouth to see that
1t Is kept in perfect condition All the
shoeinE of the Bonner horses is done hv a
smith employer on the farm. who knows
the peculiarities Of every one 81 them.
In the warm days OF spring midsummer
the ex-queen is permitted a somewhat
greater range DtrriDc that +f-,,a +la in
terror Of the three-quarter mile trotting
track upon the farm is given over 10 her
especial use. Here she is permitted II
wander about all day long. except in mid
summer. when she is taken in during the
middle 81 the day to avoid exposure 90
the excessive heat During the last sum
mer she was permitted to remain out
Of doors over night, the first time that
this has been done Mr Robert Bonner
says that the effect Of this was good.
and that the mare now displays as rugged
health as she has possessed at any time
during her career. OF course. she never
is permitted TO remain ont OF doors dur
ing storm or at any time when there
might be a risk OF her taking cold.
Il might be imagined that this careful
attention an3 constant pamperiug would
have spoiled the mares disposition but
such is not the case Maud 5 belongs
- the true nobility OF horsetieSh, and
her motto = noaleSse oolige. She is the
most docile, tractabie and kind % ant
mails. Visitors are constantly going TO
the farm TO see her. and she always
shows her pleasure At these affections
While she knows her friends and old
crouies, she shows no aversion % strsn-