Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 August 1884 — ANNIHILATING SPACE. [ARTICLE]

ANNIHILATING SPACE.

A Wonderful Trotting Feat by Maud S. The Little Mare Makes a Mile in 2:09 3-4. [Cleveland special to Chicago Times.] Maud S. snatched the laurels from Jay-Eye-See, and the wreath again encircles her proud nock. There was never anything like it seen before on a race track, and it is doubtful if anything more beautiful will ever be witnessed again. For two years Maud S. has retained undisputed possession of the proud title “ Queen of the Turf," and her record of 2:10.1 'was regarded as proof against all new comers. At Providence, Jay-Eye-See made the circuit of the track in 2:10, and obtained rightful possession of the title that was immediately tendered him of “King of the Turf." Maud S. brought even that record down a quarter of a second, and ngain became the champion of the world. It was a magnificent exhibition, and was witnessed by an audience of four thousandT people. It was exactly 4:24 o’clock when Mr. Bair came out of the stable with Maud S. and drove down before the judges’ stand. It was whispered along the line that she was to trot a fast mile, and hundreds of watches were held in readiness. Bair at first sent her around at an easy pace, and then drove down below the distance stand, and headed her toward the west. The mare at once struck a fast gait, and when forty feet below the judges’ box, Bair nodded for the word. It was given him and the queen sprang under the wire and began her work. It was known that she was trotting fast, and every eye was fixed upon her. Grandly she held her pace, and during the entire mile there was nothing approaching a skip. Her strides were tremendous and fast. Bair, her driver, did not begin to urge her until the quarter was passed, and then he did not crowd her to the utmost. As she passed each quarter, hundreds of voices announced the fact to those who were holding their watches, and as each pole was passed the opinion gained ground that the mile would be a very speedy one. The first quarter was trotted in 32$ seconds, a 2:11 gait; the second in 31£, a 2:06 gait; the third in 32, a 2:08 gait; and the fourth in 335, a 2:14 gait. The following, therefore, is the summary: 325. 1:04$, 1:365, and 2:095. A whisper could have been heard when the queen passed under the wire. Those who had held watches were uncertain whether they were correct, and waited the judges’ announcement. In the latter box the scene was wholly different. It was known that the record had been broken, and every one congratulated every ono else. By and by the audience began to cry: “Time!" "Time!" whereupon the judges hung up a big card on .which were the figures “2:095." Then a scene was witnessed such as had not been experienced since Goldsmith Maid fell behind the fearful strides of Smuggler. Cheer after cheer was given. Hats, handkerchiefs, umbrellas and canes were waved, and as Bair came back to see what the disturbance was about he was greeted with an ovation. He lifted his hat modestly, and then sent the queen back to the stable. The time given was the outside time taken. Mr. Bonner, of New York, made the time 2:095; Secretary Fasig, 2:09 3-5; and the third timer, 2:o9jf. President Edwards dashed across to the telegraph office and sent the following dispatch: W. H. Vanderbilt, United States Hotel, Saratoga. N. Y.: Allow me to congratulate you. Maud S. still reigns supreme. Her record Is 2:0994, on a slow track. Before ordering her home, come here and see her trot In 2:07 or 2:08. We are all happy. William Edwabdb. Mr. Busbee, of the Turf, Field, and Farm, who saw the exhibition, says the Cleveland track is at least a second and a half slower than the one on which Jay-Eye-See made his famous record the other day. Just as Maud S. turned into the home stretch she was passed bv another horse going in the opposite direction. This somewhat confused the mare, and she was inclined to let down, but Bair touched her gently with the whip, and she sprang forward and immediately got down to work again. The remarkable feature of the trot was the ease in which it was accomplished. The mare was going a great deal faster than the majority of the spectators imagined, and when the announcement was made of the time it nearly upset some oldtime sports, who, when they recovered, danced about like schoolboys at recess.