User:Brianyoumans/sandbox

This is the user sandbox of Brianyoumans. A user sandbox is a subpage of the user's user page. It serves as a testing spot and page development space for the user and is not an encyclopedia article. Create or edit your own sandbox here.

Other sandboxes: Main sandbox | Template sandbox

Finished writing a draft article? Are you ready to request review of it by an experienced editor for possible inclusion in Wikipedia? Submit your draft for review!

Maud S. (March 28, 1874 - March 17, 1900) was an American racehorse prominent in harness racing. Over a six year period she lowered the world record for a one mile race seven times.

Early years[edit]

Maud S. was born at the Woodburn Stud in Woodford County, Kentucky, well-known for producing harness racing champions. As a yearling she was sold to James Burgher of Ohio for $250, who named her "Sadie Burgher". In 1877, still not fully trained, she was sold for $350 to Cincinnati businessman George Stone, who renamed her "Maud S." after his daughter.

Stone claimed that he suggested that trainer W. W. Bair run Maud S. through the rye next to the track to improve her gait, and that this helped the horse find its trot. In its first race, at the Carthage Fair just outside of Cincinnati, Maud stopped and tried to go back into the stable before restarting and winning the race.

Career[edit]

William Henry Vanderbilt offered to purchase Maud S. for $20,000 if she could do a mile in less than 2:20. Stone offered Bair, her trainer, $1,000 if she trotted the mile in 2:19. Maud S. trotted a time of 2:17 1/2 in Lexington, Kentucky in 1878, a time which was widely reported and considered the fastest ever by a four year old.^[1] Vanderbilt purchased the horse; Stone and Bair continued to manage and train Maud S.; Bair was also the driver.

Maud S. first set the world record in 1880 at Rochester, New York at 2:11 3/4; they shared the record with "St. Julien". In 1881 Maud S. lowered the record for the third time, to 2:10 1/4. In 1884 "Jay-Eye-See" set a new record of 2:10 on August 1st in Providence, Rhode Island; on August 2nd Maud S. reclaimed the record with a time of 2:09 1/4 in Lexington.^[2]

Maud S. was sold in 1884 to newspaper publisher Robert E. Bonner, a rival of the Vanderbilts in the racing world. One theory was that Maud S. was so famous that her owner was jealous of the attention she got when he took her out.^[3] Maud S. set one last world record in 1885, 2:08 3/4 in Cleveland, Ohio, before being retired in that year.

Maud S.'s reputation continued well after her retirement; she was exhibited at Madison Square Garden in February 1900 shortly before her death and received an ovation.^[4]

Legacy[edit]

Maud S. died at the Shultshurst Farm in Port Chester, New York, New York and is buried in Tarrytown, New York next to "Dexter", another notable harness racer.

Maud S. was elected to the Harness Racing Hall of Fame in 1955.^[5]

References[edit]

^ "Our history: Maud S was our legendary race horse", Jeff Seuss, Cincinnati Enquirer, May 1, 2019
^ "How Trotting Mark Has Been Lowered", Springfield Union", November 6, 1912, p. 15
^ "Our history: Maud S was our legendary race horse"
^ "He Was Jealous of Old Maud S.", Philadelphia Enquirer", February 18, 1900
^ https://harnessmuseum.com/content/maud-s "Maud S.", Harness Racing Hall of Fame website

[1] "Our history: Maud S was our legendary race horse", Jeff Seuss, Cincinnati Enquirer, May 1, 2019

[2] "How Trotting Mark Has Been Lowered", Springfield Union", November 6, 1912, p. 15

[3] "Our history: Maud S was our legendary race horse"

[4] "He Was Jealous of Old Maud S.", Philadelphia Enquirer", February 18, 1900

[5] ttps://harnessmuseum.com/content/maud-s "Maud S.", Harness Racing Hall of Fame website

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]