In 1885, Maud S. was not only the fastest trotter in the country, but she was frequently front page news. The public followed her career closely, outraged when Vanderbilt purchased the record holding horse to be his personal carriage horse, and celebrating when she was brought back to the track to regain her title in 1884. (Another horse held the record for one whole day, before she was brought back to set her new record).
In 1885, the Washingtonville Fair Association announced that this famous, world renowned, race horse would be coming the fair for two days. And indeed, "Maud S." did come to Washingtonville.
She came all the way from Danville. Not the famous trotter "Maud S.", but rather a local horse given the same name. A "large number" of gamblers were arrested at the fair, and the fair president was arrested too, for allowing gambling on the grounds. The paper does not mention how many of the gamblers knew of the ruse, but it's likely that those who visited the fair knew they were not looking at the horse Vanderbilt had had depicted in an oil painting.
In 1875, civil war veteran and president of the Cincinnati Bell Telegraph Association, George Stone, opened a new "Driving Association" (Horse racing track)To show confidence in his trainer, he left the man choose any horse for sale at the park, to train. W.W. Blair chose an unbroken 2 year old filly with good lineage. The Filly had no speed, was resistant to training, and, as the Inquirer reported in 1900, "She was inclined to mix gaits and rack, and would do most anything but trot."
In harness racing, horses trot rather than gallop, and a driver rides behind in a "sulky" - a two wheel cart. Blair finally got her to find her trotting gait by running her through fields of rye growing along the edge of the track.
Maud made her harness racing debut in 1877. She began by attempting to go through the gate to the stables, rather than to the track. But once, the driver got her back on track, she took off.
"Then she … showed that she was a trotter, and a rare trotter, too,” Stone recalled. “She threw up her head, got down to business and went through that back stretch like a cyclone, reaching the bunch in front, overhauling them one by one, and finishing at the wire a winner of the heat.”
William Vanderbilt, railroad tycoon, offered to purchase Maud if she could finish a mile in under 2 minutes and 20 seconds.
Stone offered his trainer $1,000 if he could get the horse to beat 2 minutes 19 seconds. Maud finished in under 2:18, setting a record for the "fastest time ever trotted by a four year old."
In an era where horse racing was the most popular sport, Maud was a sensation. Over a five-year period, Maud S lowered the world trot record seven times.
Vanderbilt's purchase of Maud S. infuriated the racing world. His plan was to take one of the fastest horses in the world, and coral her outside of Grand Central as is own private carriage horse.
In 1884 a horse named Jay-Eye-See bested Mauds time, and Maud S. was returned to the track to regain her title. Robert Bonner purchased the horse from Vanderbilt, for $40,000. While at his stable, Maud lowered the world record for the 7th time in 6 years.
A year later, Maud S., the most famous racehorse in the country, just recently returned to the track, was being sought as an attraction at the fair in Washingtonville.
"The society are putting forth their utmost efforts to secure the presence of Maud S., the celebrated trotter, at the coming fair" reported the Bloomsburg Columbian.
Soon it was announced, and heavily advertised, that Maud S. would indeed be at the Washingtonville Fair. Citizens, including quite a few gamblers, from around the valley flocked to the fair to see the famous race horse.
Local newspapers reported which of their local citizens went to Washingtonville to see the horse.
"A number of Sunbury people attended the Washingtonville Fair. They went to see Maud S."
"Mrs L.S. Farnsworth and L.T. Renn, of Lower Ausuta, took in the fair at Washingtonville last week, and returned after seeing Maud S., none the worse for their trip"
On Friday October 23, during the Washingtonville Fair, the Northumberland Democrat reported: "Mr Robert Bonner denies that Maud S. will appear at any county fair this year, and specifically names Washingtonville, Montour County PA."
A few days later, papers reported that the President of the fair association had been arrested for allowing gambling on the grounds at the fair. A large number of gamblers were arrested as well.
And it was also announced that the horse at the fair, while indeed named Maud S., was a local horse from Danville, not the celebrated trotter.
Scranton Carriage maker Thomas Hunt included this photo in one of his advertisements.
Maud was permanently retired as a road hose in 1885. When she died on March 17th 1900, her obituary ran in the New York Times.
She is buried at Tarrytown New York, next to 1956 Immortal Dexter.
In New York, a bed and breakfast has a room named for Maud S., and a windmill manufacturing company is also named for her.
She's also included in some New York city ghost tours - where is said that the ghost of the horse haunts Grand Central Station.
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