CHAPTER IV 



WILLIAM H. VANDERBILT SELLS MAUD S. 



It was in the summer of 1881 that Maud S. reduced 

 the record to 2.10J, and, as she was owned by Wm. 

 H. Vanderbilt, the rival of Mr. Bonner, the latter 

 chafed at the thought of losing the championship, 

 which he had held for several years by the purchase 

 of Dexter, 2.17!, and Rarus, 2.13J. He never 

 dreamed that Maud S. would be offered to him, and 

 he kept close watch of her most dangerous rival Jay- 

 eye-see, also owned by a rich man, Jerome I. Case, 

 who knew the full value of his property. I had 

 secured an option on Jay-eye-see, after he had trotted 

 to a record of 2.10, and when Mr. Bonner was in- 

 formed that he could take advantage of it his spirits 

 rose. Mr. Vanderbilt was not a well man in the 

 summer of 1884, ^^^ he fretted over a challenge 

 issued by Mr. Case, and finally sold Maud S. to Mr. 

 Bonner for $40,000. The transfer produced a 

 marked sensation, and I find among my papers in 

 .the handwriting of Mr. Bonner the announcement 

 published on the editorial page of the Turf, Field 

 and Farm : 



"mR. BONNER BUYS MAUD S. 



" Probably no prominent man ever paid another 

 prominent man so marked a compliment as Mr. Wm. 



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