414 LIFE WITH THE TROTTERS. 



one that had been on the turf for so many years got to know 

 a great many things, the recognition of which would appear 

 strange in an ordinary horse. She was just as well aware 

 when a race was coming off as was the secretary of the track 

 over which it was to take place, and the way she found it 

 out was by the change in her food and other treatment that 

 I have indicated. Of course in order to keep her from eat- 

 ing hay on the day of a race it was necessary to halter 

 her in the stable and as this was never done at any other 

 time she knew, the minute that halter went on what it 

 meant. After Old Charlie had tied her head up she would 

 stand there contented enough until the fore part of the 

 afternoon. She seemed to know that by this time her race 

 ought to be called, and she would become nervous, jumj:*, 

 kick, rear, and plunge about tlie stall in a manner that left not 

 the slightest doubt in the minds of those who saAvher that she 

 knew exactly what was coming off and was anxious for the 

 battle to begin. Even after we would put her harness on 

 and take her out of the stall there was no diminution in the 

 excitement she showed. She would stand quietly enough 

 while being hitched to the sulky, but she would shake and 

 tremble until I have heard her feet make the same noise 

 against the hard ground that a person's teeth will when the 

 body is suddenly chilled — that is her feet actually chattered 

 on the ground. The instant I would get into the sulky all 

 this would pass away and she would start in a walk for the 

 track as sober as any old horse you ever saw. 



This faculty of remembering things and of actually seem- 

 ing to draw conclusions for herself, which Goldsmith Maid 

 possessed in a greater degree than any other horse I ever 

 saw, was brought into full play Avhen she went on the 

 track to trot a race against other horses. She was always 

 trying to get the best of her opponents and from the time 

 we left the barn until the rfice was over there was never an 

 instant that she was not figuring on some part of the race. 

 For instance, when we would turn to score the Maid would 

 measure the distance between herself and the other horses, 



