RECOLLECTIONS OF MEN AND HORSES 



they passed under the wire on the outside of the 

 track, nearing the pole as they made the first turn, 

 where they increased their speed, making the turn 

 below the quarter pole at a fearful rate of speed, 

 Maud S. taking the whole load Aldine and all. 

 In making that turn, Mr. Vanderbilt had a sensation 

 of fear come over him, and was about to pull the 

 horses up, but he was past the turn so quick that he 

 let them go on. This condition of things continued 

 until they passed the three-quarter pole, where 

 Maud S. began to tire. It was then that Aldine 

 made the effort and came head and head with 

 Maud S. down the home stretch, under the wire in 

 2.15!. A good many people on the club house 

 remarked that Aldine finished fully up to Maud S., 

 but why shouldn't she, after being carried over three- 

 quarters of a mile? " 



The best single-harness record of Aldine was 

 2.19^. This achievement was more gratifying to 

 Mr. Vanderbilt than the addition of another railroad 

 to his system. He drove the pair with all the con- 

 fidence and skill of a born reinsman. 



John Shepard, the dean of Boston road riders, 

 whose experience probably is not equaled by any 

 man now alive, addressed a letter to me in July, 

 1900, which I reproduce: 



4 You asked me a while ago what constituted a 

 perfect gentleman's road horse. It is much easier 

 to describe than to find: A bay or chestnut 15.2 high, 

 weighing about 950 pounds, clean-cut head and neck, 

 bright eye, and ears always up and on the alert to 

 know what is going on and what is wanted of him. 



166 



