72 ROAD, TRACK, AND STABLE. 
on account of her nervous disposition. She had, how- 
ever, taken a very creditable part in certain amateur 
running races, which were held in a grassy lane about 
one quarter of a mile long. These dashes always took 
place by moonlight, being unauthorized by the elders 
of the family, but secretly enjoyed by the boys on the 
farm. Soon after she left her birthplace the Maid 
was sold again for $600 to Mr. Alden Goldsmith, a 
famous horseman, by whom she was named. He kept 
her for five years, and sold her for $20,000. Her 
dam was a well-bred animal, probably a daughter 
of Abdallah, who sired Rysdyck’s Hambletonian. 
Goldsmith Maid’s sire was Alexander’s Abdallah, 
whose origin and fate are described in the preceding 
chapter. 
All the great trotters have had grooms, or “ rub- 
bers,” as they are technically called, between whom 
and the horses a strong affection existed. The name 
of Peter Conover is linked in this way with that of 
Dexter. Conover not only “rubbed” Dexter, but 
made most of his “boots,” and gave him his exercise. 
Dexter was an intelligent horse, and whenever Budd 
Doble, who drove him in his races, mounted the sulky, 
he would become excited and pull, thinking that a 
contest impended; but with his groom holding the 
reins he would go along quietly enough. The same 
thing is true of Nancy Hanks. Rarus had his “ Dave” 
and “ Barney.” A colored man named Grant was trans- 
ferred to Mr. Bonner with Maud §., as being neces- 
sarily appurtenant to her. “Lucy Jimmy” was, as 
his name denotes, the attendant of Lucy, a celebrated 
mare contemporary with Goldsmith Maid, and very 
little inferior to her in speed. “Old Charlie” faith- 
