Budd Doble

Wabash Valley profiles : a series of tributes to hometown people and events that have shaped our history

Description:	One typed page including photograph; biography of Budd Doble, unanimously acknowledged by horsemen to be the greatest driver-trainer in harness racing annals. WABASH VALLEY PROFILESA series of tributes to hometown heroes who have made a difference.Budd DobleUnanimously acknowledged by horsemen to be the greatest driver-trainer in harness racing annals, Budd Doble lived and worked in Terre Haute for five years. The son of William H. Uncle Billy Doble, Budd was born in Philadelphia in May 1843. His father and brothers--William Jr., Frank and Charles--attained independent recognition as excellent reinsmen but none came close to matching Budds prominence. By the time he was lured to Terre Haute in 1890 by William P. Ijams and John W. Conley to train Axtell at Warren Park Farm, Doble already had produced multiple world records with Dexter, King of the Trotters, in 1867 and Goldsmith Maid (seven records between 1871 and 1874). He was so well-known that in 1876 jurist Oliver Wendell Holmes wrote a poem, How the Old Horse Won the Bet, which included the memorable rhyme: Budd D o b l e , whose catarrhal name so fills the nasal trump of fame. Ijams expected Doble, who owned an interest in the Axtell syndicate, to steer his world record-breaking stallion to greater heights. Tragically, Axtell injured his leg and never raced again. Nevertheless, Doble established a stable and breeding farm in Vigo County, bringing with him an entourage of outstanding trainers and veterinarians and luring many of the nations finest horses. Shortly after Doble moved to Terre Haute, millionaire J. Malcolm Forbes turned over his prize mare Nancy Hanks to him. Doble became inseparably associated with the glory years at Terre Hautes Four-Cornered Track, where more than 20 world records were established between 1889 and 1901. Perhaps the most illustrious mark of them all was the 2:04 mile fashioned by Nancy Hanks on Sept. 28, 1892, with Doble steering her on a bicycle sulky. Budd also was responsible for training other immortals in Terre Haute, including Axtells son Axworthy, later one of the worlds most celebrated sires. Nancy Hanks was Dobles final world champion at one-mile but, being his third, she placed him two ahead of any other driver. When Dobles health temporarily faltered in 1893, stable hand John Dickerson--who subsequently joined Doble and another protege, George Starr, in the Hall of Fame of the Trotter--did the driving. Doble departed Terre Haute after the 1895 season to return to California. Universally respected, he worked with horses until October 1915, but rarely ventured east of the Rockies. A town and E.J. Lucky Baldwins mine on Californias Gold Mountain were named after him. Currier & Ives artists often featured him and he played the title role in Frank Clarks notable 1913 film, Budd Doble Comes Back. On Sept. 4, 1919, newspapers throughout the nation, including the Terre Haute Tribune, proclaimed Doble died the previous day in Los Angeles. Journals and national magazines, including The Nation and Horse Review, extolled his personal virtues and hailed his magnificent career. However, the report was untrue. He lived for nearly six more years, succumbing March 29, 1926, at the home of his only child --born of his marriage to Baldwins granddaughter--in Puente, Cal., at age 82.UMEMBER FDICAlways Close to HomeHO HO HO! Join ourMember FDICChr ist mas Club for Holiday DoughOpen your account today at any First banking center -- and have more dough for holiday spending next year!File name: Doble, Budd 2005 profileDate Published: Dec. 15, 2005
Origin:	2005-12-15
Created By:	McCormick, Mike
Publisher:	Terre Haute Tribune-Star
Source:	http://indianamemory.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/vchs/id/786
Collection:	Vigo County Historical Society
Rights:	http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/UND/1.0/
Copyright:	Copyright Undetermined
Subjects:	Doble, Budd, 1843-1926 Horse racing Horse boarding & training facilities Racetracks (Horse racing) People Business & Industry Sports

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