About Budd Doble
Lived 1843 – 1926 (aged 82–83). Budd Doble was an American jockey, actor and horse trainer.
Career Dexter Doble succeeded Hiram Woodruff as the driver of Dexter. He was entrusted with the horse in July 1866 after George Trussel acquired him for $14,000. He was twenty-three when he began riding Dexter, turning him into a champion under saddle, high-wheel, and wagon. That year, he entered thirty-five races and won thirty-four.
Goldsmith Maid After paying $20,000 for Goldsmith Maid in 1868, he soon posted a record time of 2:21½ with her. At Buffalo, on August 11, 1871, the reinsman drove Goldsmith Maid in harness. They won mile heats best 3 in 5 in 2:19¾, 2:19¼, and 2:19, defeating Lucy and American Girl.
He drove Jay Gould, a Hambletonian 10 colt, to a new world stallion record of 2:21½ on August 7, 1872. He improved on the prior record of 2:22.
In 1874, Doble drove Goldsmith Maid to a series of notable trotting times at major tracks. Budd Doble drove her to a 2:16 mile at East Saginaw, Michigan on July 16, improved to 2:15½ at Buffalo on August 7, and then to 2:14¾ at Rochester on August 12. Their best time came on September 2 at Mystic Park in Boston, where Goldsmith Maid trotted a mile in 2:14.
By 1884, Doble had become a partner in Bohanon & Doble, a carriage-building firm located at 461–463 Wabash Avenue in Chicago.
Axtell In Vigo County, Indiana, he set up a stable and breeding farm, bringing with him a team of prominent trainers and veterinarians and drawing many of the country's best horses. He went further, buying Axtell's full brother for $7,500.
Nancy Hanks Shortly after relocating to Terre Haute, Indiana, he was entrusted with the prize mare Nancy Hanks by John Malcolm Forbes. When the bike sulky was introduced in 1892, Doble attached one to Nancy Hanks and led her to lower the world record on three separate occasions that year. He guided her to a 2:07¼ mile at Chicago on August 17 and lowered her time to 2:05¾ at Independence, Iowa, on August 31. On September 28 at Terre Haute, he drove her to a then-record 2:04, ranking her among the fastest trotters of her time. Highly regarded, he continued working with horses until October 1915, though he rarely ventured past the Rockies.
Filmography He appeared in Frank Clark's silent film Budd Doble Comes Back in 1913 alongside Bessie Eyton and Wheeler Oakman. Year Title Role Notes1913 Budd Doble Comes Back Himself
Death Budd Doble died in La Puente, California, United States, on March 29, 1926, at 85. Thomas Kirby Van Zandt completed an oil painting of Budd Doble driving Abe Edgington in February 1877.
Named for Budd Doble, the one-man light buggy known as “The Budd Doble” speeder was built in 1891 by the Buckeye Buggy Co. of Columbus, Ohio.
In 1900, Doble, near the north shore of Baldwin Lake in San Bernardino, was established and named after Budd Doble, son-in-law of Lucky Baldwin.
Budd Doble was inducted into the United States Harness Racing Hall of Fame in 1958.
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Important facts
People in Budd Doble's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Budd Doble's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Budd Doble?
American harness racing jockey (1843-1926)
When was Budd Doble born?
Budd Doble was born in 1843 in Philadelphia.
When did Budd Doble die?
Budd Doble died in 1926 in La Puente.
What was Budd Doble's occupation?
Budd Doble was a jockey, actor and horse trainer.
What nationality was Budd Doble?
Budd Doble was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Budd Doble. https://biography.guide/budd-doble/
MLA: "Budd Doble." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/budd-doble/.
Chicago: "Budd Doble." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/budd-doble/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-25 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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