A descendant of the English Triple Crown champion, West Australian, he was bred by Dr. John D. Neet, owner of Kindergarten Stud at Versailles, Kentucky.
After finishing fourth in the Futurity Stakes at Sheepshead Bay Race Track, he was bought by noted Kentucky horseman, John E. Madden, and in a race for older horses in September, defeated the 1896 Kentucky Derby winner, Ben Brush.
Plaudit came from behind with a powerful stretch drive to catch the betting favorite Lieber Karl and win by a nose.
Retired at the end of the racing season, Plaudit stood at stud at John Madden's Hamburg Place in Lexington, Kentucky.
Plaudit was from Cinderella who was also the mare of Hastings, the 1896 Belmont Stakes winner and Leading sire in North America in 1902 and 1908.