Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

25th Anniversary Of The First Million Dollar Race

July 12, 2005

It was July 18, 1980, and harness racing had never had a million dollar event before. But the 1980 Meadowlands Pace helped to usher in the era of really big money events. Three weeks later, the first $2 million race followed when Land Grant captured the $2,011,000 Woodrow Wilson. Just what was going on in that very first million dollar pot?--$1,011,000 to be exact. 1st-Niatross, 2nd-Storm Damage, 3rd-Tyler B.

Clint Galbraith never did drive in the Meadowlands Pace again, and it is of interest to note that both Storm Damage and Tyler B outearned Niatross in the breeding shed.

Lew Williams drove Midas Almahurst. That was Lew's only Pace appearance, and the first by an African-American driver in a million dollar event. Midas Almahurst, though he finished 10th, was not done though. Three years later, he would defeat none other than Cam Fella at the Meadowlands with Bob DelCampo driving.

Four of the drivers from that race left us far too early: Billy Haughton-1986 2nd with Storm Damage; Glen Garnsey-1985-5th with Bruce Gimble; Shelly Goudreau-1982 8th with Dear Star and Lew Williams-1989 10th with Midas Almahurst.

The 1980 Meadowlands Pace was a first and a last. How's that? It was the sports FIRST Million dollar event, and it was the LAST time a Meadowlands Pace did NOT have John Campbell in it! Three of the drivers in the first million dollar Pace never drove in a Pace before or after: Bob Vitrano-Worthy Signal 12th; Clint Galbraith-Niatross winner; Gene Riegle-Fundamentalist 4th. There was a 3-ply entry-that did NOT include Niatross-and all three got money: 2nd-Storm Damage; 3rd-Tyler B; 5th-Bruce Gimble. Ray Remmen is the only horseman from the first million dollar race still active at the Meadowlands. Ray was 9th with Maple Fritz.

Marc Fontaine was a ripe ol' 20 in 1985 when he and his father Lucien Fontaine sent out Forrest Skipper. Though Forrest Skipper was overmatched in this event, he was not the following year when he barnstormed through the sport en route to a perfect Horse Of The Year season. In 1990 Miss Easy was the last female to attempt to make the final. She broke in her elim at the start, but bounced back to take the consolation-and did so over a horse by the name of Cambest. Not bad. 1978-79-The last time a female dueled with the boys---Hazel Hanover in 1979 and Courageuous Lady in 1978-BOTH finished 6th.