Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Bill O'Donnell in the Spotlight

Bill O'Donnell pilots Napoletano to victory in the 1987 World
Trotting Derby at the DuQuoin State Fair in 1:53.2.

May 6, 2005

The Magic Man Bill O'Donnell turned 57 on May 4. One of the sport's top drivers and one of its best personalities, Bill has quite a resume of FIRSTS. Read & enjoy:

...Bill was the first to ever win a pari-mutuel race in under 1:53. In June of 1982, he and Genghis Khan teamed for a 1:52.4 score to set the track standard. Together, two months later in a NON-betting event, they became the first duo to better 1:52, with a 1:51.4 world record. Bill was also the sport's first $10 million driver, achieving that goal in 1985.

...In that magical 1985 season, Bill became the first to win both the million dollar Meadowlands Pace and the million dollar Hambletonian in the SAME year, and, set a world record in both. The 1:54.3 by Prakas in the Hambo was the first sub 1:55 Hambletonian of all time, and the 1:50.3 Meadowlands Pace equaled the all-time standard set by Colt Fortysix. Then, if that wasn't enough, Billy goes out and again lowers his own mark with the sports first sub 1:50 race mile---on August 3, 1985, in 1:49.3 by Nihilator. Not once since has the same horse lowered his own mark at the Meadowlands, the way Bill did it back to back that year!!!

...Bill won the richest race of all time---the $2,161,000 Woodrow Wilson of 1984 with Nihilator, who would become the sports first $3 million pacer. Nihilator retired as the sports richest and fastest performer. The last horse to do that before him was Niatross (1980) and the last horse to do this before him was Albatross----Son, Father, & Grandsire! It has not been done once since!!

...Bill piloted the sport's first sub-1:49 winner, on June 19, 1993, in 1:48.2 with Staying Together. Bill was behind Cambest for his world record 1:46.1 time trial in 1993 too.