Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Bob's Bits....by Bob "Hollywood" Heyden

January 26, 2005

Back To Backers
The following seven pacers are the only seven who have had consecutive million dollar seasons. Artsplace is not on this list--he's the only pacer to have two million dollar campaigns---but NOT consecutively (1990 and 1992).

On The Road Again         Nihilator                Matts Scooter          Die Laughing
1984-$1,751,695               1984-$1,864,286      1988-$1,783,558        1990-$1,142,322
1985-$1,054,046               1985-1,361,367        1989-$1,140,994        1991-$1,022,064

Gallo Blue Chip                                     Real Desire                     Art Major
2000-$2,428,876 (One season record)       2001-$1,646,036              2002-$1,565,779
2001-$1,123,940                                      2002-$1.059,790              2003-$1,082,930

Deuces Are Wild
TWO times previously, TWO horses have won TWO million dollar races with TWO different drivers in the same year. Only TWO times.
1991-NA CUP Precious Bunny & John Campbell; Meadowlands Pace Jack Moiseyev
1993-NA CUP-Presidential Ball Ron Waples; Meadowlands Pace Jack Moiseyev

Meadow Skipper
He passed away January 28, 1982--leaving an impact on the sport that may never be duplicated. Seven millionaire sons and daughters at a time when 7-figure winners were scarce. Meadow Skippers' last race was in 1965, but the next two and a half decades had his stamp all over it. Consider:
Albatross-1971, 1972 HOY, retired richest pacer ever, would go on to become the richest sire ever, too. He is the last horse to do both. The first five editions of the Meadowlands Pace went to either Meadow Skipper or his son Albatross as sires.
Ralph Hanover-1983 Triple Crown winner-$1,828,871 lifetime making him the richest son or daughter of 'Skipper'.
Chairmanoftheboard-$1,341,823 lifetime-his ##s diminished some by being born the same year as Nihilator-a grandson of Meadow Skipper.
-Land Grant ($1,164,849 life)-Won the first of two $2 million races in the sports history-1980 Wilson-$2,011,000. Amazingly-in that 12 horse freshmen field, EVERY horse was either a son or grandson of Meadow Skipper. EVERY ONE!!
Mr Dalrae-1984 U S Pacing Championship winner-$1,150,807 lifetime for Jim Dennis with Dave Magee driving .
Naughty But Nice-ONLY female Meadow Skipper millionaire. $1,062,197. Won the very first 3 YOF Breeders Crown-1984.
Governor Skipper-$1,039,756-the 7th millionaire of the immortal Meadow Skipper-RIP

Track Fact: The last time that a WORLD race record--all age--either sex-was NOT set at the Meadowlands? August 16-1984-Springfield-1:50.3 Colt Fortysix. EVERY one since has been set at the Big M-up to the current standard of 1:47.3 set by Jennas Beach Boy on June 22, 1996. But what were the increments leading up to the 1:50.3 effort by Colt Fortysix and Chris Boring?
1:51.4 Genghis Khan 8/13/82 Meadowlands
1:51.4 Armbro Aussie 10/2/82 The Red Mile
1:51.4 Its Fritz 10/7/83 The Red Mile
1:51.3 Trenton 8/21/82 Springfield
1:51.3 Don't Dally 8/30/84 Duquoin
1:50.3 Colt Fortysix 8/16/84 Springfield

Twins??-It's Been A While
Twin standardbreds are indeed a rarity. You have to go back-into the late 1970s, to find the last time that a twin won a race at Meadowlands--and in the process became the very first to do so in under 2:00: Porter Almahurst-1:59.4 February 1979 Meadowlands, a
son of Shadow Wave out of Poplar Aquila. His twin brother was named TEO, but he never made it to the races. They were brothers to a $100,000 winner named Kens Shadow.

Lew Williams--And Son
Lew Williams made an undeniable impact in the first years of the Meadowlands. He passed away in 1989, but his son Chris is now trying his hand at it, and does some driving and training locally. Here's a closer look at some of the highlights from Lew's career at the Meadowlands: He won the 1978 Holmes with Jargon, the 1978 Tarport Hap with Courageous Lady, the 1978 Haughton with Whata Baron. Lew was the first driver to ever win the Presidential final back to back, and is the ONLY driver to win it with a male AND a female horse: in 1979 with Presidential-Aprils Skipper (mare) and in 1980 with Presidential-Pats Gypsy. Of the first 13 miles in the Meadowlands history of 1:55 or better, 5 belonged to Lew and Whata Baron.

Most Unusual Stat
There are five female horses who have won a Million dollar race. Three of the five went on to a million dollar career. But the other two did NOT make it to even $600,000 for their career!! Duenna, 1983 Hambletonian winner ofo $1,131,920 lifetime, and
Continentalvictory, 1996 Hambletonian winner of $1,611,170 lifetime, and  Follow My Star, winner of the 1985 Sweetheart and $1,537,503 lifetime. Then, there's Armbro Dazzler, winner of the 1984 Sweetheart and $577,915 lifetime and Shannon Fancy, winner of the 1983 Sweetheart and $589,583 lifetime.

Twenty-Nine
What is it about this number that sticks in my head? Well-a lot of notables did a lot of damage at this age, and the number is significant in other ways. Take a look:
29-Patrick Lachances' current age-the 2004 Rising Star Award winner
29-The Meadowlands opened 29 years ago.
29-Richie Banca's age-in this past year, he's had enjoyed many of his finest hours.
29-Mark Ford's age when Gallo began sweeping through the competition in his $$$-breaking sophomore season of 2000
29-Dan Dubes' age when he won his first Meadowlands race-1999
29-Unofficial years of Presidential series (28 officially).
29-Eric Ledfords' age when he won the 2001 Presidential with Color Me Best.
29-Patrick Berry turns 29 February 4, is making his presence felt at the Meadowlands and at Freehold the first month of 2005.
29-STRAIGHT years that Cat Manzi has won a race at the Meadowlands. The ONLY two who can join him in this are Ray Remmen and Jim Doherty.