Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Good Time

Bay horse, foaled 1946, died 1977 (age 31)
p,2, 2:02.1; 3,T1:58.4; 1:57.4 ($318,792)

By Hal Dale--On Time--Volomite

Good Time or "Mighty Mite" as he was know to many of his fans raced from 1948 through 1952, and earned over $300,000 in a racing career that spanned five seasons. The diminutive son (he stood just 13.1 hands tall) of Hal Dal retired as the leading money-winning Standardbred of all-time and was a two-time Horse of the Year champion. He went on to have a terrific career in the breeding shed at Castleton Farm, where he was both an outstanding sire and broodmare sire.

Good Time set numerous records during his career. He was the first horse to win over $100,000 at two and three and was the first to win over $300,000. He was also the first horse to pace fastest than 1:58 in a race.

As a freshman Good Time won the Little Pat Stakes, the Fox Stake, the Ohio Standardbred Stake, the American National, the McMahon Memorial and the Two Gaits Farm Stake. He won 12 of 17 starts, with a pair of seconds and a trio of thirds, with $46,433 in earnings and a mark of 2:02.1.

At three he won the Little Brown Jug, the American National, the Geers, the Matron, the Review Futurity and the Poplar Hill Farm Stakes. That year (1949) Good Time had a 15-2-1 record from 19 seasonal starts, with $58,766 in earnings and a 1:58.4 record.

As a four-year-old he scored victories in the National Pacing Derby, the Empire State Pace and the Star Pointer Pace. Good Time won 14 of 20 starts, with a second and three thirds and $52,705 in earnings.

In 1951, at age five he won the Mid-America Pace, The Chicago Pacing Derby, the Wolverine Pace, among others, winning $50,589 and scoring in 1:57.4. He retired that season with 14 wins, five seconds and a pair of thirds in 22 trips postward.

At age six Good Time won the Chicago pacing Derby, The Parshall Memorial, the New England Derby and the National Pacing Derby, earning $110,299 for his connections. He started 33 times, winning 23 races, with four seconds and two thirds to his credit.

Good Time retired with lifetime statistics of 111 starts, 78 victories, 14 seconds, and 11 thirds. He bested almost every horse he raced against, including greats such as Tar Hell, Dudley Hanover, Solicitor, Prince Adios and Direct Rhythm.

Good Time is a legend in the breeding shed, having produced such top horses as Race Time, Best Of All and Columbia George. He sired 92 colts and fillies who paced faster than 2:00 and his fastest progeny was Hustling Time p, 4, 1:55. Best Of All was his top money winner, with $549,074 and a four-year-old mark of 1:56.2. Race Time p, 3, 1:57 ($486,955) was another top earner, as was Crash p, 3, 1:55.1 ($399,485), Columbia George p, 3, 1:56 ($398,324), Good Time Boy p, 1:58.1 ($352,976) and others.

Good Counsel p, 2, 1:58.1; 3, 1:57 ($48,900) was his top daughter. At two she broke every record set on a mile and half-mile racetrack. He also produced the top mares Gypsy Fortune p, 3, 1:56.4 and Timely Beauty p, 2, 1:57.1 ($115,265).

Good Time's blood flows through many of today's top Standardbreds, including Artsplace, No Nukes, Jate Lobell, Western Hanover, David's Pass, Village Jiffy, Shady Daisy, Immortality, and others.