Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

This Date in Harness Racing History

October 8, 1976 – Keystone Pioneer sets the world record for female trotters on a five-eighths mile track by winning in 1:58.1 at Liberty Bell Park in Pennsylvania.

October 9, 1883 – Johnston sets the pacing world record of 2:10 at Chicago.

October 9, 1964 – Ayres wins the Kentucky Futurity in straight heats at the Red Mile in Lexington to complete a trotting Triple Crown sweep.

October 9, 1999 – Steve Condren wins his 5,000th races by guiding Intrepid Seelster to victory at Mohawk Racetrack in Ontario.

October 10, 1980 – Fan Hanover sets the world record for 2-year-old filly pacers on a five-eighths mile track by winning in 1:56.4 at Liberty Bell.

October 11, 1980 – Niatross wins the Messenger Stakes at Roosevelt Raceway to complete a sweep of the pacing Triple Crown.

October 12, 1879 – St. Julien trots a world record 2:12-3/4 at Oakland, California.

October 13, 1845 – Lady Suffolk becomes the first trotter to go a mile in under 2:30, trotting 2:29-1/2 at the Beacon Course in Hoboken, New Jersey.

October 14, 1970 – Arnold Gem, Banjo Phil, and Bervaldo finish in a triple dead heat for win at Windsor Raceway.

October 15, 1987 – Lizzie Lee Brook sets the world record for 2-year-old fillies trotting on a half-mile track by winning in 1:59 at Freehold Raceway in New Jersey.

October 16, 1976 – Silk Stockings sets the world record for 4-year-old pacing mares by winning in 1:55.2 at the Meadowlands in New Jersey.

October 16, 1999 – Blissfull Hall wins the Messenger Stakes in 1:51.2 at the Meadows, near Pittsburgh, to become the ninth pacer to win the Triple Crown.

October 17, 1992 – Artsplace caps his career by winning the Stewart Fraser Memorial at Northlands Park in Edmonton. He ends 1992 a perfect 16-for-16 and earns Horse of the Year.

October 18, 1996 – His Mattjesty, Malabar Man, Before Sunrise, and Armbro Prowess win Breeders Crown titles at Mohawk Racetrack in Ontario.

October 19, 1976 – Green Speed equals the world record for 2-year-olds trotting on a five-eighths mile track, winning in 2:01 at Liberty Bell Park in Pennsylvania.

October 20, 1891 – Sunol breaks the trotting world record, held for six years by Maud S., by finishing in 2:08-1/4 at Stockton, California.

October 20, 1996 – Billy “Zeke” Parker Jr. wins nine of 10 starts at Monticello, and finishes second in the remaining race. His .956 UDRS for the day is the best in harness racing history among drivers to win at least nine races on a single card.

October 21, 1988 – Leah Almahurst wins the American-National for 3-year-old filly pacers in 1:55.2 at Sportsman’s Park in Illinois.

October 23, 1993 – Life Sign wins the Breeders Crown in 1:54.2 at Freehold Raceway in New Jersey. Also winning Crowns are Expensive Scooter, Electric Slide and Immortality.

October 24, 1903 – Lou Dillon becomes the first trotter to go a mile in under 2:00, trotting 1:58-1/2 at Memphis, Tennessee.

October 24, 1993 – Hardie Hanover equals the world record for 2-year-old fillies pacing on a 5/8-mile track by winning in 1:53.3 at Mohawk Racetrack in Ontario.

October 25, 1991 – John Campbell wins three Breeders Crown races at Pompano Park in Florida and becomes the first harness racing driver to top $100 million in lifetime earnings.

October 26, 1968 – Rum Customer claims pacing’s Triple Crown by winning the Messenger Stakes in 2:01.4 over Tropic Song at Roosevelt Raceway in New York.

October 27, 2000 – Joe Essig Jr. wins his 3,000th race, driving Hills Jointventure to victory at Colonial Downs in Virginia.

October 28, 1994 – Jenna's Beach Boy equals the world record for 2-year-old male pacers by winning the Breeders Crown in 1:51.4 at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto.

October 28, 2000 – John Wagner gets win No. 3,000 with Paper Network at Colonial Downs.

October 29, 1966 – Romeo Hanover wins the Messenger Stakes in 2:01 and becomes the third pacer to capture the Triple Crown.

October 29, 1993 – Expressway Hanover sets the world record for 3-year-old trotting fillies on a 5/8-mile track by winning the Breeders Crown in 1:55.4 at Pompano Park in Florida.

October 30, 1994 – Village Jiffy wins the Stewart Fraser Memorial Pace in 1:53.2 at Northlands Park in Edmonton.

October 31, 1986 – Halcyon wins the Breeders Crown for 2-year-old filly pacers at Rosecroft Raceway in Maryland.