Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

This Month in Harness Racing History: October

October 1, 1971 – Steady Star, driven by Joe O’Brien, sets the pacing world record of 1:52 at the Red Mile.

October 1, 1980 – Niatross, driven by Clint Galbraith, sets the pacing world record of 1:49.1 in a time trial at the Red Mile.

October 1, 1994 – Jim Morand drives two horses that finish in dead heats for wins at Rosecroft Raceway in Maryland.

October 2, 1982 – Fan Hanover, driven by Glen Garnsey, sets the world record for female pacers by finishing a time trial in 1:50.4 at the Red Mile.

October 3, 1884 – Johnston takes nearly four seconds off the pacing world record, finishing in 2:06¼ at Chicago and becoming the first pacer to eclipse 2:10.

October 3, 1938 – Rosalind trots 1:56¾ in a time trial at the Red Mile in Lexington, Kentucky, setting a record for female trotters that would stand until the mid-1970s.

October 3, 1969 – Lindy's Pride, driven by Howard Beissinger, wins the Kentucky Futurity in straight heats at the Red Mile to complete a sweep of the trotting Triple Crown races.

October 4, 1960 – Adios Butler, driven by Paige West, sets the pacing world record of 1:54.3 in a time trial at the Red Mile.

October 5, 1980 – Classical Way, driven by John Simpson Jr., sets the world record for female trotters by finishing a time trial in 1:55.2 at the Red Mile.

October 6, 1955 – Scott Frost, driven by Joe O'Brien, wins the Kentucky Futurity at the Red Mile to claim the inaugural trotting Triple Crown.

October 6, 1972 – Super Bowl, driven by Stanley Dancer, wins the Kentucky Futurity on a flat tire to finish a sweep of the trotting Triple Crown.

October 6, 2000 – Moni Maker and Hall of Fame jockey Julie Krone set the world record for trotting under saddle, speeding to a 1:54.1 mile at Lexington’s Red Mile.

October 7, 1966 – Bret Hanover, driven by Frank Ervin, lowers his own pacing world record, finishing a time trial in 1:53.3 at Lexington, Kentucky.

October 8, 1976 – Keystone Pioneer, driven by Richard DeSantis, sets the world record for female trotters on a five-eighths of a 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, driven by John Simpson Sr., wins the Kentucky Futurity in straight heats 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 Raceway in Ontario.

October 10, 1980 – Fan Hanover, driven by Glen Garnsey, sets the world record for two-year-old fillies pacing on a five-eighths of a mile track by winning in 1:56.4 at Liberty Bell in Pennsylvania.

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

October 12, 1879 – St. Julien trots a world record 2:12¾ at Oakland, California.

October 12, 1968 – Rum Customer, driven by Billy Haughton, wins the Cane Futurity at Yonkers Raceway, earning the second jewel on his way to the pacing Triple Crown.

October 13, 1845 – Lady Suffolk becomes the first trotter to go a mile in under 2:30, trotting 2:29½ 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 in Ontario.

October 15, 1987 – Lizzie Lee Brook, driven by Donald Dancer, sets the world record for two-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, driven by Preston Burris Jr., sets the world record for four-year-old pacing mares by winning in 1:55.2 at the Meadowlands in New Jersey.

October 16, 1999 – Blissfull Hall, driven by Ron Pierce, 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 claim Breeders Crown titles at Mohawk Racetrack in Ontario.

October 19, 1976 – Green Speed, driven by Stan Bayless, equals the world record for two-year-olds trotting on a five-eighths of a 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 2:08¼ 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 those drivers who have won at least nine races on a single card.

October 21, 1988 – Leah Almahurst, driven by Bill Fahy, 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, driven by John Campbell, 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 1:58½ at Memphis, Tennessee.

October 25, 1991 – King Conch, driven by Bill Gale, sets the world record for two-year-olds trotting on a five-eighths of a mile track by winning the Breeders Crown in 1:56.2 at Pompano Park in Florida.

October 26, 1968 – Rum Customer, driven by Bill Haughton, claims the Pacing Triple Crown by winning the Messenger Stakes in 2:01.4 at Roosevelt Raceway in New York.

October 27, 1984 – Mr Escort, driven by Ray Remmen, sets the world record for three-year-old gelding pacers on a half-mile track by winning in 1:56.4 at Roosevelt Raceway.

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

October 29, 1966 – Romeo Hanover, driven by George Sholty, wins the Messenger Stakes in 2:01 over Good Time Boy and becomes the third pacer to capture the Triple Crown.

October 29, 1993 – Expressway Hanover, driven by Per Henriksen, sets the world record for three-year-old trotting fillies on a five-eighths of a mile track by winning the Breeders Crown in 1:55.4 at Pompano Park.

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

October 31, 1986 – Halcyon, driven by Ray Remmen, wins the Breeders Crown for two-year-old filly pacers at Rosecroft Raceway in Maryland.