Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Dragon's Lair is perhaps best know for being the instigator of one of the biggest upsets in harness racing history when he bested Nihilator in the 1984 Breeders Crown 2-Year-Old Colt Pace at The Meadows in Pennsylvania.

Dragon's Lair was owned early in his career by Harvey Heller, Gary Kornfield and trainer-driver Jeff Mallet and later by the Dragon's Lair Syndicate. He won 30 of his 66 career starts, but ultimately it was that victory over Nihilator and driver Bill O'Donnell that is the most remembered in harness racing circles today.

Dragon's Lair was purchased by Mallet and his crew for $43,000 as a yearling, with the then name Santee Hanover.

Mallet was born and raised in Pittsburg and based at The Meadows. Mallet had said that his one goal in life was to be presented with a trophy from Delvin Miller--founder of The Meadows raceway.

"All my life I wanted Miller to present a trophy to me and it looks like my dream came true," Mallet said in the winner's circle at the time.

Nihilator was the strong favorite going into the race, even though Dragon's Lair had won 10 of his 12 starts that season. This Breeders Crown was contested in two heats as well, and Nihilator won the first heat in the final strides in 1:54.3, besting Dragon's Lair by a head in a world record clocking. Pershing Square, Nihilator's stablemate, won the second elim for driver Tommy Haughton, which made for a tough entry in the final heat that Dragon's Lair would have to face.

Nihilator had the rail, Pershing Square the two-hole and Dragon's Lair the three-hole in the final. Pershing Square left hard, leaving Nihilator and Dragon's Lair to battle it out for the lead. Dragon's Lair was parked through the first turn but flashed a :26.3 first quarter clocking, and was still parked out in the stretch the first time around. He did make the front under the wire the first time and Mallett quickly back down the pace to a :30 second panel. O'Donnell pulled Nihilator at the five-eights marker and was second on the outside, but couldn't collar his rival and ended up finishing third, behind a hard-trying Broadway Express.

Mallet and his crew sold Dragon's Lair after his 3-year-old season, and the horse went on to race successfuly at 4,5, and 6 for his new connections. In his final season of racing at age 6, he won six races, including the Levy Series at the now defunct Roosevelt Raceway.

He began his stud career at Almahurst Farm in Kentucky & New Jersey, then went to stand in New York for three seasons before standing lastly in Pennsylvania.

He became a successful sire, with his progeny earning nearly $49 million. He's sired 785 performers, 520 who have paced in 2:00 or faster and 192 who have broken the 1:55 barrier.

Some of his best get inlcude: Dragon Again p,1:48.3 ($2,343,428); Stone Dragon p,4,1:50.4 ($929,495); Electric Slide p,3,1:52.4 ($908,792); Stand Forever p,4,1:49.2 ($694,472); Popcorn Penny p,3,1:50.4 ($624,359) and Allamerican Nadia p,3,1:53 ($504,465) among others.

Dragon's Lair Career Racing Statistics
Year Starts/Wins/2nds/3rds   Earnings      Record      Track & Record Date
1988    23      6         4       1       $217,187       6, 1:53.4M      M M 01/09/1988
1987    17    8         3      0       $211,783       5, 1:51.3Q      VD Q 07/11/1987
1985     12   5         3      2      $201,448       3, 1:54.3F       LB F 08/17/1985
1984    14    11        3      0      $454,899      2, 1:54.1F       MEA F 10/12/1984
Total   66    30       13     3      $1,085,317   5, 1:51.3Q