Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Nihilator

Nihilator Painting

                              Niatross--Margie's Melody--Bret Hanover
                         Foaled on April 16, 1982 at Lexington, Kentucky

Trainer: Billy Haughton                                  Driver: Bill O'Donnell
Owner: Wall Street Stable (Lou Guida et al)     Breeder: Robet E. Gangloff, Logansport, Indiana

Nihilator was the most successful son of the great Niatross to ever look through a bridle. He emerged on the scene in 1984 as a two-year-old that saw him win 12 of 13 starts, including the prestigious Woodrow Wilson. His only loss that year came to Dragon's Lair in the Breeders Crown Freshman Pace.

Just one year later, in 1985, he would enter the winner's circle 23 out of 25 starts, winning among others, the Meadowland's Pace, the Little Brown Jug, the Breeders Crown Sophomore Pace, the Tattersalls Pace, the Blue grass Stake and the James Dancer Memorial. As a result, he was named 1985 Horse of the Year.

During his three-year-old campaign he also scored a 1:49.3 three effort in an Invitational at The Big M on August 1, 1985--earning him the distinction of being the first pacer in a race to best the 1:50 barrier.   His only two losses during his sophomore season saw him finish fourth in the first heat of the Adios (he won the second heat, however and then was scratched from the final) and a second-place finish in the Progress Pace. As well, he and his sire Niatross are still the only two pacers to win both the Woodrow Wilson and the Meadowlands Pace.

He retired at the end of his three-year-old season wiht $3,225,653 in earnings, making him the richest Standardbred ever up to that time, and immediately went into the breeding shed.

As a stallion Nihilator produced four millionaires and two sub-1:50 performers in just six seasons. His best included Historic p,3, 1:51f ($1,334,861) and Silver Almahurst p,4,1:49.4 ($1,091,024). He proved to be a prolific broodmare sire, as his daughters have produced the winners of well over $61.5 million, including Eternal Camnation p, 1:49.2--$3.7 million and the world's richest pacing mare.  Another one of his daughters a produced $2.7 million winner Art Major p, 4, 1:48.4--a two-time divisional winner.

Sadly, Nihilator contracted Potomac Horse Fever after the breeding season in 1991--when he bred 88 mares. For the most of that year he was housed at Pennsylvania's New Bolton Equine Center, where he could only stand up with the aid of a sling device. He was humanely euthanized in December of 1991.

Year    Starts 1st 2nd  3rd   Money Won    Record Time   Track      Date
1985     25       23     1     0     $1,864,286       3, 1:49.3M         M         08/03/1985
1984      13       12     0      1     $1,361,367       2, 1:52.4M          M         08/16/1984
Total    38       35     1     1     $3,225,653       3, 1:49.3M