Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Odds On Racing's

Trainer of the Month
for August 2008

William Haughton

William "Billy" Haughton is one of the immortals in the sport of harness racing. A legend, and one of the greatest horseman ever to step into a sulky, Billy was loved by his peers and fans alike throughout the industry.

William R. Haughton was born in November 2, 1923 and died tragically July 15, 1986 doing what he loved--driving horses.

One of the most respected horsemen in the history of racing, the Gloversville, New York native was a four-time winner of the Hambletonian and a five-time winner of the Little Brown Jug.

Billy Haughton & Lavern Hanover

Haughton came from a farming background where he competed in fairground races before coming into harness driving.

A winner of 4,910 races and more than $40.1 million in earnings, Haughton conditioned Horses of the Year Green Speed 3,1:55.3 ($953,013) and Nihilator p,3,1:49.3 ($3,225,653), as well as Pacing Triple Crown winner Rum Customer p,3,1:56 ($1,001,548).

Haughton was the only trainer driver to win the Messenger Stakes seven times, and was first in annual winnings twelve times – 1952-59, 1963, 1965, 1967 and 1968 – and in heats won from 1953-58.

LavernHanover

Billy behind Lavern Havover and pacing star Falcon Almahurst

It was the quality of his life and his stature as a man.

           Billy Haughton, Delvin Miller & Tim Rooney discuss yearling prospects

Every gracious, Billy brought Steve Lobell to Lexington seeking the Triple Crown in 1976 and was defeated by his stablemate Quick Pay. It was a case of his son Peter Haughton defeating father Billy. “”Peter just outdrove me,” Billy said.

"It was not statistics or numbers that spelled out Bill Haughton's greatness," wrote Stanley F. Bergstein in the foreword of Bill Haughton: The Master.   "It was the quality of his life and his stature as a man."

A member of the Hall of Fame and a USTA Director, Billy Haughton died on July 6, 1986 after suffering massive injuries to the brain stem in a racing accident at Yonkers Raceway. Haughton’s oldest son, Peter, had died in a car crash in 1980.

Billy Haughton's Driving Statistics*
*The USTA did not keep any statistics of drivers or trainers prior to 1977, so these are the only years for which stats are available for Mr. Haughton.

Year    Starts/Wins/2nds/3rds   Earnings      UDRS
1986      84      14      15      12      $460,981       0.313
1985      373      73      53      49      $1,858,261      0.318
1984      323      72      49      37      $1,290,758      0.345
1983      361      53      43      64      $1,408,154      0.272
1982      400      91      63      52      $2,534,151      0.358
1981      411      90      46      52      $2,297,515      0.323
1980      457      89      70      58      $1,966,201      0.322
1979      387      73      47      61      $1,082,339      0.309
1978      402      95      67      55      $1,718,105      0.375
1977      362      94      64      43      $1,617,949      0.397
Total            4,910                     $40,160,916