Campbell Scores Earliest Sub 1:49 Mile Ever at The Big M
Wednesday, May 5, 2004
by Kimberly A. Rinker

In the Classic series at the Meadowlands, which began last weekend, John Campbell steered Royal Mattjesty to victory in 1:48.4, the earliest-ever sub 1:49 mile in the history of the Big M, and the second in the sport's history. On April 24, 1998 Pacific Fella-at Colonial Downs-won in 1:48.2 in the Graduate Series.

Below is a history of all of the sub-1:49 miles in harness racing history:

• Three time trials: (1:46.1-Cambest, 1:48.2-Matt's Scooter, 1:48.3-Camluck)
• There are a total of 46 1:49 race miles in harness racing EVER
• John Campbell's 9th sub-1:49 race win makes him the leading driver in this category. He accomplished this feat with seven different horses: P B Bullville in 1:48 at The Red Mile on September 30, 2000; Armbro Positive in1:48.1 at The Meadowlands on May 27, 2000; Art Dialing in 1:48.2 at the Meadowlands on July 22, 2000; Real Desire in1:48.2 on August 3, 2002 and in 1:48.3 on July 27, 2002 at The Meadowlands; Dragon Again in 1:48.3 at Woodbine in 2000, Art Major in 1:48.4 at the Big M on July 26, 2003; and Royal Mattjesty in 1:48.4 at the Big M on May 1, 2004.
• Drivers Mike LaChance has seven sub-1:49 wins, Luc Ouellette has six, Ron Pierce has three and Sylvian Filion has three.

The horse to score a sub-1:49 mile the LATEST in a season came on October 13, 2001 by Electric Stena, pacing in 1:48.3 at Woodbine.

Pacific Fella was the very first horse to record a pair of sub-1:49 race wins at two different racetracks-Colonial Downs and Hoosier Park.

Only four horses in harness racing history have scored sub-1:49 race miles back-to-back:

• Real Desire on July 27, 2002 in 1:48.3 and then on August 3, 2002 in 1:48.2
• Goliath Bayama scored three-in-a-row on July 28 in 1:48.4, on August 4 in 1:48.1 and on August 19, 2001 in 1:48.1.
• Space Shuttle paced in 1:48.2 on July 29, 2000 and then in 1:47.4 on August 4, 2000
• Color Me Best in 1:48.4 on June 26, 1999 and in 1:48 on July 3, 1999

Two Horse of the Year honorees scored sub 1:49 miles: Staying Together in 1993 (1:48.2) and Gallo Blue Chip in 2000 (1:48.4).

Only one sub 1:49 mile was paced in a million dollar event-the 2002 North America Cup-Red River Hanover raced for then the richest pot ever offered in Canada.

Five trainers from either Australia or New Zealand have had sub-1:49 winners: Bret Pelling has had four horses pace in 1:49 or faster, while Ross Crogan, Darren McCall, Kelvin Harrison and Noel Daley have all had one each.

Five sub-1:49 miles occurred in conditioned over overnight races, and five times a winner paced 1:49 or faster in a claiming race: Armbro Positive paced to 1:48.1 with John Campbell in $175,000 claimer on July 27, 2000; Mumbo King paced to 1:48.4 with Howard Parker in the sulky on May 6, 2000 in a $250,000 claimer; Lease On Life paced in 1:48.1 on June 16, 2001 for David Miller with a $50,000 tag; Art Dialing was in for $125,000 on July 20, 2000 when he paced to 1:48.2 for John Campbell; and Color Me Best paced in 1:48 on June 26, 1999 for Mike LaChance in a $75,000 claimer.

Only two mares have paced in 1:49 or faster, and both were granddaughters of Cam Fella nad both paced in 1:48.4 on June 21, 2002: Frightening P (by Camtastic) for Luc Ouellette and trainer Kelvin Harrison and Carolina Sunshine (by Cambest) for Chris Christoforou, Jr. and trainer Darren McCall.

The oldest horse to win in sub-1:49 time? Armbro Proposal accomplished that feat on June 29, 2002, pacing in 1:48.2 at age eight.