Nihilator (1982–1991) was an American champion Standardbred racehorse and was the United States Harness Horse of the Year in 1985. The first standardbred to win $3 million, at the time of his retirement he was the leading stakes earning pacer in harness racing history.[1]
| Nihilator | |
|---|---|
| Breed | Standardbred |
| Sire | Niatross (US) |
| Grandsire | Albatross (US) |
| Dam | Margie's Melody |
| Damsire | Bret Hanover |
| Sex | Stallion |
| Foaled | 1982 |
| Died | November 1991 |
| Country | United States |
| Color | Bay |
| Owner | Wall Street Stable |
| Trainer | Billy Haughton |
| Record | 38:35-1-1 |
| Earnings | US$3,225,754 |
| Major wins | |
| Woodrow Wilson Pace (1984) Little Brown Jug (1985) Meadowlands Pace (1985) James Dancer Memorial (1985) Tattersalls Pace (1985) Walt Whitman Pace (1985) Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old Colt/Gelding Pace (1985) | |
| Awards | |
| 2 Year Old Colt Pacer of the Year (1984) 3 Year Old Colt Pacer of the Year (1985) United States Pacer of the Year (1985) United States Harness Horse of the Year (1985) | |
| Honors | |
| United States Harness Racing Hall of Fame (1995) | |
| Last updated on 2016-02-22 | |
Racing career
editAs a two-year-old in 1984, Nihilator won his first twelve races before finishing second behind Dragon's Lair in the Breeders Crown.[2] His winning streak included a win in the Woodrow Wilson Pace, a race that was the richest run for either the Thoroughbred or Standardbred breed at the time. His winning time of 1:52 4/5 was a world record for a two-year-old pacer.[3] He was the 2-Year Old Colt Pacer of the Year for 1984.
Early in 1985 a 30 percent interest in Nihilator was sold for $5.76m to Almahurst Farm.[4] He won the 1985 Meadowlands Pace by 7 1/4 lengths equalling the world record for a pacer of any age with a time of 1:50 3/5. The last half mile was covered in 54 seconds. It was Nihilator's 18th win from 19 races.[5] In the Adios Pace at The Meadows Nihilator was surprisingly beaten in the first heat by Marauder, won the second heat and was scratched from the race-off.[6] Nihilator had bettered his Meadowlands Pace winning time when he won a race in 1:49 3/5 at The Meadowlands setting world record for the fastest race ever with quarter mile splits of 26 2/5, 53 4/5 and 1:21 2/5[7] before attempting to break the world record of 1:49 1/5 set by his sire Niatross in a time trial in 1980. In his time trial at Springfield he slowed running into a head wind in the last quarter mile running a time of 1:50 4/5.[8]
Nihilator started in the 1985 Little Brown Jug less than a week after winning the James Dancer Memorial at Freehold Raceway. It was his first start on a half mile track. Nihilator took the Jug with heat wins in 1:53 1/5 and 1:52 1/5. On the same day Falcon Seelster won a race recording a half mile track world record mile of 1:51.[9] Nihilator scored an easy win in the Walt Whitman Pace[10] before he ended his racing career with a win in the Breeders Crown at Garden State Park. For 1985 he won 23 of 25 starts and also won the Tattersalls Pace and Bluegrass Stake.[11] In his career Nihilator won 35 of 38 races and $3,225,754.[1] He was the first Standardbred to earn $3 million.[12]
In 1995, Nihilator United States Harness Racing Hall of Fame[13]
Nihilator was humanely destroyed in November 1991 after suffering from Potomac horse fever and laminitis.[14]
References
edit- ^ a b Nihilator triumphs in farewell race, New York Times, 30 November 1985, Retrieved 21 February 2016
- ^ Race Rewind - 1984 Breeders Crown, Standardbred Canada, Retrieved 21 February 2016
- ^ Nihilator sets a record in Wilson Pace, New York Times, 17 August 1984, Retrieved 21 February 2016
- ^ Colt May Join an Elite Group, New York Times, 1 February 1985, Retrieved 21 February 2016
- ^ Nihilator's victory is the tracks loss, New York Times, 20 July 1985, Retrieved 21 February 2016
- ^ Nihilator Shocked, Scratched in Adios, Observer-Reporter, 12 August 1985, Retrieved 21 February 2016
- ^ Nihilator bid fails despite fan support, Sun-Sentinel, 4 August 1985, Retrieved 22 February 2016
- ^ Nihilator Fails, New York Times, 30 August 1985, Retrieved 21 February 2016
- ^ Little Brown Juggernaut, Sports Illustrated, Retrieved 21 February 2016
- ^ Nihilator Posts Easy Win From Second Tier, Los Angeles Times, 13 October 1985, Retrieved 22 February 2016
- ^ Nihilator's dam dies at age 33, The Horseman and Fair World, Retrieved 21 February 2016
- ^ Nihilator Ends Career With Win, Los Angeles Times, 30 November 1985, Retrieved 21 February 2016
- ^ Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame bio for Nihilator Retrieved November 16, 2016
- ^ Pacing Legend Nihilator destroyed, Chicago Tribune, 7 November 1991, Retrieved 21 February 2016