Sports and records go hand in hand. Each historic milestone is like a carrot on the stick being chased by the next generation. Despite comments by some to the contrary, this rings no less true in harness racing. As an industry – from fans to drivers to breeders – everyone loves speed. There is something about a Standardbred traveling at high speeds and reaching an achievement that none of its peers have previously accomplished. Records come in all shapes and sizes, especially when it comes to harness racing. We categorize them by age, sex, track size and distance to the point where it seems the list is endless. But there is one time mark which everyone in the sport knows without having to dig too deep into their minds. With all due respect to trotters, at the top of the heap in terms of speed is the all-age record for pacers of 1:45 4/5 set in 2022 at The Meadowlands by Bulldog Hanover. It is ironic because trotters are more desirable at the yearling sales and the most important race in North America is the Hambletonian for 3-year-old trotters. Yet rarely do you ever hear people discuss the 1:48 4/5 North American record set by the fastest trotter in history - Homicide Hunter in 2018 at The Red Mile. There are some potential reasons why Bulldog Hanover’s record perhaps stands a bit taller. Most importantly is that the pacing record is three seconds faster than the pacing record. By nature people are always going to be infatuated with the better number. Another possible factor is the horse that holds the mark. When Bulldog Hanover set the record he did so during a magical season where he was virtually unbeatable, setting three of the six fastest times in history. He was one of the rare Standardbreds which lured people off their couches and onto the track apron. His name has gravitas. When you think back to the time when Holborn Hanover (1:46 4/5, 2006) and Enough Talk (1:49 3/5, 2008) were the speed Kings of their gaits, were either of those horses thought of in the same light as Bulldog Hanover? It’s ok to say no, because let’s face it, while both were very nice horses neither captured the hearts of fans and the industry, though admittedly Enough Talk came closer because he was the first trotter to break 1:50, which at the time seemed like the more difficult barrier to eclipse, and he held the record solo for nearly six years until Sebastian K came along with a scintillating 1:49 mile at Pocono Downs in 2014. In 2008 Somebeachsomewhere came along to equal the 1:46 4/5 mark and that certainly stamped the time as one that would be hard to surpass considering his talent level. The clocking lasted until the freaky-fast Always B Miki uncorked an astounding 1:46 clocking at The Red Mile in 2016. That mile truly opened the floodgates and made a sub 1:47 mile much more commonplace. Only four horses had stopped the clock faster than 1:47 before Always B Miki came along and since then we have seen 24 horses flash that type of speed. Around the same time that the speed of the breed took off on the pacing side, the same thing occurred with the more naturally-gaited trotters. By the time Homicide Hunter posted the only sub 1:49 mile in history, the wheels were already in motion. Prior to 2018 there were only four miles faster than 1:50 on the trot in North America. Since then, 28 horses have trotted 1:49 4/5 or faster. Hall of Famer Jimmy Takter, who trained Always B Miki, said the son of Always A Virgin was a “strong horse who could carry his speed forever.” As to what has changed over the last decade to produce so much more speed from Standardbreds, Takter found a few key factors, including tactics and pure speed. “I think a lot of it has to do with how the drivers drive in races today,” said Takter. “They are more aggressive than I’ve ever seen, but if they aren’t it is really hard to win races. Plus, horses just keep getting better. I was up in New Jersey for the first time all winter a couple of weeks ago and I sat behind Nancy’s [Takter, daughter] 2-year-olds and I think these horses come to speed so much quicker than when I retired back in 2018. It is a combination of things. It is them being better gaited and more of them being able to go in faster bikes like UFOs, and the breed getting faster.” ► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter What I find extremely interesting is how compact the pack is at the top of the leaderboard for both trotters and pacers. Just a fifth-of-a-second separates the top four on each gait. In theory the gap could be even tighter when you consider Standardbred races are timed in fifths. There is at least the possibility that Bulldog Hanover paced in 1:45.99 and the three tied behind him – Allywag Hanover, Always B Miki and Lather Up – all crossed the wire in 1:46.00. Certainly a thought worth pondering but not one to lose any sleep over. You’ll recall at the beginning of this column a reference to records coming in all shapes and sizes. If you can believe it, there are even speed records that exist which we don’t recognize. It is a shame too, because in some ways these are the most impressive of the collection. Have you ever heard the phrase, “anyone can do something one time”? Some of the names, like Bulldog Hanover, appear on the all-time records list many times and that is certainly impressive, but in the end it was just one year of accomplishments. Shouldn’t we have a special place for those horses which consistently prove their speed over long careers? I’m talking about the on-track warriors which are able to break the 1:50 barrier for at least half-a-decade and in some cases pace much faster than that in a true show of talent and longevity. Ideas pop into my head from many avenues and in this case I have to credit the invaluable Greg Reinhart for outlining the astonishing accomplishment of American History. Unless one of his eight registered foals shine in the coming years, few people are going to remember the now 10-year-old in another decade despite his Breeders Crown victory in 2019 and his $1.68 million in career earnings. But we should! A son of American Ideal out of a Camluck mare named Perfect Tough, American History recently won a race at Woodbine Mohawk Park in 1:49 3/5. While that in of itself is far from noteworthy, it was the eighth consecutive year he has accomplished the feat. When I started writing this column I wasn’t certain whether eight years is the consecutive years record, but I had to think it must be when you consider the streak began when he was just a 3-year-old. Along the way American History picked up a very credible 1:47 lifetime mark and seven straight years of pacing a sub 1:49 mile. Plus, let’s consider that this year is far from over and he could certainly eclipse 1:49 in 2025. “I still watch him race occasionally,” said Myron Bell, who made the $150,000 winning bid on him at the Lexington Selected Sale and co-owned the horse until late 2020. “I’m not really a stat guy but it is quite an accomplishment. [American History] and Mel Mara were the two fastest horses I ever owned just for pure speed.” Bell, who currently owns a promising 3-year-old by American History named Making History, recalled that the sire was one of the best 2-year-olds training down but was sidetracked by an ankle injury that delayed his debut until October of his rookie year. As a 3-year-old he won the Kentucky Sire Stakes final and Tattersalls while finishing second in the Adios and Empire Breeders Classic to begin his eight year run of consistency. “He was very fast; not great but very fast. Very few horses are great,” said Bell, whose one regret was that American History couldn’t breed a full book of mares. Let the “eight consecutive years” record sink in a minute as you ponder other top horses from the last quarter century who may’ve been able to produce similar results. Go grab a cup of coffee and really consider it . . . then come back and continue reading the article. Do you have your list ready? Did you do some research? It really isn’t that simple because you can’t just “Google” it or ask Chat GPT or Grok for the answer. As smart as they are, harness racing is a tough statistical nut to crack. The first name that comes to mind has to be Foiled Again. He’s arguably the most famous horse in the history of the sport and he raced an incredible 13 years while earning more money than any Standardbred in history. As incredible as he was, Foiled Again was only able to accomplish the consecutive sub 1:50 streak from 2008 to 2013 (six years); impressive but comes up short. Six was actually a very common number when I started doing the unofficial research. Backstreet Shadow did it from 2018 to 2023. Dancin Yankee also owns the six pack, doing it from 2014 to 2019. Interestingly, in 2013 he just missed at 1:50 1/5 or he would’ve made it eight straight years as well. Little Rocket Man is another in the “six” club (I have to thank my right hand man Matt Rose for remembering that one) and he’s still going strong at age 9 with his highest-earning season coming last year. Eight years could be within reach! Matt also came up with Workin Ona Mystery and he’s the rarest of the rare when it comes to this fraternity because his streak began in 2018 when he was just a 2-year-old. Usually when a 2-year-old is that fast they retire to stud long before any chance of a longevity record. Sadly his streak ended in 2024 when he stopped the timer in just 1:50. So close! Outside of American History, the only horse we could find that made it seven straight years under 1:50 is the winningest “modern day” Standardbred in history Southwind Amazon. The racing war horse made it happen from 2016 to 2022 and amazingly not one of his record miles during that period came on a track larger than five-eighths. The recently retired winner of 139 races accomplished it five times at Northfield, once at Scioto Downs and once at the now defunct Pompano Park. While these horses didn’t make the “consecutive” cut, there are a few others that certainly deserve a mention. Back before sub 1:50 miles were as common as high-priced eggs, Boulder Creek had a five year streak from 2004 to 2008. Won The West did it from 2007 to 2011 and was also sub 1:48 three straight years during that span. Finally, now 8-year-old Ruthless Hanover owns a current five year streak of going under 1:49 and four straight under 1:48. No list is complete without cold hard facts, so after doing our best on memory we called on U.S. Trotting Association’s statistical guru Anne Chunko, and with the help of Gabby Fleming she provided the data we needed to be 100% accurate. American History is indeed at the top of the heap if you use sub 1:50 as the barometer. If you widen it to 1:50 or less, Bettor’s Edge sits atop the list with nine straight years from 2012 to 2020. In 2019 and 2020 as a 10- and 11-year-old he stopped the clock at 1:50 flat, meaning he had seven straight sub 1:50 years. Dapper Dude deserves recognition for an eight year run from 2012 to 2019 at 1:50 or under. In 2017 at age 8 his best mark was 1:50 or he would’ve been tied with American History. The USTA research also uncovered Clear Vision (can’t believe we forgot him) as a horse that went under 1:50 seven consecutive years from 2011 to 2017. Interestingly, he paced in 1:50 1/5 in 2010 or he would’ve held the record at nine years. The USTA also ran a listing of horses that posted the most 1:50 or lower miles. Any guess which horse leads the pack by a fair margin with 46? The answer is Little Rocket Man, followed by Golden Receiver (36), American History (29), Mcwicked (27), and Allywag Hanover and Wiggle It Jiggleit (tied at 26). By the way, the leader among trotters is Manchego with seven, three ahead of Atlanta and Six Pack at four. One more side note: of the 165 horses to record at least 10 miles of 1:50 or better during their career, seven share a mom. Artistic Vision, Great Memories, GT Miss Royal, Lady Ashlee Ann, Shot Togo Bluechip, Higher And Higher, and Sweet Future all accomplished the feat. All of the above horses have gotten accolades over the years and they deserve continued attention for their amazing achievements. Hopefully a few of those on the list will extend their runs in 2025 and some newcomers will join the ranks in the future. After all, any horse can do something once. Show me the longevity!