by Bob Heyden

This year will mark the 20th different sire of the Horse of the Year winner in the last 20 year regardless of whether this year’s HOY is Shartin N (Tin Tin In America), Greenshoe (Father Patrick), Bettors Wish (Bettors Delight) or Gimpanzee (Chapter Seven).
HOY sires:

2000 — Magical Mike sired HOY Gallo Blue Chip
2001 — Precious Bunny sired HOY Bunny Lake
2002 — Life Sign sired HOY Real Desire
2003 — Pacific Fella sired HOY No Pan Intended
2004 — Artiscape sired HOY Rainbow Blue
2005 — Western Ideal sired HOY Rocknroll Hanover
2006 — Yankee Glide sired HOY Glidemaster
2007 — Andover Hall sired HOY Donato Hanover
2008 — Mach Three sired HOY Somebeachsomewhere
2009 — Muscles Yankee sired HOY Muscle Hill
2010 — Rocknroll Hanover sired HOY Rock N Roll Heaven
2011 — San Pellegrino sired HOY San Pail
2012 — Windsongs Legacy sired HOY Chapter Seven
2013 — Kadabra sired HOY Bee A Magician
2014 — Art Major sired HOY J K She’s A Lady
2015 — Mr Wiggles sired HOY Wiggle It Jiggleit
2016 — Always A Virgin sired HOY Always B Miki
2017 — Swan For All sired HOY Hannelore Hanover
2018 — McArdle sired HOY McWicked
2019 — ???????????

Believe it or not

The top four money-winning pacing sires of all time are:

1. Camluck $223.5 million (North America only earnings)
2. Bettors Delight $216 million (North America only earnings; he’s well past $300 million worldwide)
3. Western Hanover $210,362,204
4. Artsplace $168,353,303

Combined the quartet has earned $819 million, yet never have any of them sired a U.S. Horse of the Year. That could change this year if Bettors Wish wins.

The very first HOY repeater

In 1952, Good Time became the first horse to repeat as Horse of the Year. He first won the award in 1949 as a 3-year-old and is the only horse to win the top year-end honor at both 3 and 6.

In 1952, he got 80 of the 99 first place votes. Also receiving first place notice were Sharp Note-12; Stars Pride 4; Chris Spencer-1; Direct Rhythm-1 and Yankee Hanover-1.

Good Time was named on 97-of-99 ballots.

Bettors Wish will be back at 4

Trainer Chris Ryder said, “Bettors Wish will be back to race at age 4. I also might bring over my good 4-year-old trotter from New Zealand, Oscar Bonavena. He would be competing in the Cashman, Maple Leaf and the big races here. We’ll see.”

Bettors Wish is the richest 2019 performer from stallion Bettors Delight.

Happy 80th birthday Ben Webster

Friday (Nov. 8) marked the 80th birthday of Ben Webster.

“In his prime, Benny could make speed with anyone. High speed,” said Northwood Bloodstock’s Bob Boni. “For a three-to-four-year period there in the mid-1970s, you could make the case he was the best driver around.”

Webster won the 1987 Wilson for $1.4 million with Even Odds, the $1.2 million Hambletonian in 1984 with Historic Freight, and campaigned such standouts as Flak Bait-his own, the standout Oil Burner, also his own and the sire of No Nukes. Also, his own until the syndication to Alan Leavitt at the end of his 2-year-old season (1981), Seahawk Hanover, American Freedom. The list goes on and on. The 1977 Meadowlands leading driver, check out the influence that Benny had in the first year at the Meadowlands, from 1976-1977, and how he dominated the track records on the pacing end:

2YOCP Tremor 1:58.1 10/5/76
2YOFP Mistral Sam 2:01.2 9/29/76
3YOCP Oil Burner 1:55.1 9/6/76
3YOFP Keystone Model 1:58 9/4/76
4YOPH Nero 1:55.2 9/18/76
4YOPG Seatrain 1:56 9/25/76
Older Mare Pacer Tarport Hap 1:57 3/5/77

All Benny Webster.

Credit Winner on course to be all-time trotting winner

He’s within $10 million of the all-time best total by Speedy Crown of progeny earnings of $103 million ($103,537,355). He sold selling seven colts and eight filly yearlings at Harrisburg. Currently #6 at $94.6 million, Credit Winner is on course to take aim on the all-time spot. Between him and the numero uno spot are #2 Balanced Image #3 Yankee Glide #4 Muscle Yankee and #5 Angus Hall. And Muscles Yankee has just been retired. Cantab Hall is #7 all-time on the trotting earnings list, but $6 million off Credit Winner. Of his 32 richest perfromers-26 of them are male.

Etcetera…

Nifty Norman had five entrants on Breeders Crown night and got checks with them all… E L Titan and Betting Line were the only two sires on Opening Day at Harrisburg who sold a $100,000 or better yearling who did not own at least one Breeders Crown trophy, but each of their sires did — Muscle Hill (2) and Bettors Delight (1)… American Ideal is counting down fast to $100 million. He’s #24 all-time-on the pacing list and past $97 million currently. Direct Scooter (#23) at $101 million is his next target.