Inflation!
by John Berry
About 50 years ago, give or take a length or two, I wrote a story about which, it turned out, it would necessitate eating crow for the rest of my life.
The story explained why this sport would never, ever see a mile accomplished in 1:50.
Many examples were shown on just why such a feat would be impossible, as every single one of the fastest miles in history to that time required a breather of sorts somewhere along the way, you know, a :29 quarter.
Our breed, at that time, was one of durability with records on the books stretching from the standard one-mile distance to distances ranging from two miles, three miles, five miles, 10 miles, 20 miles, all the way up to a staggering 100 miles.
Lest you think that the exhaustive distance of 100 miles was a freak, once-in-a-lifetime occurrence, there are three records on the books: the first by Fanny Jenks in 1845 and the undisputed world record of eight hours, 55 minutes and 53 seconds by the bay gelding Conqueror in 1853.
Yet another noteworthy performer for distance was a gelding named Controller, who stood atop the record books for 20 miles (to wagon) of 58:57 in 1878 and, for 10 miles in harness, 27:28¼ that same year. He was also high up on the list in a five-mile race — 13:15¼ — in 1877.
Yes, there were records back then at the standard distance of a mile — in races and time trials — and to wagon, under saddle, team-to-pole, triplicate (known as the troika in Russia) and by yearlings; the mare Pride establishing the standard at 2:44¼ in 1881 with that record withering away to 2:15 in 1911 by the pacer Frank Perry.
That yearling phenomenon continued — though sparsely — with the pacing filly Royal Lady 2nd clipping a-quarter-of-a-second off that in 1939.
Age was yet another way of proof for the breed as many horses raced for purse money past the age of 20, some examples being Abax, racing at age 26, Baldwin at 24, and Ada Symbol, 23, to name almost a handful.
Heat racing was very popular with some events rambling on for four, five, six heats, the most amazing one, in these eyes, being the win by Alix in 1893 at the World’s Fair in Chicago. That race lasted nine heats over three days!
Of course, as the standardbred breed began to leave the cocoon of durability in favor of speed, the stage was set for the pacer, Niatross.
The date was Oct. 1, 1980 with Niatross, Clint Galbraith in his sulky, about to rewrite history, as well as I getting my first taste of CROW.
Off fractions of :27.3 and :54.3, the thought of that here-to-fore necessary breather wasn’t in the cards this day as Niatross lit up the timer at the third station in 1:21.4.
The roar of the crowd rings true in these ears this very day with the crowd not playing second fiddle to the two prompters and vaunted announcer Carl Becker: 1:49.1…
That was 45 years ago and to say that the inflation of speed has hit our sport would be a gross miscarriage.
Inflation has several meanings.
Some 75 years ago, my grandfather, Pop, took me out for ice cream on many occasions and he’d pop a couple of quarters out of his pocket and we’d all have yet another memorable moment, one of million with Pop.
Now, when I am blessed to have any of my grandchildren around, that same outing costs $8-$10 and a quarter won’t buy even a lick of ice cream.
Yes, over the years, inflation has eroded the value of a quarter and it doesn’t buy too much anymore.
So, what’s this got to do with harness racing?
Niatross’ mile was, then, a once-in-a-lifetime mile.
Today, a 1:50 mile is kind of ho-hum and even 2-year-olds and trotters have now accomplished that magical time.
Some horses find themselves 10-15 lengths back these days while timed in a 1:50 mile.
Just looking at the opening week of The Red Mile’s Grand Circuit meet, just a few examples popped up that prove the point.
In the Bluegrass for 3-year-old trotting fillies, Best Story Ever (Chapter Seven) made a bobble early on, recovered and trotted her final quarter in :26, and didn’t pass one horse in finishing sixth.
In the Bluegrass for sophomore pacing fillies, both The Last Martini and Calamity Hour (both by Huntsville) each paced their final quarter in :25.2 and didn’t earn one darn cent when the winner crossed the wire in 1:49.
In the Bluegrass for the 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings, Sugar Man (Papi Rob Hanover) paced his mile in 1:48.3, last quarter in :25.4 and last three quarters in 1:19.3 — yes, 1:19.3 — and earned, what they say in Spanish, N-A-D-A.
This, of course, is nothing new.
Not that long ago, Test Of Faith was in the Dorothy Haughton Memorial and had to start from the 10 post and, despite pacing her last quarter in :26.1 — a 1:44.4 rate for the mile — she had to settle for the 1 per cent appearance fee by finishing sixth; only the second time she was off the board in over 45 grueling starts against the best in her class.
In the $668,000 Meadowlands Pace that year, Confederate was relentless in his :25.4 final panel to win in 1:47 in a courageous first over mile.
But that wasn’t the fastest quarter in that event as Save America paced his final quarter in :25.3 — a 1:41.2 mile rate to, at least, get the nickel. He paced his final three-quarters in 1:18.2.
This isn’t just confined to stakes horses. Over-nighters like Taurasi won in 1:47.2 — :25.3 one night with others pacing home in similar time and not gaining one inch — much less one length.
This era of unparalleled speed is just beginning and it brings to light the value, or non-value, of black or purple type in sales catalogs.
There’s only room for one horse at the top of each stakes race — unless there’s a dead-heat — and, possibly more importantly, for divisional honors, Trotter of the Year, Pacer of the Year, and Horse of the Year.
With yearling prices as lofty as skyscrapers, one wonders whether the investment is worth the risk, especially when quarters, no matter how fast, don’t seem to buy that much anymore, maybe not even a plugged nickel!
May The Horse Be With You!
