Happy 20th birthday Muscle Hill
by Bob Heyden
On Feb. 15, 2006, the sport of harness racing had what you could very easily point to as its most pivotal day of the 21st century, when Muscle Hill was foaled. Twenty years earlier, in the spring of 1986, you could make a similar statement when his grandsire Valley Victory was born.
Muscle Hill turns 20 with the best bio ever; a combo platter of pure brilliance both on and off the track. Clearly the last 16 plus years since he last competed have served to further enhance an unmatched resume.
Let’s take a look at 20 facts, one for each victory, about the best trotter of the 21st century, at least:
1. Twenty straight wins, to end his career, after being edged in his debut by Homer Jay in a New Jersey Sires Stakes event.
2. He’s the last Hambletonian winner to also be named Horse of the Year (2009).
3. He was 12-for-12 as a sophomore plus five-for-five in qualifiers.
4. His 1:50.1 Hambletonian romp was the fastest ever and only bettered in 2025.
5. Fittingly the richest single season trotter ($2,456,041) won the single richest trotting event ever, the 2009 Hambletonian at $1,520,333.
6. He entered the Living Hall of Fame in 2016.
7. He averaged $155,873 every time he stepped onto the track, the high-water mark in harness racing history for a trotter or pacer.
8. In 2019, on Hambletonian Day, he was represented by 28 sons and daughters, a Meadowlands record, fittingly coming on the 10th anniversary of his own Hambletonian dominance.
9. Is 20 too old to still sire Hambletonian winners? Kadabra was 20 in 2019 with Forbidden Trade, Balanced Image was 22 and 25 in 2000 and 2003 with Yankee Paco and Amigo Hall, and Super Bowl was 26 in 1995 when his son Tagliabue captured the big one.
10. Who did he sire who won the Hambletonian? Trixton (2014) from his first crop, Marion Marauder (2016) the sports last Triple Crown winner, and Ramona Hill in 2020 giving him winners both male and female. In the two Hambletonian Muscle Hill did not win in his first four chances he had the favorite both times: Mission Brief in 2015 (second) and Bar Hopping in 2016 (fourth).
11. He sired $5 million plus in earnings between fabulous fillies Ariana G and Manchego.
12. Though Muscle Hill did not race past 3, his son Resolve did. Resolve won the Yonkers International Trot (2016), giving Muscle Hill a million-dollar credit for both 3 and older.
13. Although he’d likely rather forget it, only Muscle Hill had a son DQed in the Hambletonian, What The Hill (2017).
14. He has two sons and a daughter with a Hambletonian on their bio, plus a pair of grandsons who won back-to-back: Tactical Approach (2023) followed by Karl (2024), both sons of the powerhouse Tactical Landing, a Breeders Crown/TVG (2018) winning son of Muscle Hill.
15. The top nine trotting earners of all time from North America (only North America $) all raced multiple years, three plus, except No. 9, Muscle Hill, who made this prestigious list with just a pair of lucrative campaigns and $3,273,342.
16. He made it back to The Meadowlands in 2025 for the 100th Hambletonian meet and greet, and it was quite well received.
17. Who nose? When Marion Marauder stuck his nose to the good in the 2016 Hambletonian, another Muscle Hill was second, Southwind Frank.
18. Brian Sears was the regular driver for Muscle Hill, who gave him his first of three Hambletonians. But due to bad weather the 2009 World Trotting Derby was delayed and Sears flew to Canada for a full slate of major stakes. Luke McCarthy, Andy and Todd’s older brother, got the assignment and took care of business.
19. There are just four single-season double-millionaires on the trot. Muscle Hill (2009 with $2,456,041) is still well out in front with Donato Hanover (2007 with $2,336,190) next, then Deweycheatumnhowe (2008 with $2,218,987), and Market Share (2012 with $2,001,405).
20. His last start was at Woodbine Raceway on Oct. 24, 2009. That’s the very same track Secretariat also called it a career in 1973. Did somebody say the greatest trotter and the greatest thoroughbred ever?
FROM JOHN AND HERVE TO DAVE AND DAVE
John Campbell and Herve Filion now yields to Dave Miller and Dave Palone. Miller took over the top money spot last week 13½ years after Palone, who turned 64 on Feb. 13, took over most driving victories from Filion on July 5, 2012.
