Farewell my friend Western Dreamer
by Bob Heyden
Western Dreamer died at the Kentucky Horse Park on March 24 at 32 years of age. The last living Pacing Triple Crown winner (1997) is gone.
FACTS AND FIGURES
• In 1997, bred by Kentuckiana Farms, he became the eighth pacer to win the Triple Crown.
• He won the 1997 Cane Pace ($318,141) in 1:53.2, tied for the second fastest ever. Then he won the fastest Jug final in 1:51.1 with a pot of $605,210 on the line. Finally, he won the $414,126 Messenger in 1:51.3, the third quickest ever. He won those races by a combined 11¾ lengths.
• He was only favored in the Cane, as Dream Away was the favorite in the other two.
• His 1997 Pacer of the Year season (169-65 over Stienam’s Place) saw him with an impressive slate of 29 14-7-3 with $1,349,401.
• The vote was 232-7 over Dream Away in the category of 3-Year-Old Male Pacer of the Year.
• He raced until 2000 finishing with a 1:49 mark and a bankroll of $1,812,175 bankroll; good for fifth all-time amongst geldings and 29th among all pacers.
• He was the richest Western Hanover ever at the time with Western Ideal at No. 2 ($1,455,720).
• He’s the only Western Hanover to win the Triple Crown, and was from his very first crop. Remember in 1992, Western Hanover himself lost a bob on the wire in the Jug to Fake Left denying him the Triple Crown.
• No other gelding, of any breed, has ever won a Triple Crown.
• He raced for the Dalys, who purchased him in November 1996 at age 2 (10 2-2-2 as a freshman) for $125,000. Bill Robinson trained and Mike Lachance drove.
KENTUCKY HORSE PARK DAYS
He made his way to the Kentucky Horse Park (KHP) in 2001. Still residing at the KHP on the standardbred side are Marion Marauder, Mr Muscleman, and Won The West. That’s a great group. Think of a frat house reunion minus the empties. But no doubt that Western Dreamer was the boss. Tenured, yes, but he was so much more than that.
He had a built-in welcoming presence and his “switch” was on 24/7.
He loved his treats sure, but he acted like you needed his permission to even look across the way.
His hugs were well known. He craved life. He was a lightning rod for visitors; almost like he was checking you in.
The lines, the kids, the overall fascination with Western Dreamer was constant.
He never had to gnaw at your shirtsleeve, he already had your attention.
He acted 10-15 years younger. Heck, many in the business of horses routinely figured him to be late teens or early 20s.
The age of his visitors didn’t matter either. Hardly anything compared to seeing a well-into-their-cups firster greeting Western Dreamer in their initial visit. Wide and wider smiles were everywhere.
ON A PERSONAL NOTE
For the past four years, the Kentucky Horse Park has been my destination point No. 1 while working The Red Mile. I love the standardbreds there and the thoroughbred Accelerate also.
Once there, you’d find yourself gravitating towards Western Dreamer in his corner stall. I remember the first time being around him, not five minutes in and I told the person standing next to me that “I would bet he spent some time standing in the corner in grade school.” He was a born performer. He was every bit as affable as he was accomplished. If they handed out Ambassadorships to horses, they would have to start alphabetically in reverse.
I heard this stat, that as of 2019, the Kentucky Horse Park had 1,226 acres and 1,201 stalls. Of course, I haven’t seen them all, but it is the one that was occupied by Western Dreamer, a modern day Forego or John Henry, that has left a forever impression.
Last year, off to the side and while the crowd was making their way over, I was getting ready to wrap up my visit. I stood with Western Dreamer alone, fully aware of his age and recent infirmities. Rob Willis and Jenny Leslie were on top of every issue. I quietly whispered to him/asked him if he would pinky swear to me that he would see me again in 2026. But if not, I would fully get it. I saw him race. I know his impact. But never, ever could I have imagined that his post-racing career would turn out like it did.
What a run, buddy. Who would have ever guessed that you could have reached and impacted so many, not from the winner’s circle, but from your own backyard?
