Can it really be 40 years since the memorable year of 1983?

by Bob Heyden

PACE DOUBLE

It was the last time we had a Triple Crown winner who also won the Meadowlands Pace. That champ was the great Ralph Hanover. Niatross is the only other one who has accomplished this.

HONORING DAD

On June 27, 1983, Green Speed died. He was the 1977 Horse of the Year. His first crop yielded Hambletonian winner Duenna. That was the first million-dollar trot ($1,080,000). Green Speed is the last Horse of the Year to be a December foal, born Dec. 18.

EPIC HAMBLETONIAN STREAK UNDERWAY

Joie De Vie was a Hambletonian heat winner that year and it marked John Campbell’s debut in the race. Joie De Vie was second in summary and fourth in the final. He also raced, but broke stride that year, in the Roosevelt International. Campbell would appear in every Hambletonian until the Malabar Man year of 1997. His final first- or second-place finish would be with Nuncio in 2014 when he finished second.

SPEED MERCHANT

On Oct. 4, the year’s fastest performer on all three-sized tracks, It’s Fritz, time trialed at the Red Mile. It was three years to the day of Niatross’ 1:49.1. But Marty and Carl Allen’s super speedy 4-year-old fell a bit short with fractions of: :28.1, :54.2, 1:22.1 and 1:53. The very next week he attempted to go after the Trenton 1:51.3 world race record set the previous summer, but had to settle for a 1:51.4 season’s mark. It’s Fritz retired to stud and lived to the ripe old age of 31 dying in 2010. Coincidentally, Team Allen’s CR Kay Suzie is also 31 and remains the oldest living former Horse of the Year (1995).

OUT IN STYLE

Rambling Willie and Cam Fella both retired that year and both held the all-time money record, with 13-year-old Willie at $2,038,219 and Cam at $2,041,367. Cam’s final race weekend saw him win his 28th straight, but it was bittersweet as his sire Most Happy Fella passed away that very weekend at age 16.

BLIZZARD WARNINGS

In March — 40 years ago this week — New Jersey had its worst snowstorm in years. Quietly, a trotter was foaled during the blizzard and Paul Minore named the Lindy’s Crown—Deficit colt Jersey Blizzard. He went on to have a fabulous career of 376 51-82-52, $804,990 with an amazing 10-straight years of at least 30 starts and three straight six-figure years. He even had a 38 0-13-13 slate in 1988, but again made six figures. Then, a few years later, a brother was born, Another Blizzard, also a Lindy’s Crown—Deficit. He was a mind-boggling 443 89-66-62, $910,897 for his career. He competed in the Su Mac Lad against S JS Photo and had five-straight $100G years at 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 and set an unofficial record of at least one pari-mutuel race for 71 consecutive months.

And by the way, when they retired, who were they both running around the pasture/paddock with? Deficit.

DO YOU REMEMBER THE 1960S?

Would Romola Hanover’s (April 27, 1957-May 6, 1979) sparkling record as a broodmare extraordinaire hold up as well as it had a half century later?

1963 Romeo Hanover — $658,505 (Triple Crown champ)

1964 Romulus Hanover — $485,000

1965 Nevele Romeo — $141,821

1966 Romano Hanover — $133,676 (Top NJ sire)

1968 Dexter Hanover — $329,014

1969 Romalie Hanover — $394,385 

Four of her yearlings sold for six figures. Did anyone ever have a better decade?

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That Tim Rooney signed the slip for Hip #130, Albatross in 1968, at the Standardbred Horse Sale, for $7,000. He also bought #131 for $3,700, Saint Clair Bit.

* * *

Finally, does anyone remember this and if you do, what happened to it?

The National Association of Harness Drivers formed on March 7, 1967 in New York City and 202 drivers signed up to be represented by F. Lee Bailey, then 33.

The press, owners and other interested parties showed up and presented F. Lee Bailey with a Red, White and Blue driving helmet.

Del Insko was the association president and Bob Baumann its executive director.

“I believe in these drivers and their cause,” Bailey said. “I couldn’t tell you the difference between a trotter and a pacer. I’ve never even made a $2 bet. I only believe in gambling in court. But I’m certain I can learn everything I have to know about this sport. A good lawyer has to represent all kinds of clients. What you don’t know, you find out.”

The goal of the group was to change the public perception of the sport and for the drivers to have better benefits going forward.

“I found that these drivers have the same problems as the members of my profession,” Bailey said. “When one bad apple turns up, the public takes the perception that the whole barrel is rotten. Nothing could be further from the truth. But there are certain steps I feel this association must take.

“We must see a constant upgrading of the ethics and standards of this profession from within. On the other hand, we intend to deal with those who make unjust charges. Once the members, through their own screening committees, have decided that one of them has been unjustly accused, I will make the most persuasive effort I can to clear that person… I hope to be of service in this respect.”

In addition to Insko and Baumann, Lucien Fontaine was vice president, Wendell Wathen, treasurer and Lou Miller, secretary.

“This organization is dedicated to the driver and his specific problems,” Baumann said. “We feel we should have the same kind of security for ourselves and our families as the professional basketball, football and baseball player. We’d like life insurance, medical plans and a pension plan. We put on the show and risk our lives every time we take a horse postward. I played a lot of football in my life and would rather get hit by a 250 pound tackle than an 1,100 pound horse. Even more important we’d like a greater voice in the sport. We’re proud of our sport and our profession. We only want what is best for harness racing-nothing more.

“We started this organization last fall. I really think we’re off the ground now. A tremendous response. I’m hoping we’ll have 1,000 members signed up in two months. Eventually we hope to have every licensed driver in the United States and Canada (7,176 combined in 1966).

Del Insko finished with: “I’m honored to have served as president of this association. I think it’s something we’ve needed for many years.”