by Bob Heyden

The 44th Peter Haughton Memorial will be contested tonight (Sept. 13) at Hoosier Park. This is the second year that the race — along with the Jim Doherty Memorial — will be contested in Indiana (Soiree Hanover and T C I won in 2023). Both races debuted in New Jersey at The Meadowlands with the fillies going first in 1977 in what was then known as the Merrie Annabelle — renamed to the Doherty in 2015 — and the colts starting the year after Haughton’s passing in 1981.

Here’s a closer look at Haughton who would have turned 70 just nine days after his race in 2024.

BY THE NUMBERS

Peter Haughton was born on 9/22/54.

He won his first race with Dr. Dewars in a PASS with his mom Dot as his caretaker on June 22, 1971.

He became a $100G race winner twice as a teenager in 1974 the first with Armbro Omaha.

He became the youngest ever winner of any Triple Crown race in 1976 winning the Kentucky Futurity at age 22, with Quick Pay.

He became the youngest ever winner of the Roosevelt International in 1978 and 1979 in his only two appearances with Cold Comfort and Doublemint at age 23 and 24, respectively.

He won 571 races and $6,417,862 at the time of his car accident outside The Meadowlands on Jan. 25, 1980.

He had four siblings that he left behind: Holley, Cammie, Billy, Jr. and Tommy.

THE MAN

Peter was making a name for himself and never wanted to be known as the boss’ son. His father, Billy, knew all about the expectations for anyone trying to follow his lead. Pete Axthelm said of Peter, “He had a vibrant presence. There was room in his broad spirit for all sorts of enjoyable facets.”

Peter paid his dues; he insisted on it.

When Peter passed away Stanley Dancer said, “This should have been the greatest beginning not the summation. This memorial [a wing built at the Hall of Fame honoring Peter’s memory] is a memorial to all that is good in harness racing.” (Three hundred turned out in June 1980 for the dedication).

Axthelm summed up the four reasons for Peter’s success, “He had keen intelligence, good reflexes, built-in horsemanship, and a total obsession with the sport.”

THE MEMORIAL RACE(S)

Nobody else in harness history can say the following: They had two races named for them, one on each gait, and both valued at over $500G.

From 1981-84 Roosevelt Raceway had a Peter Haughton Memorial for freshman pacers that carried pots of $512,000, $510,400, $559,800, and $611,800, respectively.

In 1981, The Meadowlands held the Peter Haughton Memorial Trot in three divisions and his brother Tommy won one with Triplemint. From 1982 on, the race became the richest 2YOCT anywhere, actually reaching $1 million in 1984 and 1985. Thirteen times the race surpassed a half million dollars.

HIS LEGACY

His life was cut short at 25. Was he “The Chosen One?” In many ways, yes. But you then have to live up to that. He more than accomplished that.

At Peter’s funeral, Axthelm summed it up best, “Peter has a place in our consciousness, our memory, and our richly-won respect.”

THE JIM DOHERTY MEMORIAL

The companion event takes place two weeks to the day of what would have been Doherty’s 84th birthday.

Standout winners include Delmegan (1980), Winky’s Gill (1982), Davidia Hanover (1984), Britelite Lobell (1985), Peace Corps (1988), CR Kay Suzie (1994), Spellbound Hanover (2000), Shake It Cerry (2013), and Mission Brief (2014).

Doherty’s career saw him with a pair of truly outstanding trotters, No Nonsense Woman and $3 million earner Fools Goal.

Doherty also campaigned the only female to win 16 races in a single Meadowlands meet, Green With Envy in 1984.

He entered the Hall of Fame in 2002 alongside Berndt Lindstedt and Bob McIntosh.

ETCETERA

Guess who won the very first Merrie Annabelle in 1977 at The Meadowlands with a filly named Rosemary? You guessed it, Peter Haughton.