Nevele Pride
Encyclopedia
Nevele Pride was an American
standardbred
harness racehorse
who set world records as fastest trotter on multiple occasions. Owned by Stanley Dancer
, Nevil Pride won 57 races and was honored as Harness Horse of the Year
in three consecutive years. The horse earned more than $870,000 during his racing career.
Nevele Pride was the son of Star's Pride and Thankful. Dancer first saw Nevele Pride in 1966 on a farm in Pennsylvania when he was as a yearling
. He bought the horse for $20,000. The horse was co-owned by Nevele Acres and Louis Resnick of Ellenville, New York
. Nevele Pride enjoyed hot dogs, beer and cigarettes, which he would eat and not smoke.
Having already won that year's Hambletonian and the Yonkers Futurity, on October 4, 1968, Nevele Pride won both heats of the Kentucky Futurity
in identical times of 1:57 in the one-mile distance to win the Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Trotters
, With Snow Speed in second and Larengo in third in both heats. The times set a world record by a trotter for two heats by a horse of any age.
Nevele Pride won the $88,000 Realization Trot at Roosevelt Raceway
on August 2, 1969 by five lengths, setting a world record in the 1-1/16 mile distance of 2:07.4, breaking the previous record of 2:08:6 set on the same track in 1966 by Perfect Freight. Dancer led Nevele Dancer from the gate in the six-horse field, paying $2.40 to win to the many in the crowd of nearly 40,000 fans.
Using three thoroughbred horses to maintain his pace, Dancer broke the record for the mile distance by a harness horse, riding the track at the Indiana State Fairgrounds on August 31, 1969 in a time of 1:54-4/5, in front of a crowd of 12,000. The three prompters were ridden by Del Miller, Billy Haughton
and Vernon Dancer. The time broke the record of 1:55¼ held by Greyhound
and set in a time trial at The Red Mile in Lexington, Kentucky
on September 29, 1938.
Nevele Pride retired in ceremonies held on October 17, 1969 at Monticello Raceway
, the site of his 57th win in 67 starts when he won by 6½ lengths on September 27. His $871,738 in earnings placed him third in harness racing history behind the French horse Roquepine with $956, 161 and Su Mac Lad
's $885,095. Norman S. Woolworth of New Canaan, Connecticut
led a 20-person syndicate that purchased the rights to the horse for $3 million, a record for a standardbred stallion. After his retirement, Nevele Pride was shipped to Stoner Creek Stud
in Paris, Kentucky
.
His foal Nevele Thunder was syndicated for a record $1.5 million in 1975, setting a record for a 2-year old harness horse. The horse was purchased by Nevele Holiday Stable, a group led by Stanley Dancer. The horse had won 18 of 21 races by the time of his purchase.
Nevele Pride died on February 19, 1993 in Lexington, KY and was laid to rest at Stoner Creek Stud, alongside the great pacing sire Meadow Skipper and the Thoroughbred champion Count Fleet.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
standardbred
Standardbred horse
Standardbreds are a breed of horse best known for their ability to race in harness at a trot or pace instead of under saddle at a gallop. Developed in North America, the breed is now recognized worldwide for its harness racing ability...
harness racehorse
Harness racing
Harness racing is a form of horse racing in which the horses race at a specific gait . They usually pull a two-wheeled cart called a sulky, although racing under saddle is also conducted in Europe.-Breeds:...
who set world records as fastest trotter on multiple occasions. Owned by Stanley Dancer
Stanley Dancer
Stanley Franklin Dancer was an American harness racing driver and trainer. He was the only horsemen to drive and train three Triple Crowns in horse racing. In total, he drove 23 Triple Crown winners. He was the first trainer to campaign a horse to $1 million in a career, Cardigan Bay in 1968 and...
, Nevil Pride won 57 races and was honored as Harness Horse of the Year
Harness Horse of the Year
The Harness Horse of the Year is an honor recognizing the top harness racing horse in the United States. The award is selected by the United States Trotting Association and the United States Harness Writers Association....
in three consecutive years. The horse earned more than $870,000 during his racing career.
Nevele Pride was the son of Star's Pride and Thankful. Dancer first saw Nevele Pride in 1966 on a farm in Pennsylvania when he was as a yearling
Yearling (horse)
A yearling is a young horse of either sex that is between one and two years old. Yearlings are comparable in development to a very early adolescent, they are not fully mature physically, and while they may be in the earliest stages of sexual maturity, they are considered too young to be breeding...
. He bought the horse for $20,000. The horse was co-owned by Nevele Acres and Louis Resnick of Ellenville, New York
Ellenville, New York
Ellenville is a village in Ulster County, New York, United States. The population was 4,135 at the 2010 census. The postal ZIP code is 12428. The telephone exchange is predominantly 647 and an overlaid 210 in the 845 area code.- Geography :...
. Nevele Pride enjoyed hot dogs, beer and cigarettes, which he would eat and not smoke.
Having already won that year's Hambletonian and the Yonkers Futurity, on October 4, 1968, Nevele Pride won both heats of the Kentucky Futurity
Kentucky Futurity
The Kentucky Futurity is a stakes race for three-year-old trotters, held annually at The Red Mile in Lexington, Kentucky since 1893. It is part of the Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Trotters....
in identical times of 1:57 in the one-mile distance to win the Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Trotters
Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Trotters
The Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Trotters consists of the following horse races:*Hambletonian, held at the Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, New Jersey*Yonkers Trot, held at Yonkers Raceway in Yonkers, New York...
, With Snow Speed in second and Larengo in third in both heats. The times set a world record by a trotter for two heats by a horse of any age.
Nevele Pride won the $88,000 Realization Trot at Roosevelt Raceway
Roosevelt Raceway
The Roosevelt Raceway motor sports race track was a Vanderbilt Cup / GP venue on New York's Long Island for the United States Grand Prix in 1936 and 1937. The original raceway was twisty and bumpy, making it not quite suited to the big-bore big-BHP racecars of the day. The 1937 layout was faster,...
on August 2, 1969 by five lengths, setting a world record in the 1-1/16 mile distance of 2:07.4, breaking the previous record of 2:08:6 set on the same track in 1966 by Perfect Freight. Dancer led Nevele Dancer from the gate in the six-horse field, paying $2.40 to win to the many in the crowd of nearly 40,000 fans.
Using three thoroughbred horses to maintain his pace, Dancer broke the record for the mile distance by a harness horse, riding the track at the Indiana State Fairgrounds on August 31, 1969 in a time of 1:54-4/5, in front of a crowd of 12,000. The three prompters were ridden by Del Miller, Billy Haughton
Billy Haughton
Billy Haughton, or William R. Haughton was an American harness driver and trainer, and one of the most-winning drivers ever. He was one of only three drivers to win the Hambletonian four times, the only one to win the Little Brown Jug five times, and the only one to win the Messenger Stakes seven...
and Vernon Dancer. The time broke the record of 1:55¼ held by Greyhound
Greyhound (horse)
Greyhound was a grey Standardbred gelding by Guy Abbey out of Elizabeth by Peter the Great. Born in 1932, Greyhound was the outstanding trotting horse of his day and arguably the most outstanding in the history of the sport...
and set in a time trial at The Red Mile in Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
on September 29, 1938.
Nevele Pride retired in ceremonies held on October 17, 1969 at Monticello Raceway
Monticello Raceway
Monticello Gaming and Raceway is a harness racing track, and home to a relatively new racino, in Monticello, Sullivan County, New York. It is off Exit 104 of Route 17 , on New York State Route 17B....
, the site of his 57th win in 67 starts when he won by 6½ lengths on September 27. His $871,738 in earnings placed him third in harness racing history behind the French horse Roquepine with $956, 161 and Su Mac Lad
Su Mac Lad
Su Mac Lad was an American gelding trotter. He reached the peak of his racing career in the 1960s. In 1962, he was harness racing's career money leader and named Harness Horse of the Year...
's $885,095. Norman S. Woolworth of New Canaan, Connecticut
New Canaan, Connecticut
New Canaan is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States, northeast of Stamford, on the Fivemile River. The population was 19,738 according to the 2010 census.The town is one of the most affluent communities in the United States...
led a 20-person syndicate that purchased the rights to the horse for $3 million, a record for a standardbred stallion. After his retirement, Nevele Pride was shipped to Stoner Creek Stud
Stoner Creek Stud
Stoner Creek Stud was an American Thoroughbred horse breeding farm near Paris, Kentucky owned by Chicago businessman John D. Hertz and his wife, Fannie Kesner Hertz .In his early business years in Chicago, John Hertz owned a farm near Cary, Illinois...
in Paris, Kentucky
Paris, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,183 people, 3,857 households, and 2,487 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 4,222 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 84.23% White, 12.71% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.16%...
.
His foal Nevele Thunder was syndicated for a record $1.5 million in 1975, setting a record for a 2-year old harness horse. The horse was purchased by Nevele Holiday Stable, a group led by Stanley Dancer. The horse had won 18 of 21 races by the time of his purchase.
Nevele Pride died on February 19, 1993 in Lexington, KY and was laid to rest at Stoner Creek Stud, alongside the great pacing sire Meadow Skipper and the Thoroughbred champion Count Fleet.