Niatross
Encyclopedia
Niatross was an American
champion standardbred
race horse who many believe was the greatest harness horse of all time.
The son of Albatross
out of the mare Niagara Dream, Niatross was born on March 30, 1977. He was trained and driven by co-owner Clint Galbraith and was unbeaten in 13 starts in his 2-year-old season, winning so impressively that he was named Harness Horse of the Year
.
In 1980, Niatross won The Meadowlands Pace, which at the time, was the first Million dollar race in either standardbred or thoroughbred racing history. Niatross also won the Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Pacers
and in the harness racing
world where records are broken by fifths of a second, Niatross obliterated the world record by three full seconds, setting an astonishing mark of 1:49.1 in a time trial at Lexington, Kentucky
's "Red Mile."
During his racing career, Niatross won 37 of 39 races; in an elimination for the Meadowlands Pace, Niatross broke stride, lost much valuable ground, regained his gait and, what many say was his greatest performance, miraculously recovered and finished 4th qualifying for the final. In the Meadowlands Pace final, Niatross went right to the front and never looked back, winning easily. In his other loss at the Saratoga Standardbred track in Saratoga, NY, he spooked and fell over the inside hubrail (since then, all harness tracks have gone from hubrails to pylons). Fortunately no one was hurt. He recovered from some superficial scrapes and went on to beat all of his competition easily in future starts, frequently setting track records including a new race and track record during the prestigious Prix d'Été at Blue Bonnets racetrack in Montreal, Quebec.
and one, Nihilator who would go on to win Horse of the Year honors.
In 1996, when he was 19 years old, Niatross made a 20-city tour for his fans in Canada
and the United States
. In 1997, Niatross was inducted as a member of the Living Horse Hall of Fame. In May 1999 he took ill and was transported to the University of Pennsylvania
's New Bolton Center where he was diagnosed with a large cancerous mass in his abdomen. On June 7, 1999, Niatross was humanely
euthanized.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
champion 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...
race horse who many believe was the greatest harness horse of all time.
The son of Albatross
Albatross (horse)
Albatross was a bay Standardbred horse by Meadow Skipper. He was voted Harness Horse of the Year in 1971 and 1972. Albatross won 59 of 71 starts, including the Cane Pace and Messenger Stakes in 1971, earned $1,201,477. It was, however, as a sire that he really made his mark...
out of the mare Niagara Dream, Niatross was born on March 30, 1977. He was trained and driven by co-owner Clint Galbraith and was unbeaten in 13 starts in his 2-year-old season, winning so impressively that he was named 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....
.
World records
In September 1979, after 6 wins in a row to start his career, half interest in Niatross was sold to Stockbroker Lou Guida and the Niatross syndicate for 2.5 million in cash.In 1980, Niatross won The Meadowlands Pace, which at the time, was the first Million dollar race in either standardbred or thoroughbred racing history. Niatross also won the Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Pacers
Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Pacers
The Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Pacers consists of the following horse races:#Cane Pace, held at Freehold Raceway in Freehold, New Jersey#Little Brown Jug, held at the Delaware County Fair in Delaware, Ohio...
and in the harness racing
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:...
world where records are broken by fifths of a second, Niatross obliterated the world record by three full seconds, setting an astonishing mark of 1:49.1 in a time trial at 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...
's "Red Mile."
During his racing career, Niatross won 37 of 39 races; in an elimination for the Meadowlands Pace, Niatross broke stride, lost much valuable ground, regained his gait and, what many say was his greatest performance, miraculously recovered and finished 4th qualifying for the final. In the Meadowlands Pace final, Niatross went right to the front and never looked back, winning easily. In his other loss at the Saratoga Standardbred track in Saratoga, NY, he spooked and fell over the inside hubrail (since then, all harness tracks have gone from hubrails to pylons). Fortunately no one was hurt. He recovered from some superficial scrapes and went on to beat all of his competition easily in future starts, frequently setting track records including a new race and track record during the prestigious Prix d'Été at Blue Bonnets racetrack in Montreal, Quebec.
Stud career
By the time Niatross retired to stud at Castleton Farm in 1981, he had earned more prize money than any standardbred horse in history. He had been named Harness Horse of the Year in 1979 and 1980, the New York Post Athlete of the Year in 1980, and Harness Horse of the Decade for the 1980s. In stud, he commanded a top price for his services which proved worthwhile with great offspring winning the Little Brown JugLittle Brown Jug (horse racing)
The Little Brown Jug is a harness race for three-year-old pacing standardbreds hosted by the Delaware County Agricultural Society since 1946 at the County Fairgrounds in Delaware, Ohio. The race takes place every year on the third Thursday after Labor Day. Along with the Hambletonian, a race for...
and one, Nihilator who would go on to win Horse of the Year honors.
In 1996, when he was 19 years old, Niatross made a 20-city tour for his fans in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. In 1997, Niatross was inducted as a member of the Living Horse Hall of Fame. In May 1999 he took ill and was transported to the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
's New Bolton Center where he was diagnosed with a large cancerous mass in his abdomen. On June 7, 1999, Niatross was humanely
euthanized.