Niatross
| Niatross | |
|---|---|
| Breed | Standardbred |
| Sire | Albatross (US) |
| Grandsire | Meadow Skipper (US) |
| Dam | Niagara Dream (US) |
| Damsire | Bye Bye Byrd (US) |
| Sex | Stallion |
| Foaled | March 30, 1977 |
| Died | June 7, 1999 |
| Country | United States |
| Color | Bay |
| Breeder | Mrs. Elsie Berger (US) |
| Owner |
|
| Trainer | Clint Galbraith (US) |
| Record | 39:37-0-0 |
| Earnings | US$2,019,213 |
| Major wins | |
| Bluegrass Stakes (1979) Woodrow Wilson Pace (1979) American Pacing Classic (1980) Prix d'Été (1980) Meadowlands Pace (1980) James Dancer Memorial (1980) Battle Of The Brandywine (1980) Oliver Wendell Holmes Pace (1980) Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Pacers | |
| Honors | |
| |
| Last updated on 2016-01-23 | |
Niatross (1977–1999) was an American champion
Background
The son of Albatross out of the mare Niagara Dream, Niatross was foaled on March 30, 1977. He was trained and driven by co-owner Clint Galbraith.
Racing career
In September 1979, after Niatross won his first six races, a half interest in him was sold to Stockbroker
In 1980, Niatross won The Meadowlands Pace, which was the first million dollar race in either standardbred or thoroughbred racing history.[3] He also won the
Early in the 1980 season Niatross won the Cane Pace before racing at the Saratoga Standardbred track in Saratoga, NY, where he spooked and fell over the inside hubrail and was defeated for the first time. In an elimination for the Meadowlands Pace, he broke stride, lost valuable ground, regained his gait and, in what Stanley Dancer described as the greatest performance he had seen,[6] recovered and finished 4th, qualifying for the final. In the Meadowlands Pace final, Niatross went right to the front and never looked back, winning by 4 1/2 lengths from Storm Damage in 1.53.1 as the 2-5 favourite.[7] He set a world record for his age and was only 1/5 of a second outside of the overall world record. Trainer Clint Galbraith described the race as being more important than any race in Niatross' career.[8] Niatross went on to beat all of his competition easily in future starts, frequently setting track records, including a new race, track and Canadian record during the prestigious
Time Trial
Until 1980 the fastest mile recorded in harness racing was 1.52.0 by Steady Star. On October 1, 1980 Niatross time trialled at The Red Mile in Lexington, Kentucky with a previous best of 1.52.4 recorded at Syracuse earlier in the year. At The Red Mile Niatross reached the quarter mile in 27.3 almost one second faster than Steady Star's record and the half mile in 54.3 equal with Steady Star. Reaching the three quarter mile in 1.21.4, a 27.2 last quarter resulted in a mile of 1.49.1, the fastest ever by 2 4/5 seconds.[4]
Stud career
By the time Niatross retired to stud at
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, he 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.[12] He was cremated with his remains interred at the Hall Of Fame Museum in Goshen, New York.[8]
Pedigree
| Sire Albatross (USA) 1968 |
Meadow Skipper (USA) 1961 |
Dale Frost | Hal Dale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galloway | |||
| Countess Vivian | Kings Counsel | ||
| Filly Direct | |||
| Voodoo Hanover (USA) 1961 |
Dancer Hanover | Adios | |
| The Old Maid | |||
| Vibrant Hanover | Tar Heel | ||
| Vivian Hanover | |||
| Dam Niagara Dream (USA) 1964 |
Bye Bye Byrd (USA) 1955 |
Poplar Byrd | Volomite |
| Ann Vonian | |||
| Evalina Hanover | Billy Direct | ||
| Adieu | |||
| Scoot (USA) 1946 |
Scamp | Guy Abbey | |
| Sweet Miss | |||
| Doris Hanover | Spencer | ||
| Last Chance |
See also
References
- ^ "Niatross | Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame".
- ^ " A Tough Little Old Lady from Buffalo Fights for Control of the Champion Pacer Niatross", People 20 October 1980, Retrieved 10 January 2016
- ^ History of Meadowlands Harness Racing, Meadowlands Racetrack, www.playmeadowlands.com
- ^ a b "The day Niatross broke the 1:50 barrier", Standardbred Canada Retrieved 10 January 2016
- ^ "Us Harness Racing".
- ^ "Notable Quotes on Niatross and Nihilator". Archived from the original on 2016-08-10. Retrieved 2023-08-04.
- ^ "Niatross hits Milestone" The Hour, July 19, 1980, Retrieved January 11, 2016
- ^ a b c d Niatross, The Horseman and Fair World, 9 June 1999, Horseman Publishing Company
- ^ "A New record for Niatross in Prix d'Ete", Ottawa Citizen, August 25, 1980, Retrieved 10 January 2016
- ^ ""Niatross - the best pacer of all-time?"".
- ^ “Niatross wins Jug in record style” St Petersburg Times from the Associated Press, September 19, 1980, Retrieved January 12, 2016
- ^ "Niatross put to sleep after cancer found", Bangor Daily News, June 8, 1999, Retrieved on 10 January 2016