Nihilator

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Nihilator
Breed
United States Harness Horse of the Year (1985)
Honors
United States Harness Racing Hall of Fame (1995)
Last updated on 2016-02-22

Nihilator (1982–1991) was an American champion

United States Harness Horse of the Year in 1985. The first standardbred to win $3 million, at the time of his retirement he was the leading stakes earning pacer in harness racing history.[1]

Racing career

As a two-year-old in 1984, Nihilator won his first twelve races before finishing second behind Dragon's Lair in the Breeders Crown.[2] His winning streak included a win in the Woodrow Wilson Pace, a race that was the richest run for either the Thoroughbred or Standardbred breed at the time. His winning time of 1:52 4/5 was a world record for a two-year-old pacer.[3] He was the 2-Year Old Colt Pacer of the Year for 1984.

Early in 1985 a 30 percent interest in Nihilator was sold for $5.76m to Almahurst Farm.

The Meadowlands setting world record for the fastest race ever with quarter mile splits of 26 2/5, 53 4/5 and 1:21 2/5[7] before attempting to break the world record of 1:49 1/5 set by his sire Niatross in a time trial in 1980. In his time trial at Springfield he slowed running into a head wind in the last quarter mile running a time of 1:50 4/5.[8]

Nihilator started in the 1985

Little Brown Jug less than a week after winning the James Dancer Memorial at Freehold Raceway. It was his first start on a half mile track. Nihilator took the Jug with heat wins in 1:53 1/5 and 1:52 1/5. On the same day Falcon Seelster won a race recording a half mile track world record mile of 1:51.[9] Nihilator scored an easy win in the Walt Whitman Pace[10] before he ended his racing career with a win in the Breeders Crown at Garden State Park. For 1985 he won 23 of 25 starts and also won the Tattersalls Pace and Bluegrass Stake.[11] In his career Nihilator won 35 of 38 races and $3,225,754.[1] He was the first Standardbred to earn $3 million.[12]

In 1995, Nihilator United States Harness Racing Hall of Fame[13]

Nihilator was humanely destroyed in November 1991 after suffering from Potomac horse fever and laminitis.[14]

References

  1. ^
    New York Times
    , 30 November 1985, Retrieved 21 February 2016
  2. ^ Race Rewind - 1984 Breeders Crown, Standardbred Canada, Retrieved 21 February 2016
  3. New York Times
    , 17 August 1984, Retrieved 21 February 2016
  4. New York Times
    , 1 February 1985, Retrieved 21 February 2016
  5. New York Times
    , 20 July 1985, Retrieved 21 February 2016
  6. ^ Nihilator Shocked, Scratched in Adios, Observer-Reporter, 12 August 1985, Retrieved 21 February 2016
  7. Sun-Sentinel
    , 4 August 1985, Retrieved 22 February 2016
  8. New York Times
    , 30 August 1985, Retrieved 21 February 2016
  9. ^ Little Brown Juggernaut, Sports Illustrated, Retrieved 21 February 2016
  10. ^ Nihilator Posts Easy Win From Second Tier, Los Angeles Times, 13 October 1985, Retrieved 22 February 2016
  11. ^ Nihilator's dam dies at age 33, The Horseman and Fair World, Retrieved 21 February 2016
  12. ^ Nihilator Ends Career With Win, Los Angeles Times, 30 November 1985, Retrieved 21 February 2016
  13. ^ Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame bio for Nihilator Retrieved November 16, 2016
  14. ^ Pacing Legend Nihilator destroyed, Chicago Tribune, 7 November 1991, Retrieved 21 February 2016
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