The Canadian Sportsman
December 11, 2009
Can we say enough about Muscle Hill? No. His 2009 campaign is likely to grow in appreciation as we move through the next decade. Some facts to consider include:
1. No other male horse has ever gone undefeated and banked over $1 million for a season.
2. He won the richest race in the sport in 23 years — the $1,520,333 Hambletonian. The last time a race went for more than that was the 1986 Woodrow Wilson, won by Cullin Hanover, which went for $1,561,500.
3. Muscle Hill (above, Dave Landry photo) will be the first trotter to earn the U.S. horse of the year award with an unblemished season.
4. His 20 straight wins came by over 80 combined lengths — meaning he averaged over four lengths per score.
Speaking of the horse of the year, the yearling price for the 2005 U.S. HOY Rocknroll Hanover was $190,000. That’s almost the same amount spent on the four HOYs since ‘05, combined. Together, Glidemaster ($10,000), Donato Hanover ($90,000), Somebeachsomewhere ($40,000) and Muscle Hill ($55,000) cost $195,000.
Logjam in the Shedrow
There is seemingly a glut in the stallion ranks in 2010. Well Said, Art Official, Mister Big and Shadow Play are all heading to stud. That’s two Meadowlands Pace winners, two Jug winners and the second-richest pacer of all time.
This on the heels of the trotting side adding Muscle Hill and Explosive Matter in 2010. Chocolatier and Glidemaster went to stud in 2006, Donato Hanover’s year was 2007 and in 2008 it was Deweycheatumnhowe. Can anyone ever remember more top horses going to stallion duty in a shorter period of time?
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It’s tough to compare eras, horses and even horsemen. But this one is too good to pass up. Check out the similarities between trainers Steve Elliott and Blair Burgess:
• In Burgess’ first Jug in 1986, he was second with Amity Chef. The same year, Elliott was third with Souffle in his first Jug. Two decades later, Burgess would win his first Jug with Tell All (2007) and Elliott his first with Well Said (2009).
• Burgess won the 1987 Meadowlands Pace with Frugal Gourmet at odds of 6-1. Elliott won the 1987 Woodrow Wilson with Even Odds at odds of 6-1.
• Neither trainer had a division winner in the 1990s.
• Burgess has had two U.S. horses of the year — Real Desire (2002) and Glidemaster (2006). Elliott had 2007 HOY Donato Hanover and has a strong 2009 candidate in Well Said.
• Elliott trained Valley Victory in 1989. Valley Victory won his last 10 and became the top stallion in the trotting world. Burgess trained a grandson of Valley Victory to a Triple Crown — Glidemaster in 2006.
• Burgess has won four million-dollar races (in U.S. funds). Elliott has five to his credit.
• Burgess won the Meadowlands Pace 14 years apart (1987 and 2001); Elliott won a million-dollar race 19 years apart (1987 Woodrow Wilson and the 2006 Meadowlands Pace).
September 18, 2009
What exactly does David Miller (Dave Landry photo) have to do to become a Hall of Famer?
He is the fifth leading money-winning driver in the sport’s history — at $129 million. That’s the highest figure in harness history for any driver not in the Hall.
In addition, his seven $10 million seasons are second only to John Campbell all-time. Miller should have been in a long time ago.
Brian Sears is about $300,000 away from becoming the eighth driver to reach $100 million (in U.S. funds).
It’s interesting to note the first four to hit the nine-figure plateau — John Campbell, Mike Lachance, Ron Pierce and Cat Manzi — all went into the U.S. Hall of Fame with less than $100 million in earnings at the time, but none of the next four drivers on the $100 million list are, yet, in the Hall.
Oh, and Tony Morgan has surpassed $99 million, so sometime soon he’ll be the fifth to hit $100 million and not earn a berth in the Hall of Fame.
Dave Palone, who will be enshrined in 2010, has $76 million to his credit — some $55 million less than David Miller.
No offense to Dave Palone, but it appears they got their Daves in the wrong order.
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