Comprehensive Info for Buyers
Breed Information
View 1788 - 1930 | View 1931 - 1980 | View 1981 - Present
Significant Sires | The American Standardbred | Breed Information
| 1931 - 1960 | 1961 - 1980 | ||
| 1935 | Three-year-old trotter Greyhound (1932-1965) (Guy Abbey-Elizabeth), driven by Sep Palin, wins The Hambletonian. 12-year-old Alma Sheppard becomes the youngest driver of a 2:00 mile with Dean Hanover's 1:581/2 time trial at Lexington, Kentucky. | 1961 | Protective helmets are now mandatory for drivers. |
| 1938 | Billy Direct (Napolean Direct-Gay Forbes) becomes the first 1:55 pacer. | 1965 | Bret Hanover (1962-1992) (Adios-Brenna Hanover), trained and driven by Frank Ervin, wins the Pacing Triple Crown. |
| 1939 | The United States Trotting Association is formed and the Standardbred Horse Sales Company is established. | 1966 | Romeo Hanover (1963-1988) (Dancer Hanover-Romola Hanover) wins the Pacing Triple Crown. |
| 1940 | Parimutuel wagering legislation is passed in New York State. Goshen's Historic Track is the first to use parimutuel machines or "iron men" as they are known. Roosevelt Raceway, in Westbury, NY opens and introduces night parimutuel racing. Purses range from $250 to $500. | 1968 | A pacer, Cardigan Bay (Hal Tryax-Colwyn Bay) becomes the first Standardbred to win $1 million. Nevele Pride (1965-1993) (Star's Pride-Thankful), trained and driven by Stanley Dancer, wins the Trotting Triple Crown. Rum Customer (1965-?) (Poplar Byrd-Custom Maid), trained and driven by William Haughton, wins the Pacing Triple Crown. Wheel discs become mandatory. |
| 1944 | Titan Hanover (1942-1966) (Calumet Chuck-Tisma Hanover) becomes the sport's first 2:00 two-year-old trotter. | 1969 | Lindy's Pride (1966-1997) (Star's Pride-Galena Hanover) wins the Trotting Triple Crown. Nevele Pride becomes the first 1:55 trotter with a 1:54.4 time trial at Indianapolis, IN. |
| 1946 | The first Little Brown Jug pacing stake is raced at the Delaware Fair Grounds, Delaware, OH. The mobile starting gate, developed in 1937 by Stephen G. Phillips, is introduced at Roosevelt Raceway. | 1970 | Most Happy Fella (1967-1983) (Meadow Skipper-Laughing Girl) wins the Pacing Triple Crown. |
| 1947 | Victory Song wins the first Horse of the Year award. | 1971 | Herve Filion is the first driver to win 500 races in a single season with 543 wins. |
| 1951 | The Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame, formerly The Trotting Horse Museum, opens. | 1972 | Super Bowl (1969-1999) (Star's Pride-Pillow Talk) wins the Trotting Triple Crown. |
| 1953 | Delvin Miller (1913-1996) trains Adios Betty to become the first 2:00 two-year-old pacer. | 1974 | Delvin Miller purchases Delmonica Hanover (1969-1996) (Speedy Count-Delicious) for $5,000 at the Harrisburg Sale in 1970. He trains her to win the 1974 Prix d'Amerique. |
| 1955 | Scott Frost (1952-1983) (Hoot Mon-Nora) is the first Trotting Triple Crown winner. Delvin Miller sells stallion Adios (1940-1965) (Hal Dale-Adioo Volo) for $500,000. He goes to Meadow Lands Farm, PA. and becomes the greatest sire of his era. | 1976 | The Meadowlands opens in East Rutherford, NJ. |
| 1957 | The Hambletonian moves from Goshen, NY to DuQuoin, IL. | 1980 | Niatross (1977-1999) (Albatross-Niagara Dream) wins the Pacing Triple Crown and becomes the first 1:50 Standardbred with a 1:49.1 time trial at Lexington, KY. He dies in 1999 the holder of the record for the most $100,000 races won in one year (10). |
| 1959 | Adios Butler (1956-1983) (Adios-Debby Hanover) is the first horse to win the Pacing Triple Crown. The first International Trot, with a purse of $50,000, is held at Roosevelt Raceway. | ||
