The Standardbred is distinctly Informal road racing, often Beau, Seabiscuit, Kelso, Assault, Blue North American dating back to the called “Brushing”, was the earliest Larkspur, Exterminator, and even 19th century. Initially, identification form of American harness racing. the immortal Man o’ War carried his with the breed had more to do with Whenever one driver attempted to blood. Yet Messenger’s greatest claim performance than with bloodlines pass another on the road, a contest to fame was as the “Great Sire” of the The Standardbred or the animal’s conformation. The was sure to begin. Horses that were early American Trotter. Messenger’s issue was a matter of speed. Could most successful in brushes were great-grandson Hambletonian 10 the horse meet the performance often matched against one another (1849-1876) was an outstanding by Harold D. Gingerich standards? Therefore over the years, more formally, and organized Standardbred sire whose descendants horses from a variety of breeds harness racing began. By the mid- dominate the breed. have contributed to the genetics 18th century, horses were fitted Hambletonian foaled in Sugar of the modern Standardbred. with harnesses and trotting races Loaf, New York, in 1849. His breeder, Since breeding was done to meet a were held on official Jonas Seely, thinking the horse performance standard, the type and was worthless, sold him to William conformation of the breed is wide- Rysdyk shortly after he was foaled ranging. And yet it is safe to say for a mere $125.00. Although that, what the Thoroughbred is to he never raced, the records of the flat track, the Standardbred “a horse Hambletonian’s sons and is to harness racing. daughters were outstanding. The name Standardbred Today, while pacers and originates from the early was classified as a trotters have lightly development of the breed. different bloodlines, over In John H. Wallace’s ninety percent of all studbook, The American Standardbred if it could Standardbreds can trace Trotting Register (first their bloodlines back to published in 1871), a meet the standard of Rysdyk’s Hambletonian. horse was classified Indiana has the as a Standardbred if it distinction of being the could meet the standard trotting a mile in home of one of the most of trotting a mile in 2:30 famous Standardbreds, minutes. Today many often referred to as the “King Standardbreds are faster 2:30 minutes” of the Pacers”. That horse would than that original standard. be Dan Patch, a pacing gelding Virtually all of the buggy horses in from Oxford, Indiana, who became a the Michiana area, be they pacers or legend in his own time. Born on April trotters, are Standardbreds. 29, 1896, Dan Patch didn’t begin Harness racing has its roots in courses. Its popularity racing until 1900. M. E. Sturgis of the chariot races that were held in increased greatly in the early New York City purchased Dan Patch ancient Greece and Rome, long before 1800’s, when New York and New from his Indiana owner for a record horses were raced with a saddle and England banned thoroughbred setting $20,000. Two years later rider. Chariot racing was, in racing. Harness racing, however, was Marion W. Savage from Minneapolis fact, a part of the Olympic allowed to continue since a race was purchased the horse for the unheard Games over 200 defined as a contest in which two of price of $60,000. years before racing horses competed at top speed, and On September 8, 1906, Dan under saddle was the trot was technically not a horse’s Patch electrified racing fans at the added. fastest gait. The first American Minnesota State Fair. According to trotting record was set in June of the Dan Patch Historical Society’s 1806 when Yankee, a New England website, “Mr. Savage had announced bred gelding, trotted a mile in 2:59 in advance that Dan would try and on the Harlem Lane Course in New give a record breaking performance.” York. When Dan Patch circled the mile In 1788 a gray English track in 1:55, setting a new world thoroughbred named Messenger record, the crowd went wild. That arrived in America. Messenger’s record stood for almost half a bloodlines have arguably impacted century. Patch (1896-1916) never lost American horse racing more than any a race and his earnings from races other sire. Thoroughbreds such as and exhibitions totaled more than a Gallant Fox, Omaha, Equipoise, Sun million dollars.