Many thanks for posting this great video of two of the best harness racing champions of the 20th century. How good would cardigan Bay have been if he hadnt had that horrific accident in Australa and if he was the same age as Brett Hanover being 4 and Cardy being 10 years. Any horse that can beat the best in the world at an age when most have retired is truly remarkable.
+battleheights Cardigan Bay was at his best in his later years. The fact he did not race as much when he was younger likely was why he was able to continue to compete with top horses into his 12-year old season in 1968 when he became the first horse ever to earn $1 million in a career (and with very few opportunities at a six-figure purse in those days, the purse of this race for example was $65,000).
One must remember ,that CB was a ten year old,he had already had 8 yrs of hard top class racing behind him,Bh was a 4yr near his peak,as for race record Bh had a amazing win record,but in Australia and NZ it was not uncommon for CB to give his opponent up to 72 yds start from a STANDING start,mean most of the time if not all of the time he never had the luxury of going to the front and dictating the pace ,he had to go around the whole field. Maybe he would have won a few more from mobile starts!!!
those were the days. I worked one summer for Harry M Stevens and we had 29 thousand fans. Today? 290 would be a lot. Very sad but racing is not the only night venue for gambling anymore.
The good news is that I can go to my local harness track, walk in 15 minutes before the first race and stand at the rail at the finish line or anywhere in the stands. Sad really
I saw the update and where you made the mistake from (as the video said 1968). Bret Hanover had won the Pacing Triple Crown the preceding summer (1965).
I saw the great Cardigan Bay at Harold Park what a horse
Many thanks for posting this great video of two of the best harness racing champions of the 20th century. How good would cardigan Bay have been if he hadnt had that horrific accident in Australa and if he was the same age as Brett Hanover being 4 and Cardy being 10 years. Any horse that can beat the best in the world at an age when most have retired is truly remarkable.
+battleheights Cardigan Bay was at his best in his later years. The fact he did not race as much when he was younger likely was why he was able to continue to compete with top horses into his 12-year old season in 1968 when he became the first horse ever to earn $1 million in a career (and with very few opportunities at a six-figure purse in those days, the purse of this race for example was $65,000).
One must remember ,that CB was a ten year old,he had already had 8 yrs of hard top class racing behind him,Bh was a 4yr near his peak,as for race record Bh had a amazing win record,but in Australia and NZ it was not uncommon for CB to give his opponent up to 72 yds start from a STANDING start,mean most of the time if not all of the time he never had the luxury of going to the front and dictating the pace ,he had to go around the whole field. Maybe he would have won a few more from mobile starts!!!
those were the days. I worked one summer for Harry M Stevens and we had 29 thousand fans. Today? 290 would be a lot. Very sad but racing is not the only night venue for gambling anymore.
The good news is that I can go to my local harness track, walk in 15 minutes before the first race and stand at the rail at the finish line or anywhere in the stands. Sad really
Stanley out drove Frank Ervin. The next time they met, Bret Hanover went wire to wire and took no prisoners. Two of the greatest pacers ever.
Ive been going to the track for 50 years. This was the first time I ever saw Bret Hanover run.
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the crowd shot at 0:12 doesn't look like Yonkers
only horse to have defeated the three future Hall of Fame horses of that era - Bret Hanover, Overtrick and Meadow Skipper.
This is actually May 20, 1966, NOT 1968.
Thank you, will update..
I saw the update and where you made the mistake from (as the video said 1968). Bret Hanover had won the Pacing Triple Crown the preceding summer (1965).