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General Category => Harness Racing => Topic started by: albitchross on October 02, 2023, 02:30:45 PM

Title: Niatross 1:49.1 - 43 yrs ago
Post by: albitchross on October 02, 2023, 02:30:45 PM
October 1, 1980

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlZCF-g3__I
Title: Re: Niatross 1:49.1 - 43 yrs ago
Post by: MIKE CAMPBELL on October 02, 2023, 02:55:04 PM
The most amazing feat in the history of Harness Racing. For him to go sub 1:50 in 1980 was incredible. You have to understand that if you were alive and following harness racing back then, breaking 2 minutes was still respectable. That accomplishment in todays racing would be similar to a horse going in 1:42.
Title: Re: Niatross 1:49.1 - 43 yrs ago
Post by: Brown jug on October 02, 2023, 02:58:20 PM
thanks for posting
having watched that i would like to see more time trials in todays racing
 is it not the true test of a horses speed and stamina, having to cut all fractions on their own and not having it set up by others and just pacing the last 1/4
with all due to respect to recent 3 yr olds, please do not compare them to this animal, its not even close
Title: Re: Niatross 1:49.1 - 43 yrs ago
Post by: MIKE CAMPBELL on October 02, 2023, 02:59:59 PM
thanks for posting
having watched that i would like to see more time trials in todays racing
 is it not the true test of a horses speed and stamina, having to cut all fractions on their own and not having it set up by others and just pacing the last 1/4
with all due to respect to recent 3 yr olds, please do not compare them to this animal, its not even close
Well said. Niatross was our Secretariat.
Title: Re: Niatross 1:49.1 - 43 yrs ago
Post by: TimTimTimbo on October 02, 2023, 03:13:36 PM
The most amazing feat in the history of Harness Racing. For him to go sub 1:50 in 1980 was incredible. You have to understand that if you were alive and following harness racing back then, breaking 2 minutes was still respectable. That accomplishment in todays racing would be similar to a horse going in 1:42.

Yep, pretty amazing
Title: Re: Niatross 1:49.1 - 43 yrs ago
Post by: Fuguzzi on October 02, 2023, 03:17:05 PM
The most amazing feat in the history of Harness Racing. For him to go sub 1:50 in 1980 was incredible. You have to understand that if you were alive and following harness racing back then, breaking 2 minutes was still respectable. That accomplishment in todays racing would be similar to a horse going in 1:42.
I was very much aware of Niatross back then. I knew Billy and Marie fairly well. Anyway, i completely agree with the thrust of your post. I remember they announced it in every paddock in the nation when it happened or later that evening actually. I was racing in NE that night and a roar rose up in the paddock. It was like we landed on the moon. not exactly 1.42 because I don't think we will ever live to see a Standardbred pacer crack 1.45 for a mile. At least i wont.
Title: Re: Niatross 1:49.1 - 43 yrs ago
Post by: Fuguzzi on October 02, 2023, 03:23:27 PM
Dan Patch 1.55 free legged in 1906! His race bike had to be redesigned twice because he paddled so wide so fast he kept striking it.
MIndboggling. It is said he retired only because no one would race him. Held 14 World Records and although, it may be a myth, it is said he never broke.

The speed he possessed on the surfaces he raced with the equipment he wore is impossible to truly assess. if you adjust only 10 seconds for all factors, it puts you at 1.45 - crazy!
Title: Re: Niatross 1:49.1 - 43 yrs ago
Post by: Fuguzzi on October 02, 2023, 03:29:01 PM
Two other points, I have made before and am willing to take a spanking on them if need be -

1  Imagine if Niatross had a real trainer / driver
2  I firmly believe Nihilator could have beaten his Daddy in a race. Consistently, maybe not, but at least once.
Title: Re: Niatross 1:49.1 - 43 yrs ago
Post by: MIKE CAMPBELL on October 02, 2023, 04:08:12 PM
Two other points, I have made before and am willing to take a spanking on them if need be -

1  Imagine if Niatross had a real trainer / driver
2  I firmly believe Nihilator could have beaten his Daddy in a race. Consistently, maybe not, but at least once.
He definitely would have beaten him the day he went over the rail at Saratoga.
Title: Re: Niatross 1:49.1 - 43 yrs ago
Post by: MIKE CAMPBELL on October 02, 2023, 04:18:34 PM
Dan Patch 1.55 free legged in 1906! His race bike had to be redesigned twice because he paddled so wide so fast he kept striking it.
MIndboggling. It is said he retired only because no one would race him. Held 14 World Records and although, it may be a myth, it is said he never broke.

The speed he possessed on the surfaces he raced with the equipment he wore is impossible to truly assess. if you adjust only 10 seconds for all factors, it puts you at 1.45 - crazy!
He was definietly way ahead of his time. If you compare his looks to other horses of that era, you will notice he is much more refined. He looks like a standardbred from 30 years ago and not 115.

Dan Patch movie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9E0zn-EAVQQ
Title: Re: Niatross 1:49.1 - 43 yrs ago
Post by: Fuguzzi on October 02, 2023, 04:48:39 PM
He was definietly way ahead of his time. If you compare his looks to other horses of that era, you will notice he is much more refined. He looks like a standardbred from 30 years ago and not 115.

Dan Patch movie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9E0zn-EAVQQ
That's right and a fantastic point. A great point! He certainly did. I just looked at 2 pics Hell,he looks better than most thoroughbreds of his day. again, an excellent observation on your part! tmbz1 tmbz1 tmbz1
Title: Re: Niatross 1:49.1 - 43 yrs ago
Post by: Stan durbread on October 02, 2023, 05:37:33 PM
I was very much aware of Niatross back then. I knew Billy and Marie fairly well. Anyway, i completely agree with the thrust of your post. I remember they announced it in every paddock in the nation when it happened or later that evening actually. I was racing in NE that night and a roar rose up in the paddock. It was like we landed on the moon. not exactly 1.42 because I don't think we will ever live to see a Standardbred pacer crack 1.45 for a mile. At least i wont.

A 45 mile is just around the corner. Not sure it will happen next weekend with the weather and only 2 real contenders. If only the powers that be would move the $$ from 2 to 4 it would happen quicker. But the breeders want people to replace horses every year or 2 not 3-4.
Title: Re: Niatross 1:49.1 - 43 yrs ago
Post by: MIKE CAMPBELL on October 02, 2023, 05:48:12 PM
A 45 mile is just around the corner. Not sure it will happen next weekend with the weather and only 2 real contenders. If only the powers that be would move the $$ from 2 to 4 it would happen quicker. But the breeders want people to replace horses every year or 2 not 3-4.
I think Bulldog would have broken 1:45 if he was prompted.
Title: Re: Niatross 1:49.1 - 43 yrs ago
Post by: Fuguzzi on October 02, 2023, 06:53:34 PM
Believe me I wanna see 44 and something. just seems like the sustained fractions are almost, stress that, almost unattainable. We're talking 4 consecutive ( lower ) 26 and a pieces. That would make my heart stop!
Title: Re: Niatross 1:49.1 - 43 yrs ago
Post by: Bernie Madoff on October 02, 2023, 08:13:57 PM
Want to see a REAL race horse?



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F54-rnGMUFw
Title: Re: Niatross 1:49.1 - 43 yrs ago
Post by: MIKE CAMPBELL on October 02, 2023, 08:36:47 PM
Want to see a REAL race horse?



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F54-rnGMUFw
Yes sir. What a nice gaited horse he was. If they didn't geld him, we might be seeing a bunch of grey trotters today.
Title: Re: Niatross 1:49.1 - 43 yrs ago
Post by: rainman2 on October 02, 2023, 10:48:42 PM
Believe me I wanna see 44 and something. just seems like the sustained fractions are almost, stress that, almost unattainable. We're talking 4 consecutive ( lower ) 26 and a pieces. That would make my heart stop!

Can they redo the Colonial Downs and try there?  More straightaway and only 1 turn to go through!

Title: Re: Niatross 1:49.1 - 43 yrs ago
Post by: Fuguzzi on October 03, 2023, 12:19:50 AM
Can they redo the Colonial Downs and try there?  More straightaway and only 1 turn to go through!
I was thinking Bonneville salt flats
Title: Re: Niatross 1:49.1 - 43 yrs ago
Post by: Generation XYZ on October 03, 2023, 08:40:39 AM
Can they redo the Colonial Downs and try there?  More straightaway and only 1 turn to go through!

Ahhhhhh Colonial Downs was redone 4 years ago, and is an operating casino.  TB's only now.
Title: Re: Niatross 1:49.1 - 43 yrs ago
Post by: jupiter on October 03, 2023, 10:14:10 AM
I know one thing, Clint trained and drove him, who knows someone else had him he might have been a 15 claimer. Remember this wasn't Clints only good horse in his life. 
Title: Re: Niatross 1:49.1 - 43 yrs ago
Post by: Fuguzzi on October 03, 2023, 10:39:21 AM
I know one thing, Clint trained and drove him, who knows someone else had him he might have been a 15 claimer. Remember this wasn't Clints only good horse in his life.
Clint sucked   he had one other good horse - Call For Rain   Always had run of the mill help. Very easy to improve off of. In those days there were 3 barns you could pick up cast off 3 year olds privately or in November at Harrisburg. Haughton, Billy Popfinger and Clint, but for vastly different reasons. For Clint, it was because he sucked. Upstate NYSS guy who had a meteor and gift from God fall into his lap called Niatross.  Cmon jupitetr, I know u are a horseman and go way back like me.  You know about Clint then
Title: Re: Niatross 1:49.1 - 43 yrs ago
Post by: Fuguzzi on October 03, 2023, 10:48:42 AM
One more Clint anecdote - mid 80s and i am down a groom. have 14 head at the time at YR. anyway, I am down a groom and i know a girl named Vicki who was working for Clint for some time needed a job. I hire her and giver 2 to rub. Lower to mid level claimers. No problems day 1. Btw, she tells me she doesn't like to jug horses. I say no problem, I do most of the riding anyway. I come in the next morning and she is there and in the process of shaving the knees on one of her horses completely and a quarter way down the cannon bone. I ask her who told her to do this. She says , "Clint does this with all of them before he paints them." I fired her on the spot. And I am not typically that type of person.
Title: Re: Niatross 1:49.1 - 43 yrs ago
Post by: Fuguzzi on October 03, 2023, 11:31:28 AM
Meant to say she didn't like to JOG horses, not JUG  LOLOL   ironic typo
Title: Re: Niatross 1:49.1 - 43 yrs ago
Post by: Mazola on October 03, 2023, 11:49:29 AM
Clint sucked   he had one other good horse - Call For Rain   Always had run of the mill help. Very easy to improve off of. In those days there were 3 barns you could pick up cast off 3 year olds privately or in November at Harrisburg. Haughton, Billy Popfinger and Clint, but for vastly different reasons. For Clint, it was because he sucked. Upstate NYSS guy who had a meteor and gift from God fall into his lap called Niatross.  Cmon jupitetr, I know u are a horseman and go way back like me.  You know about Clint then

Oh Clint only had two good ones. Most never have any. Must have been doing something right.
Title: Re: Niatross 1:49.1 - 43 yrs ago
Post by: Fuguzzi on October 03, 2023, 12:44:10 PM
Niatross was the penultimate natural. How many babies do ya think Clint got his hands on over his career? At least a 1000. Go ask horseman about how easy it was to improve on Clint. His whole barn smelled like 4/12.  He did a nice job with Call for rain. Can't take that away. Had the pick of Niatross's litter with all those top mares from Dreamaire and Peretti and went no where with them as we all did. Niatross, not with standing two monsters was a very surprising bust as a sire as you know. A few even ended up with me and I was not a colt guy. They were, using a term, from my day - "ratty".
Title: Re: Niatross 1:49.1 - 43 yrs ago
Post by: Fuguzzi on October 03, 2023, 12:55:32 PM
Late 80s, Niatross colts were going for 12 - 15k at the old Glory sale   ngc3
Title: Re: Niatross 1:49.1 - 43 yrs ago
Post by: jupiter on October 03, 2023, 04:11:19 PM
Check your facts, Niatross and Call For Rain were very exceptonal. Before they came along he had a pretty nice stable, long before Barbra and the disaster THEY created. Helen Brook K was pretty good  in her day, then ya look at the Niagara horses, Bullett, Byrd, Ace and more including Niatross's dam (2:10 68 or 69)It's a shame they got so far in over their head. Should have banked the Niatross money and kept a nice small stable, stayed away from Rodney farms. To many horses no help and no $ =disaster
Title: Re: Niatross 1:49.1 - 43 yrs ago
Post by: MIKE CAMPBELL on October 03, 2023, 04:27:23 PM
I think many of you are selling Clint short. Was he Haughton or Dancer? No, few were but he drove over 3000 winners that earned over 19 million, many from his own barn.
Title: Re: Niatross 1:49.1 - 43 yrs ago
Post by: Fuguzzi on October 03, 2023, 04:36:49 PM
Check your facts, Niatross and Call For Rain were very exceptonal. Before they came along he had a pretty nice stable, long before Barbra and the disaster THEY created. Helen Brook K was pretty good  in her day, then ya look at the Niagara horses, Bullett, Byrd, Ace and more including Niatross's dam (2:10 68 or 69)It's a shame they got so far in over their head. Should have banked the Niatross money and kept a nice small stable, stayed away from Rodney farms. To many horses no help and no $ =disaster
I knew a lawyer who counseled Elsie Berger when LPG, Morty Finder and yes, Clint teamed up after the syndication to try and screw her. left a sour taste. Karma got revenge somewhat when he sucked as a sire.
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