Classic New York Racing Part Two featuring Tarport Hap and Silk Stockings

[The Thorn]

NYSS Roosevelt 1974          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2Afet9Sfyc&t=28s

NYSS Roosevelt 1975          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgTSml4_4Zc

Monticello OTB Classic       https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Lkcg9oqezM

1976 US Pacing Championship  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIie9ac0b58

1976 Sportsman's Grand Prix  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uw7I5aGXJK0
This race not NY has all the 70s stars of the day inc mares Hap and HWC

[Meadow Ford]

In the Sp Park race it looked like all the drivers were sitting up close to their horse. Unlike today it looked like all the drivers could reach up and touch their horse's butt.
The winner Tarport Hap was at the rail and last just before the half. If the horses were all hooked way out like today, and the drivers leaning way back, could she still have circled and won?
She would have been farther back at the half.
The race would have been faster, but could she have made up the added distance?
Don't know.
Just food for thought.

[Meadow Ford]

Tarport Hap
Three Drivers
Three Wins
How could she soon die on the track?

[The Thorn]

I hated the Meadowlands for years after that happened, between that and Billy H going down at Yonkers put me off harness a bit. 

Here's a question that people that view this section might have an answer to.  I don't even know any.  What PACING mares have beaten colts in big races (or even any ) since Tarport Hap won those two races ?  I can't even remember any mares racing against males since then but I did take quite a few years off so my knowledge between 1993 and 2013 is limited.  Did any super mares like a Rainbow Blue ever compete against males?

[Generation XYZ]

Not sure about Pacing mares but a trotting mare CR Kay Suzie beat colst 6 out of 8 times, in 1995.

[The Thorn]

Tons of female trotters qualify.   PACERS only please.

[mikeyo]

Fan Hanover won the Little Brown Jug.

[The Thorn]

 

[Generation XYZ]

Fan Hanover won the Little Brown Jug.

Yeah that was a good one. Tough mare.

[Meadow Ford]

Fan Hanover won the Little Brown Jug.

Not to pour cold water,
but I think the Fan Hanover Jug is the one were the front half of the field crashed at the 1/4 pole. I think only four finished.

[The Thorn]

Yes that happened but she did win her division tying a world record for fillies on a half so she beat the boys fair and square in that one.  Here's a link that has both heats

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjgLFnSKIug

It's really hard to find fillies and mares on the top level competing against colts and horses on the pacing side nowadays .. look how far back we are going here. 

[Meadow Ford]

How about way back to when Countess Adios won The Messenger ?
And then raced on the trot the next year.

[The Thorn]

1960.   She won the Cane too.  Again we have to go back to yesteryear. 

I bet Sylvia Hanover could go against 98% of the colts today and it's a pretty good year.  She's huge and covers a ton of ground when she wants to.

[Meadow Ford]

How about Belle Acton a graduate of The Green Wave?
I bet she beat the boys a few times.

[The Thorn]

Kind of funny we start this thread just a week or so ago and nobody can name a recent pacing mare that beat boys in a big race in 40 years. 

A day or two ago Encipher a Captain Treacherous 4 yr old mare won the richest harness race in history beating all the top 4 yr old horses down under. 

Timing is everything I guess although down under a lot of mares have beaten boys in big races.  Amazing Dream N did it a few times when she was there.