Nihilator
BreedStandardbred
SireNiatross (US)
GrandsireAlbatross (US)
DamMargie's Melody
DamsireBret Hanover
SexStallion
Foaled1982
DiedNovember 1991
CountryUnited States
ColorBay
OwnerWall Street Stable
TrainerBilly Haughton
Record38:35-1-1
EarningsUS$3,225,754
Major wins
Woodrow Wilson Pace (1984)
Little Brown Jug (1985)
Meadowlands Pace (1985)
James Dancer Memorial (1985)
Tattersalls Pace (1985)
Walt Whitman Pace (1985)
Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old Colt/Gelding Pace (1985)
Awards
2 Year Old Colt Pacer of the Year (1984)
3 Year Old Colt Pacer of the Year (1985)
United States Pacer of the Year (1985)
United States Harness Horse of the Year (1985)
Honors
United States Harness Racing Hall of Fame (1995)
Last updated on 2016-02-22

Nihilator (1982–1991) was an American champion Standardbred racehorse and was the United States Harness Horse of the Year in 1985. The first standardbred to win $3 million, at the time of his retirement he was the leading stakes earning pacer in harness racing history.[1]

Racing career

As a two-year-old in 1984, Nihilator won his first twelve races before finishing second behind Dragon's Lair in the Breeders Crown.[2] His winning streak included a win in the Woodrow Wilson Pace, a race that was the richest run for either the Thoroughbred or Standardbred breed at the time. His winning time of 1:52 4/5 was a world record for a two-year-old pacer.[3] He was the 2-Year Old Colt Pacer of the Year for 1984.

Early in 1985 a 30 percent interest in Nihilator was sold for $5.76m to Almahurst Farm.[4] He won the 1985 Meadowlands Pace by 7 1/4 lengths equalling the world record for a pacer of any age with a time of 1:50 3/5. The last half mile was covered in 54 seconds. It was Nihilator's 18th win from 19 races.[5] In the Adios Pace at The Meadows Nihilator was surprisingly beaten in the first heat by Marauder, won the second heat and was scratched from the race-off.[6] Nihilator had bettered his Meadowlands Pace winning time when he won a race in 1:49 3/5 at The Meadowlands setting world record for the fastest race ever with quarter mile splits of 26 2/5, 53 4/5 and 1:21 2/5[7] before attempting to break the world record of 1:49 1/5 set by his sire Niatross in a time trial in 1980. In his time trial at Springfield he slowed running into a head wind in the last quarter mile running a time of 1:50 4/5.[8]

Nihilator started in the 1985 Little Brown Jug less than a week after winning the James Dancer Memorial at Freehold Raceway. It was his first start on a half mile track. Nihilator took the Jug with heat wins in 1:53 1/5 and 1:52 1/5. On the same day Falcon Seelster won a race recording a half mile track world record mile of 1:51.[9] Nihilator scored an easy win in the Walt Whitman Pace[10] before he ended his racing career with a win in the Breeders Crown at Garden State Park. For 1985 he won 23 of 25 starts and also won the Tattersalls Pace and Bluegrass Stake.[11] In his career Nihilator won 35 of 38 races and $3,225,754.[1] He was the first Standardbred to earn $3 million.[12]

In 1995, Nihilator United States Harness Racing Hall of Fame[13]

Nihilator was humanely destroyed in November 1991 after suffering from Potomac horse fever and laminitis.[14]

References

  1. 1 2 Nihilator triumphs in farewell race, New York Times, 30 November 1985, Retrieved 21 February 2016
  2. ↑ Race Rewind - 1984 Breeders Crown, Standardbred Canada, Retrieved 21 February 2016
  3. ↑ Nihilator sets a record in Wilson Pace, New York Times, 17 August 1984, Retrieved 21 February 2016
  4. ↑ Colt May Join an Elite Group, New York Times, 1 February 1985, Retrieved 21 February 2016
  5. ↑ Nihilator's victory is the tracks loss, New York Times, 20 July 1985, Retrieved 21 February 2016
  6. ↑ Nihilator Shocked, Scratched in Adios, Observer-Reporter, 12 August 1985, Retrieved 21 February 2016
  7. ↑ Nihilator bid fails despite fan support, Sun-Sentinel, 4 August 1985, Retrieved 22 February 2016
  8. ↑ Nihilator Fails, New York Times, 30 August 1985, Retrieved 21 February 2016
  9. ↑ Little Brown Juggernaut, Sports Illustrated, Retrieved 21 February 2016
  10. ↑ Nihilator Posts Easy Win From Second Tier, Los Angeles Times, 13 October 1985, Retrieved 22 February 2016
  11. ↑ Nihilator's dam dies at age 33, The Horseman and Fair World, Retrieved 21 February 2016
  12. ↑ Nihilator Ends Career With Win, Los Angeles Times, 30 November 1985, Retrieved 21 February 2016
  13. ↑ Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame bio for Nihilator Retrieved November 16, 2016
  14. ↑ Pacing Legend Nihilator destroyed, Chicago Tribune, 7 November 1991, Retrieved 21 February 2016
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