Mach Three: Somebeachsomewhere History

In a truly epic performance - Niatross sliced almost a full three seconds of the WR

Niatross first met defeat in - spectacular fashion at Saratoga in New York

The following is an article by Dean Hoffman taken from the March, 1997 edition of Hoof Beats magazine about the late Niatross, one of the greatest horses of any breed and of any era.

As we approach the end of this century, the news media will inevitably begin preparing lists of 20th century superlatives. Who was the greatest person of this century? What was the greatest invention? The greatest book? The greatest disaster?

In harness racing we must ponder our own superlatives, the most salient being: Who is the greatest Standardbred of the 20th century?

If you nominated Dan Patch, you would surely have many supporters. The same is true for Greyhound, the Grey Ghost who captivated the racing world during the Depression. And Bret Hanover was certainly a hero in the halcyon 1960s.

Yet my vote for the greatest harness horse of the century would go to a horse who is still very much alive and active today, a horse who was foaled 20 years ago, on March 30, 1977. His name, of course, is Niatross.

Comparisons of horses from different eras are ultimately an exercise in futility, but the measure by which I gauge Niatross the greatest is his incomprehensible achievement on the first day of October in 1980.

On that afternoon, over the hallowed red clay of Kentucky’s Red Mile, Niatross lowered the existing speed standard almost three full seconds. Previous champions had chipped away at the record. Niatross sliced it with a machete in one unforgettable effort.

While his 1.49.2 time trial was truly epic, it is the entire package of the pacer’s accomplishments that make him deserving of such high accolades. He won 37 of 39 starts; in one of his losses he fell down and in the other he broke stride.

Niatross entered the stud in 1981 as the fastest and richest Standardbred ever, and proceeded to sire Little Brown Jug winners from his first two crops. His fortunes as a stallion then took such a rapid nosedive that he was an all-but-forgotten horse to many by the mid-1990s.

Ah, but those who saw the 'Great One' perform never forgot him, and David Meirs of Walnridge Farm, where Niatross now stands for a $2500 fee, had an inkling that Niatross might prove to be a drawing card for tracks if he were put “on tour” in the second half of 1996.

Meirs was prescient. Tracks signed up for a spot on the Niatross Tour, and the Great One hit the road in July, stopping at nine tracks. Throughout the tour, Niatross comported himself perfectly, posing for hours with absolute equanimity as admirers snapped photo after photo.

What was it about this horse that so captivated people that they returned to see him 16 years after he had last raced?

Niatross represented perfection. Sure, he lost two races, but otherwise he was invincible. Throw out those two races and Niatross was never even involved in a photo finish. He was like a horse from another planet.

Part of the appeal was his trainer-driver and co-owner Clint Galbraith, a modest and hard-working horseman whose abilities were best known to his peers, not the public. And the dramatis personae also included an irresistible, gray-haired old lady in the person of co-owner Elsie Berger.

To be sure, controversy swirled around Niatross after businessman Lou Guida bought a 50 percent share of the horse. Galbraith and Berger fought a long and losing legal battle with Guida over control of Niatross.

Racing fans never cared much who controlled Niatross when he was done racing. They just wanted to see him race. And that is what Niatross did best.

Niatross’ sire, Albatross, is now 29 years old and has been a veritable money machine for Hanover Shoe Farms since his arrival there in late 1972. He was the first stallion of any breed to sire the winners of over $100 million, and the earnings of his offspring are now nearing $126 million.

While Albatross is well known and was guaranteed a niche in harness racing history before he ever served a single mare, the maternal heritage of Niatross is far less distinguished.

Certainly a key player in the development of this family was Hunter M. Bennett of West Virginia, whose father had owned the prominent trotting stallion Lord Roberts (Arion-Nancy Hanks) early in this century. Hunter Bennett was a lawyer who served as the prosecuting attorney in Lewis County and even ran for Congress in the 1930s.

In early 1938, The Horseman & Fair World reported that Bennett had purchased a Spencer mare, identified only as “out of a sister to Chestnut Peter.” She was, in fact, named Doris Spencer, and one man who knew a little about her was the late Delvin Miller.

“I raced a lot around West Virginia when I was a young man,” Miller told me many years ago. “During that time I got to know Mr. Bennett, and what a very nice man he was, too.”

In 1940, Miller saw Bennett in Lexington, and he recalled that the lawyer spoke glowingly of the stallion Guy Abbey and said, “I’m gonna buy a colt by him.” Bennett made good on his word. He paid $1025 for a colt named Scamp, the first foal of the Peter Volo mare Sweet Miss.

Scamp never made it to the races, but was trained and apparently showed enough promise that Bennett used him to service his own mares, and in 1946 Doris Spencer had a Scamp filly who was simply named Scoot.

Scoot was a trotter, the indefatigable type who just kept knocking year after year. She made 184 starts in her career, which spanned 1950 to 1955, and won 31 races and $21,541. She eventually passed into the ownership of Harold F. Graham.

Graham shared ownership of Scoot with his friend Elsie Berger of Grand Island, N.Y. The mare was bred first to trotters, but when she produced the fast pacer Mr. Niagara by the Kentucky Futurity winner Harlan, they decided to switch her to pacing stallions.

Bye Bye Byrd was selected for Scoot, and her first mating to him produced Niagara Byrd (6, 2.00), a first-class pacer who earned over $103,133. The second foal was a Bye Bye Byrd filly named Niagara Dream.

Hall of Fame horseman Clint Galbraith remembers training and racing Niagara Dream in the late 1960s.

“She didn’t win a lot of money,” said Galbraith. “She got injured as 3-year-old. She was a nice, big mare.”

Niagara Dream was first stinted to Best Of All, the fine-boned Jug winner standing at Hanover Shoe Farms. It was Galbraith who made the decision to send Niagara Dream to Albatross next.

“At that time, you had to breed to Best Of All first before you could get to Albatross,” said Galbraith. “The fact that Albatross was a smaller horse complemented Niagara Dream’s larger size.”

Her first foal by Albatross was a colt foaled and raised at Hanover Shoe Farms. In the early fall of 1978, this youngster named Niatross was shipped to Rodney Farms - the western New York farm owned by the family of Galbraith’s wife Barbara - to get his first lessons in harness. As fall turned to winter, Niatross was among the horses shipped to Galbraith’s winter quarters at Ben White Raceway in Orlando, Fla.

Visions of greatness

Galbraith doesn’t claim to have foreseen the colt’s greatness in the initial stages of training.

“He always did everything easy,” said Galbraith. “He was a good-mannered colt and hit the pace right away. But they all do that.”

On the clay track at Ben White, Niatross started with 1/2-inch half-round shoes in front and flat shoes behind. When he began to make some speed, Galbraith switched to half-swedge shoes behind.

“I stayed with the half-rounds in front as long as we were at Ben White,” said Galbraith. “I never put a swedge on in front until a colt is ready to race.”

Galbraith said Niatross carried a 3-5/8-inch toe in front and 3-3/8 inches behind.

“He was a gangly colt at first,” recalled Galbraith. “He wore about a 60-inch hobble as a 2-year-old, and I think I only let them out another inch as a 3-year-old.

“You didn’t have to be any great horseman to hang him up. He was a natural.”

Another quality that impressed Galbraith was Niatross’ exceptional intelligence.

“I think he was one of the smartest horses who ever stepped on a track,” said Galbraith. “He learned quick. All winter long, he could just sit on the outside of my other colts and just jog. He did everything so easy.”

In early April, Niatross worked a mile in 2.15 but came away from that effort with a couple of curbs as souvenirs. Those were painted using Harvey’s Blister, and Niatross got some time off before he was shipped north.

Old-timers will tell you that curbs are a sign of speed, but they can also be a sign of poor conformation. With Niatross it was definitely the former. “He had good, clean hocks, and stood good behind,” said Galbraith. “After the blister came off, he never had a problem with curbs.”

However, Niatross was back on his knees a bit, a conformation flaw serious enough to worry an astute horseman such as Galbraith.

“That concerned me, but he was so great-gaited that he never had a problem with his knees,” said Galbraith. “If a calf-kneed horse has a good gait and doesn’t have to work at what he’s doing, I don’t think you’ll have a problem.”

Galbraith noted that Niatross never had an injection in his knees or hocks or any joint in his entire life.

When he entered the freshman colt in a qualifier at Vernon Downs in early June, Galbraith knew Niatross was a sound horse, but he still didn’t know he was a special horse.

“I didn’t honestly know,” recalled Galbraith. “But I gave him a good prep, so I gave him the chance to be special.

“I had great expectations for this colt. Maybe because the mare had some good horses by Best Of All, and I figured that an Albatross should be even better. So I kept him eligible to all the stakes.”

The son of Albatross ripped through wins in effortless style, but precocious colts have made a liar out of many horsemen, so Clint Galbraith wasn’t about to let his head swell with delusions of grandeur.

It wasn’t until Niatross started in the Hanover-Hempt Stake at Vernon on July 14 that Galbraith permitted himself to believe that Niatross was a lot more than just a nice colt.

“I tested him a little that night,” he said. Niatross aced the test, winning from the second tier in 1.57.6 by three lengths. “And he did it so easy,” remembered Galbraith with pleasure.

Another colt who won easily that night was Whamo, a son of Flying Bret developed by early-speed specialist Charlie Clark. Whamo, in fact, paced faster than Niatross, and both colts were unbeaten.

When they met in the final of the $862,750 Woodrow Wilson, Niatross drew post nine. Whamo drew the rail, and was made the favourite.

“Stone Racer and Joe Marsh stepped around Whamo leaving, and I was next to Stone Racer so that I got to the front quick,” said Galbraith. “I think Whamo got away third. Then Niatross just cut the rest of the mile. He made his own fractions. He wasn’t challenged.”

He wasn’t challenged because none of the others were capable of going a mile in 1.55.8 with a last quarter in 28.6. Whamo was second and Denali third.

With the first major hurdle of the year behind him, Niatross shipped to Liberty Bell for a Pennsylvania Sires Stakes and was bet down to 1-9. He again drew the nine hole, and when Galbraith sent him for the lead nearing the half on the sloppy track, driver Steve Waller decided to park him with Dear Star. The pair of pacers opened up 10 lengths on the field. But Niatross was still idling.

“I just chirped to Niatross, and he took off,” said Galbraith.

Dear Star immediately raised the white flag of surrender, and Niatross coasted to a 17-length victory.

“Niatross was perfect to drive,” said Galbraith. “He raced in a plain snaffle bit and a plain overcheck. You could do anything with him. He never pulled. He took enough hold, but if you had to check him, he’d come right back to you. And if you were sitting in a hole and you pulled on that right line, he knew what to do.”

That summer, New Jersey businessman Lou Guida, who was just beginning to make a big splash in the arena of Standardbred syndication, jumped in and bought half-interest in Niatross for $4 million, with performance incentives that could boost the colt’s ultimate value to $10 million.

Clint Galbraith and Elsie Berger loved Niatross, but they couldn’t pass up an opportunity to cash in on a colt like this. Besides, the deal was that Galbraith would manage Niatross during his racing career, while Guida would manage his breeding career.

The second major goal during his freshman season was the Kentucky Pacing Derby, and Niatross effectively scared away enough rivals that no elimination heats were needed. A prep race was held instead, and Niatross won easily in his first start on a twice-around.

“He never had a problem with the on a half-mile track,” said Galbraith. “He was a big horse, but I’ve always said if a horse is good-gaited, he won’t have problems getting around turns. I’ve had small horses have trouble on a half-mile if they aren’t good-gaited.

“I know that some people say you should shorten a pacer’s hobbles on a half and let them out on a mile, but once I got his hobbles set, I never touched them.”

Niatross had post eight in the Kentucky Pacing Derby, and Galbraith said, “I think I was about eight-deep going into the first turn.”

Whamo parked Niatross for most of first half-mile, but Niatross simply drew off to win easily.

After that big victory, Niatross shipped to central Kentucky to showcase his talents on the sport’s most cherished track, the hallowed Red Mile. There he ripped through four routine heats in the Meadow Lands and International Stallion Stake, and no horse got within two lengths of him. What Galbraith recalls most vividly about those races was that General Star beat the 3-year-old pacers the second week with a 1.56.2 mile and Niatross paced just a tick slower in his race in beating the 2-year-olds.

“The track was toeing in and wasn’t really that fast that day,” said Galbraith. “The 3-year-olds were all out to go in 1.56.2, and Niatross was within himself. But he was always better the second heat than he was the first.”

Weather conditions at Lexington that fall weren’t ideal for a world-record race mile, but that was never a high priority for Galbraith.

“I like to win, but I can’t see winning by a long ways unless you’re trying to prove something, and I didn’t have anything to prove with Niatross by then. He’d done everything I’d asked of him,” Galbraith pointed out.

“I raced him pretty much the same way as a 3-year-old. He could have won by open lengths a lot of times. I see guys today winning by 10 or 15 lengths, and to me they just look foolish. What are you taking out of your horse doing that? The old-timers loved to win by a head or neck and save the horse. But it’s just a different era now.”

Niatross’ accomplishments of a perfect season in 13 starts earned him Horse of the Year honours over 3-year-old pacer Hot Hitter.

Niatross also earned a vacation at Castleton Farm in Trenton, Fla. Groom Marie Carson stayed with him until sometime in December, when they journeyed back to Ben White Raceway.

Niatross filled out over the winter, and Galbraith approached the 1980 season with a mixture of anxiety and expectation. He knew that Niatross would get beat sooner or later; he’d been around a racetrack far too long to deceive himself by thinking the joyride would last forever He knew that there would be enormous pressure on him every time Niatross faced the starter.

Problems surfaced sooner than he expected.

“One winter morning he was lame,” recalled Galbraith. “I always jogged him myself, and one morning he was real lame. He popped a pus pocket in a foot. We got that taken care of, and he was sound from then on.”

On a cold and windy day in early May, Galbraith sent Niatross through a qualifier at Vernon Downs in 2.00, winning by 30 lengths.

“I had to get him ready because the Hanover-Hempt Stake was the following week, and I knew that Storm Damage would be in there,” said Galbraith. “Storm Damage had already raced, and I just didn’t know how good Niatross would be. I’m not the kind of guy who whittles on a colt and gets him tight before racing. But that 2.00 qualifier was probably comparable to a 1.58 mile on a good day.”

Niatross never gave Galbraith an anxious moment in the Hanover-Hempt, winning by 3-1/2 lengths in 1.56.2.

His wins in the Battle of Brandywine were perfunctory efforts, as he won handily.

The previous autumn, Buffalo Raceway General Manager Gaston Valiquette asked Galbraith if he would race Niatross over the historic western New York half-miler.

“No, not unless you re-do the track,” replied Galbraith.

Officials went to work on the track, and Niatross showed up and went to work on the track record. When he was done, the old record of 1.57.8, set by his own sire Albatross, was ancient history. Niatross won in 1.56.4.

“That night I let him go on a little bit,” admitted Galbraith.

Next came the elimination and final of the Cane Pace, which were another pair of yawners in Niatross’ relentlessly winning ways. In both races he was rated to the half and then tossed off startling final fractions.

“We raced a little different in those days,” laughed Galbraith. “We came a fast last half instead of a fast first half.”

Niatross had now raced 19 times, and no horse had ever beaten him. It began to look as if none would ever beat him. As America prepared to celebrate its 204th birthday in early July, Galbraith was preparing Niatross for the $100,000 Battle of Saratoga-Haswell Memorial at Saratoga. There he would meet Trenton Time, Justin Passing and others.

“Billy Haughton always wanted to sit behind Niatross, and they had some press people at Saratoga, so I let Billy go a mile with Niatross, and I trained Trenton Time a trip,” recalled Galbraith.

On race day, the track came up muddy, yet the race unfolded in normal fashion. Niatross got to the front, eased past the half, and continued to lead into the last turn.

Trenton Time ranged up to challenge him. Now it was time for Niatross to get serious. Galbraith asked him to go on. But for the first time in his life, Niatross had nothing to offer.

“That wasn’t him,” said Galbraith. “He could always open up two or three lengths anytime you wanted.

“He started bearing in a little, and the left wheel of the bike caught the inside rail and just pulled him over the rail.”

Niatross, sulky, and driver all went tumbling over the inside rail as the crowd gasped. One writer watching the race compared the incident to watching the Hindenburg going down. But disaster was averted.

“He got right up and walked off,” said Galbraith. “He only had a few scratches. I got right up, too. I never lost the lines.”

Trenton Time went on to win the race in 1.59.6, but probably not a soul in the crowd of over 7000 was watching the finish.

“I don’t know what was wrong with him that day,” admitted Galbraith. “I don’t know if he had a bug or what. He was going to get beat whether he fell over the fence or not. He just had no pace.”

Once Niatross was back at the barn, Dr. John R. Steele examined Niatross from stem to stern and pronounced him fully fit.

Despite his literal fall from grace, Niatross was heavily favoured when the Meadowlands Pace eliminations were held six days later.

“I was sitting about in the three-hole when we went past the quarter-pole,” recalled Galbraith. “As I was taking hold of him to get him out of the hole, there was a horse beside me. That was the first time Niatross got on the bit with me.

“He hit his hocks on the arch of the bike,” continued Galbraith. “We had him hooked the same as we always did. I don’t now what the problem was. Maybe the dirt wasn’t the same that night, maybe he was slipping a little; I don’t know. But when he hit his hocks on the arch, he really took off. “By that time I had him off the rail, and he just got to pacing so fast that he made a break, his head went down, and his overcheck fell off. But he came up pacing. I was on the outside, so I went on with him.”

Herve Filion was on top with Safe Arrival as they hit the half in a scorching 55.4. As Niatross edged past him and started to ease in at the rail, Filion yelled to Galbraith, “I can’t hold him! I can’t hold him!”

Galbraith knew that if he caused any interference, he would be set back, a risk he simply couldn’t take. Besides, he decided, Niatross had met with enough travail in the past week, so he kept his colt off the rail.

Niatross continued to race outside Safe Arrival until both of them were overtaken in the 30-second final quarter by Bruce Gimble, Gime Getme and Fundamentalist. Niatross finished fourth while Safe Arrival struggled home in sixth place.

“I think it was the greatest race Niatross ever went,” said Galbraith from the perspective of almost two decades. “To sit on the outside without cover, make a break, lose his headcheck, and still finish fourth - that was remarkable.”

Niatross vindicated

Now the pressure that Galbraith feared was turned up full blast.

“Lou Guida wrote me a letter and said he had grave doubts whether Niatross was ready to race any further and that we might be able to stand him for maybe $20,000,” said Galbraith in a 1981 interview in the now-defunct Hub Rail magazine.

Galbraith never lost confidence in his colt, but he wouldn’t have been human if he didn’t start to worry that misfortune runs in threes. The $1 million final of the Meadowlands Pace was looming ominously.

Tyler B had the rail, Storm Damage had the five-hole, and both left alertly, with Storm Damage leading down the backstretch. Then Galbraith gave Niatross his head.

Niatross went on cruise control to the wire, crushing his foes by more than four lengths in 1.53.2.

“All you had to do is keep Niatross out of trouble, and he’d do the rest,” said Galbraith.

Ray Brienza, writing in the Newark Star-Ledger, lauded Galbraith and Niatross in an article headlined “Where are the doubters now?” “Long after the race Galbraith was happy and vindicated,” wrote Brienza. “His critics were silenced and calculating how much their investment had grown in value after the world-record mile.”

“That was probably the biggest race of his career for me because there was so much publicity before the race that he wasn’t right and all that stuff,” said Galbraith. “If I hadn’t had ties to the horse, I know another trainer would have had him.”

Next was a twin-heat triumph in world-record time in the Gaines Memorial at Vernon, and then Niatross returned to The Meadowlands for the Oliver Wendell Holmes. Galbraith had decided to skip the two-heat Adios in favour of the single-dash Holmes, but wondered if he’d made the right decision when Niatross drew post 13.

Galbraith managed to weave his way through the bulky field and had Niatross within striking distance around the far turn. He sent the colt three-wide.

In a heartbeat, the race was over. Storm Damage tried valiantly but he was no match for the big horse in a 1.53 mile, a clocking that equalled the fastest race mile in the history of the sport.

“He won for fun that night,” said Galbraith succinctly, using the horseman’s argot.

As an aside, Galbraith remembered that when he raced Niatross at The Meadowlands, the colt would stand in the upper paddock and watch the races on the TV monitors.

“He sure would,” laughed Galbraith. “He’d have his ears up. He was such a smart horse.”

In mid-August, Niatross was entered at the New York State Fair in Syracuse in a much-ballyhooed attempt to lower Steady Star’s world record of 1.52.

“It wasn’t a great day to make speed,” said Galbraith. “He was in with some older horses and there really wasn’t anything in the field that could make him go.”

His 21-length victory in 1.52.8 was a world race record, but many had expected something more sensational.

Next came a 1.53.8 Blue Bonnets track record in the Prix d’Ete and the Dancer Memorial at Freehold before a trip back to Batavia for the Hugh Grant Cup.

“I had Chuck Coons from Michigan and Charlie Mitchell from Delaware, Ohio, come in to Batavia and grade the track and get it ready,” said Galbraith. “I had to pay for all that, but I got a bonus for breaking the track record, so it all evened out.”

Niatross was all alone at the wire in 1.55, the first time a horse had ever recorded such a time on a twice-around. “He could have gone more that night,” asserted Galbraith. “I couldn’t believe it. I was just sitting there. I never even chirped to him until the head of the stretch. He was just super that night.”

It was a confident Galbraith who climbed into the sulky on Little Brown Jug Day at Delaware, Ohio, that September. Niatross had the rail in the eight-horse field, and there seemed to be no stopping him.

Niatross simply tossed a 1.55 mile at his foes and followed it with a 1.54.8 effort to win in his typical uncontested fashion. Now came the colt’s date with destiny.

He was scheduled for a time trial at The Red Mile in Lexington on Saturday, Sept. 25, but bad weather forced a postponement. Instead, Galbraith worked the horse for the crowd that day and put him away to wait for better weather.

“If you raced him every week, all you had to do was train him in 2.15 between races,” said Galbraith. “I’d just go two trips with him. If I missed a week of racing, I’d go three trips with him. I sure never trained him any dazzling miles like these guys would today.”

A new time zone

Officially, Niatross was programmed to beat his own record of 1.52.8 on Thursday, Oct. 1, but everyone knew that Galbraith’s real goal was Steady Star’s 1.52 mark set in 1971.

“I thought he could go around 1:50,” said Galbraith. “I knew he could beat 1:52, but I didn’t know how much.”

Galbraith warmed up Niatross and had him primed for the effort of his life.

The crowd of horsemen waited in quiet anticipation.

Pursued by two prompters, Niatross was off to the quarter. He passed that pole in 27.6; Galbraith was being cautious.

“I’d watched Joe O’Brien time-trial horses, and he always was a little conservative and tried to get a horse home good, so that’s what I set out to do,” he said. “I just wanted to go an evenly rated mile.”

Niatross paced down the backstretch in 27 seconds, reaching the half in 54.6.

The third quarter has traditionally been considered the toughest at Lexington, as it bends around the final turn. Niatross covered it in 27.2. The three-quarters was in 1.21.8.

Galbraith was rating his horse perfectly, a feat made easier by the fact that he knew Niatross so well.

“He got over the ground pretty easy, but when you train and race a horse like I did with him, you pretty much know how much you’re going,” said Galbraith. “I could probably have trained him without a watch and have told you how fast I was going.”

Galbraith knew that Niatross still had plenty of pace left when the colt looked down the long stretch at Lexington. “He felt good,” remembered Galbraith. He eased Niatross off the rail to allow one of the Thoroughbred prompters to come up on the inside. Galbraith’s use of the whip was perfunctory.

“He’d give you everything he had,” said Galbraith. “I think most horses will.”

The crowd was wild with excitement as Niatross paced bravely past the famed tunnel at The Red Mile and headed into that heartbreaking final stretch of red clay. They watched man and horse making the supreme effort, knowing they were seeing history in the making, and wondering what new speed frontier the teletimer would reveal they were witnessing.

1.49.2!

Pandemonium broke out. Niatross had done the impossible! No one had ever seen a time like that. It seemed surreal. Emotions surged to the surface as the people abandoned their inhibitions. Some shouted. Some cheered. Some smiled. Some laughed. Some cried. Some were simply too stunned to do anything.

“Yeah, that was a great day,” said Galbraith. “People still come up to me and say that was the greatest thing they’d ever seen. So many people came to see me afterwards. Joe O’Brien congratulated me. Delvin Miller came to see us at the barn. They were really ecstatic.”

Despite the ecstasy, it’s important to know that the dispute between the Galbraith-Berger faction and Guida had escalated into litigation over the horse’s future. Galbraith wanted to race Niatross in 1981, but Guida felt that the horse should begin his breeding duties.

“Who would race against him as a 4-year-old?” Guida asked in an interview published in Hub Rail. “What tracks would allow betting, and how many times would people come out for exhibition races?”

Galbraith knew he would lose control of the horse at the end of the 1980 season, so in the fall of 1980 he was determined to put his horse over the $2 million mark and have a little fun along the way.

While he was still at Lexington, Galbraith was approached by Pres Jenuine, the man whose stewardship of Hollywood Park for so many decades earned him a place in the Hall of Fame. Jenuine asked Galbraith if he was planning to bring Niatross to California that fall.

“No, there’s nothing out there for him,” replied Galbraith.

“But he’s entered in the American Pacing Classic,” said Jenuine.

“No, I didn’t put him in those races,” said Galbraith.

“Well, I did,” countered Jenuine. “C’mon out.”

Before Niatross headed west to the Golden State, he romped to victory in the Messenger Stake - making him the sport’s sixth winner of the Pacing Triple Crown - and the Hanover Stake at Liberty Bell.

The result was the same in California, as Niatross beat up on 3-year-olds in the Albatross before humbling older foes in the American Pacing Classic. In the $25,000 leg on Nov. 15 he set a new world race record of 1.52.2, while his 2.07.6 victory over 1-1/8 miles in the $97,500 final the next week was yet another world record. Niatross was barred in the betting in all three races.

“I just think Pres wanted to show off Niatross to the fans in California,” said Galbraith. “He sure was a good guy.” Remember, these races were contested in November, and Niatross had been travelling and racing since May. It’s a tribute to Galbraith’s horsemanship that Niatross remained fit and sharp during such a gruelling campaign. Characteristically, Galbraith attributes all the success to the horse.

“He kept his edge all the time,” he said. “He was always sharp. After those races at Saratoga and The Meadowlands in July, he didn’t go a bad race at all.”

The month of December started in Galbraith’s native province of Ontario, where Niatross shrugged off the cold weather and continued his winning ways at Windsor and Greenwood raceways.

Galbraith knew, however, that he was nearing the end of his ride.

“I was going to go to Dover Downs with him,” said Galbraith. “Ted Leonard called me and asked to come down there. I agreed, but then Stanley Dancer called me and asked me to bring him to Pompano. Then Allen Finkelson called me. I gave in, and we flew Niatross down to Florida.” Niatross picked up a minor cold on the way to the Sunshine State, but fought it off and assumed a position in the Stanley Dancer Stable, which gladly supervised Niatross until Galbraith’s arrival.

On Dec. 27, a crowd of 18,451 packed Pompano Park, causing massive traffic jams in the area. Florida racing fans knew they were privileged to see the final start of the great champion’s career.

Galbraith took Niatross to the track, and after the pacer stepped off a brief distance, Galbraith’s heart froze. Niatross was lame. No one wanted things to end this way.

Horse and driver came off the track and Galbraith told groom Carson, “This horse isn’t right. He’s off behind.”

They took Niatross back to his stall and put a hind foot in a pail of warm water. A pus pocket erupted.

“Then he went out and raced like a giant,” said Galbraith. A giant indeed.

He won by 15 lengths in 1.54.6, the first sub-1.55 mile in Florida history.

Now it was over. The record was complete: 39 starts, 37 wins, $2,019,213 in earnings, and speed unmatched by any Standardbred.

Galbraith wanted to race Niatross another year, but he had no control of the horse beyond 1980. Before relinquishing control, he planned to take Niatross back to Ben White Raceway and let him down gradually, but Guida was legally entitled to control as the new year dawned.

Galbraith and his wife, Barbara, were hoping that Niatross would stand at Rodney Farms, but they were unsuccessful in litigation over control of the horse. It was Lou Guida who called the shots on the horse’s breeding career.

“I selected Castleton as the best place for the best horse in America, because Niatross is the king of kings, and, as far as I’m concerned, Castleton is the farm of farms,” he said in Hub Rail.

So it was to Castleton in Kentucky that Niatross was shipped.

A royal welcome

Few horses have been ushered into stud with more fanfare than Niatross when he arrived at Castleton. Even Kentucky Gov. John Y. Brown showed up along with other political and business luminaries to welcome the all-conquering hero.

His fee was set at $35,000, an amount no rookie stallion had ever come close to commanding. At that time, greats like Meadow Skipper, Albatross and Most Happy Fella were standing for fees of $40,000 each.

The price of admission didn’t deter many breeders. Niatross served 201 mares in his first crop and, as might be expected, his ladies were the creme de la creme of the broodmare scene. Owners of ordinary mares just didn’t plunk down $35,000 to get a foal.

Some of the mares who had foals from his first crop were Armbro Kerry, Bergdorf, Courageous Lady, Dreamer’s Sis, Guiding Beam, Ingenue, Joanna’s Time, Lady Emily, Meadow Wilma, Sand Tart, Silk Stockings and Terry’s Woe.

In his two years at Castleton, Niatross bred 470 mares and got 352 registered foals. He was off to an extraordinary start in his stud career. The 91 yearlings by Niatross to go under the auctioneer’s hammer in 1983 averaged $85,374.

However, by the time his first foals went to the sales in the fall of 1983, Niatross had been relocated to a new home: Pine Hollow Stud near Goshen, N.Y. Lou Guida was closely allied with Morton Finder, owner of Pine Hollow, and the lure of the rich sire stakes in the Empire State prompted the relocation of Niatross. It was the beginning of a nomadic period in his breeding career.

In January of 1984, I was in Florida casting about for some opinions on the first get of Niatross. The Haughton Stable had a dozen by the Great One in its shed row, and assistant trainer Ernie Gaskin was positively apoplectic with delight over one named Nihilator.

“This is the best colt I have ever seen in 11 years down here,” said Gaskin. It was a rainy day when I visited Pompano, and the stock was jogging on the half-mile track. The groom was bringing Nihilator off the track when we arrived, and Gaskin told him, “Go another round so that Dean can see him go.”

Nihilator moved easily around the track, but did nothing to distinguish himself from the dozens of others on the track. But Gaskin continued to rave about Nihilator, and I published his comments in the March 1984 Hoof Beats in a “Dean’s List” column titled “The Niatross 2-year-olds: Seldom is heard a discouraging word.”

In it, however, I toned down Gaskin’s enthusiasm for Nihilator, because I thought it might come back to haunt him later. Little did I know how right he would be.

The first crop by Niatross hit the tracks and overwhelmed their opposition. They were led by Nihilator, who was on target for Horse of the Year honours and an unbeaten season before he was upset by Dragon’s Lair in that memorable Breeders Crown at The Meadows.

Nihilator won 12 of his 13 starts and $1,361,367 that season, and grabbed the Woodrow Wilson in record time of 1.52.8. Despite being denied Horse of the Year honours, there was no doubt that he was the most exciting 3-year-old heading into 1985.

Nihilator was the commander-in-chief of the Niatross troops, but he had plenty of support in 1984 from sub-1.55 foot soldiers like Pershing Square ($233,060) and Galbraith’s own Niafirst ($118,978).

To no one’s surprise, horsemen practically fell over each other to grab the prospects from the second crop by Niatross. In the fall of 1984, the overall yearling market declined, but the 130 Niatross yearlings sold at auction averaged $83,077.

In 1985, Nihilator whirled through a campaign that included a 1.49.6 mile at The Meadowlands, victory in the Little Brown Jug, and Horse of the Year honours. Pershing Square banked $451,180 in 1985, and colts like Handsome Sum and Flight Of Fire joined the Niatross brigade at the top of the sport.

His 2-years-old in 1985 were led by Barberry Spur ($971,147) and the Breeders Crown-winning filly Caressable ($895,527), while Smartest Remark, Talk About Class and Southern Gentleman also made headlines.

Once again, despite a declining market, there were fireworks when the third crop of Niatross yearlings sold. Sired in New York and eligible to the sire stakes there, the colts averaged $95,188 while the fillies brought an average of $38,043.

But a curious thing happened to Niatross starting with his third crop: The quality began to dissipate. To be sure, the third crop (98 foals) was much smaller than his previous two, but their overall performance lagged behind that of his first two crops. It was a trend that continued to plague Niatross after he was moved once again, this time to Saratoga Standardbreds in upstate New York.

To what can the downfall of Niatross be attributed? After all, he was genetically the same horse. Galbraith thinks the move from Kentucky was disastrous.

“As soon as he moved away from Castleton, that was the end,” said Galbraith. Bloodstock agent Bob Boni, who was closely involved with many of the first foals by Niatross, said that the decline of Niatross’ stud career after his first two seasons is a “fascinating question” and one for which he really has no answer.

“It’s like someone turned a switch,” said Boni. He discounts the belief that Niatross didn’t get quality mares after he left Castleton Farm, pointing out that Niatross served many of the same mares in New York as he had in Kentucky.

Boni cites Tarport Clarabell as a mare who was bred to Niatross in Kentucky and later in New York. Her first foal was King Charles (1.51.8), who earned almost a half-million.

Boni bought the next foal from Tarport Clarabell, a brother named Knickerbocker, for $230,000. He earned only $51,191. “King Charles had enormous talent,” said Boni. “He was so lame, but he kept trying. Knickerbocker was the worst, non-trying, rotten son-of-a-gun you ever saw.”

King Charles had been sired in Kentucky; Knickerbocker was sired in New York. Full brothers aren’t always equal in ability, but Boni thinks that moving Niatross was when the switch was turned.

“There is no scientific support for many of the beliefs of old horsemen,” said Boni, “but those beliefs had to come from some experience. And old horsemen say you never move a stallion. You remember that Adios wasn’t moved to Hanover after Del Miller sold him.”

For example, Boni cites Flying Bret as a stallion who suffered from relocation.

“He bred inferior mares in Kentucky and got good performers,” he said. “When he went to Lana Lobell, he got some good mares but never produced anything.”

Boni summarized the quandary of Niatross’ stud career by passing along advice he often gives new owners: “There are many questions in horse racing that simply don’t have answers.”

Was Niatross the horse of the century? When you review his race record and realize that he is still making headlines and attracting worshippers as a 20-year-old, it’s hard to dispute the fact that Niatross was indeed the greatest we’ve seen.

Courtesy of NZ Harness Racing Weekly and HoofBeats Magazine