Of Standardbred Stables #2

While Dan Patch took the unusual path of racing against Time, others, like Greyhound, Rodney, and Peter Manning, helped establish the best harness mile records.

While Dan Patch was in his own universe as an early Standardbred star, Greyhound ruled the roost in the thirties.

Greyhound, the Gray Ghost, held fourteen world records at one point in time, and he was second only to Sir Legend Dan Patch in his number of two minute mile runs. He raced 23 two minute miles, seven less than those recorded for Dan Patch.

Greyhound, at the age of eight, raced almost four seconds off the established saddle trotting record in 1940. For that event, he was ridden by Mrs. Frances Dodge Johnson. Two years earlier, the versatile gray went hitched to pole with the brown mare Rosalind, and the pair trotted their mile in 1:58-1/4.

Rodney was harness racing's second Horse of the Year in 1948. The award was first presented in 1947. Nicknamed "The Big Train", Rodney was a star bred by Hanover Shoe Farm. When he died in 1963, Rodney was the leading trotting sire, having produced thirteen $100,000, or better, winners.

Trotter Peter Manning completed an exhibition race in 1:56-3/4 at the age of six. Peter Manning was a product of the breeding genious of William M. Wright.

It is still the name Dan Patch that easily comes to the lips of the harness racing novice. His records reigned for decades. His name became world famous because of the marketing prowess of his smitten owner, M.W. Savage. Savage succumbed to illness on July 12, 1916, one day after his beloved Dan Patch died.