Niatross - Hollywood Park - American Pacing Classic 1980

[keno8spot]

i was there that night i saw all of his races at hollypark

now i watch the horses race at cal expo for 1600 purses

no crowds and very little money in the pools

[Niaspeed1]

The biggest difference between Niatross and all the other great ones was Niatross' going so much faster than anyone had ever before....and he did it without the help of a quick hitch, aluminum feather light bikes, drugs, and a driver that was never much good. Somebeach was a freak, Nihilator was a freak, Bret was a freak...but Niatross was the ultimate freak of nature.

[BettorOffSingle]

Cam Fella was almost as good, while Storm Damage used to run second to Niatross a lot. Cambest is as good an offspring as Nihilator was. I do remember they used to cancel show wagering when he came to town.

[funshipM174]

I am a fan of Niatross, but with that being said, I spoke to Stan Bergstein one time several years back and he didn't hesitate when I asked him the greatest of all, he said "Bret Hanover". It's only bar room talk as to who would win, but when you look at what Bret did, in his time, it's scary.

[flipstud32]

Robin Burns now calls the races at Buffalo Raceway.

[bri6760]

I saw Niatross race a few times but was most impressed with him in 1995 when they took him from the farm to showcase him at Freehold Raceway.He was almost 17, his eyes and coat looked great. I asked his handler, how he looked so good at his age.I was told he got bored easy so they treat him with letting him go in the sulky I was told when he trained he would want to turn and start to race.He still went quarters in 30 or so and halves in 60 His trainer swore he could still do 56 if trained down.

[Nickalispicalis]

Galbraith was a pretty conservative driver too, stating many times Niatross could have gone faster, especially in his Time Trial, but Galbraith didn't push it. What a shame he never raced as a four year old.

[Niaspeed]

It's been 30 yrs....and theres only really one horse that I would even put in Niatross' league..Somebeachsomewhere..a very special horse...but him not racing in the Little Brown Jug really was a dissapointment....Never saw Bret Hanover, but he was beaten by Adios Vic on numerous occasions.Holborn Hanover was a needle horse that doesn't belong in the same sentence. Niatross was the greatest when harness racing was great...seems fitting.

[metalmusiqcrzy]

@Niaspeed when harnes racing was great .im 35v and in 50 to 95 people rushed to scioto downs turfway beulah park and river and thistle.

[ConcertShutterbug]

@Niaspeed Also, Somebeach was defeated in the Meadowlands Pace, and Somebeach never faced Free For All pacers...not to say that he couldn't have, but basically, his short-sighted owners denied their horse the chance at All-Time Greatness that he should have had; Somebeach never defeated any horse born any year other than 2005...3 greatest ever: Niatross; Dan Patch; Bret Hanover, don't sell Bret short 35 straight wins over all size tracks, great horse at 2,3 and 4...

[Ouellette1978]

Niatross is a legend, Holburn was doped.

[in4freedom]

Both Niatross and Holborn are pacing around heaven, both were great horses just ask their grooms.

[Nickalispicalis]

Nihilator was no slouch either !

[Niaspeed]

The magnitude of his greatness has and will never be matched. He was simply a freak of nature. Comparing any horse to Niatross is a waste of time...he was that special.

[saveus228]

somebeachsomewhere would give him a run for his money. Probably the only one that could..

[Nickalispicalis]

@Niaspeed Agreed. There has never been any horse like him. Almost supernatural.

[jimmybryght]

I saw Niatross race an exhibition at HollyPark, but I can't remember if it was this night. It just might have been. I was on the rail at 15 years old, in awe of the mighty Niatross. They wouldn't let him in a real race because there was simply no serious competition in North America for him. He remains the greatest standardbred in history.

[televin]

you never saw Bret Hanover

undefeated in his first 35 races finished 1st 62 of 68

[keno8spot]

i was at hollywood park for all 3 of his races

they were real races for large purses but there was no betting they were terrified of the minus pool he would have created best horse i ever saw i have no doube if he were here today he would pace in 1:46 or better

[ddepuy]

I watched Niatross in person at Batavia Downs & Buffalo Raceway - set track records at both. Clint Galbraith isn't one of the greats, so Niatross won in spite of Clint. The only 3-year old who has come close since is Rocknroll Hanover, with Brian Sears. Aussie trainer retired at same time as this special colt. Brian Sears is a very gifted driver - light years better than Clint Galbraith. Watch his videos on YouTube - he was a very special pacer, too!

[CMCArmyROTC]

Compare this awesome and exciting world record of Niatross in 1980 to the most recent world record in 1:46.1 of Holborn Hanover in 2006 (also on You Tube). It is like night and day. Niatross was pure beauty and excitement. The announcer at the Meadowlands sounds surprised when Holborn Hanover sets the record as he wins by (only) 1 1/2 lengths. Shows you how much Harness Racing has declined in the USA.

[CMCArmyROTC]

Correction... Holborn Hanover did a 1:46.4...

[nickrock23]

the competition is so much deeper now. niatross had storm damage - 2 horse that were better than storm damage (forget the names) were hurt most of the year. im not saying holborn is better, niatross was one of the greatest but youll never know how he'd fare against todays best pacers. youre saying rocknroll had no chance against him?

[CMCArmyROTC]

The only point I wanted to make was that it seem people (at least in the US) cared a lot more about things like this back in 1980 than in 2006.

[nickrock23]

its a shame. i think it's alot more exciting than thoroughbred

[CMCArmyROTC]

Nickrock, I'm with ya. I live in LA and all we have is TB out here. Sucks....

[mikewesq]

Nickrock, you are the biggest idiot I've ever heard. You must be new to the harness racing game. Have you heard of the axiom that "time is only good in jail?" Have you heard of the term "speed bike"? For cryng out loud, 40 thousand claimers routinely break the 1:50 mark these days. With the different bikes and drugs that are out there these days, you can't evaluate horses, much less from different eras, based on time. Holbern Hanover? Give me a break. Won one big race (Meadowlands Pace). . .

[nickrock23]

first of all, i never said holborn was better than niatross. i only said it wasnt as competitive. i dont even know what youre talking about. and 4 the record hoborn has alot more stakes wins that the meadowlands pace. he's one of the richest pacers of all time, probably close to 2.5 million in earnings.

[mikewesq]

That you even suggested that Holborn Hanover, or Rock N Roll Hanover for that matter, might be better than, or even in the same class of Niatross, demonstrates your lack of knowledge of harness racing. The only thing saving you from complete embarrassment is that we are not on a harness racing forum. And yes, I know Holborn has won more than the Meadowlands Pace, though it is noteworthy that once again you refer to a measurement (money won) that is meaningless since the purses have increased . .

[mikewesq]

dramatically over the years. Yes, after they juiced Holborn up, he won lots of stake races as a 5 year old. He won nothing after tested positive, and won nothing before, other than his fluky Meadowlands Pace win. How many times has Holborn Hanover lost? Look it up. Again, don't talk to me about Holborn Hanover when you want to talk about Niatross. Very few horses belong in the same discussion as Niatross, that crowd limited to Bret Hanover, Albatross, Adios Butler, and perhaps a few others.

[CMCArmyROTC]

I would add to that list the "Pacing Machine"-- Cam Fella...

[mikewesq]

. . at like 50-1 with a miracle rail skimming drive. Was doing nothing at 4, and was actually racing at Woodbine/Mohawk, having been unable to cut it at the Big M, routinely getting beaten in Woodbine/Mohawk's open/junior free-for-aller/high claimer fields, until the Robinsons got some drugs in him. "World Record" subsuquently came, on a scorching hot, perfect condition day at the Big M of course. Did you know that Holbern in the months ahead tested positive for a banned substance . . .

[mikewesq]

. . with a stakes victory and purse then taken away? After the positive test, Holbern returned to race like the 75-125 claimer that he is, which he is doing at present. Don't ever mention Holbern in the same sentence as the great Niatross, unless you are going to say: "that Holbern Hanover, he's no Niatross."

[bgardiner2000]

@CMCArmyROTC Get rid of the hand up rule & introduce cups racing. Be far better from a spectator's POV. I find US harness racing pretty boring actually. Search the 2011 Interdominion Final. You'll see a horse called Mr Feelgood who was a LBJ winner. He finishes 4th behind 1. the best horse racing in ANZ at the moment called Smoken Up 2. IMO the best sit & sprint horse I've ever seen anywhere The Mightyquinn & 3. The richest standardbred of all time (anywhere) Blacks a Fake. More exciting racing.

[mrkeno4578]

thank you for posting this i was there that night wouldnt have missed it for anything best horse i have ever seen he was special

[CMCArmyROTC]

Can you imagine a Harness Horse today being named New York Post's Athlete of the Year? That's what Niatross was honored with in 1980...

[mrkeno4578]

your right i dont think you will ever see another like him if he were here today i have no doubt he would be going in the 1:45s i still get chills watching that race from hollywood

[DoctorFuego]

Mr. Keno-- what was it like that night at Hollywood Park?

[mrkeno4578]

it was magic best horse race of any kind i have ever seen had a box for many years at hollypark right on finish line that night all the drivers came out and lined up along rail to watch they knew they were seeing something special i still have the program from that night niatross is the best horse i have ever seen today he would go in the 145s or better

iam thrilled that the race is here i really miss harness at hollywood park

[jetshull]

Never really pushed him in the stretch either. Coulda really smoked the record.

[DoctorFuego]

Awesome race and in complete command. This is when Harness Racing was king!

[mrkeno4578]

you are right nothing could beat a saturday night at hollywood park

[CMCArmyROTC]

Clint G.shipped Niatross to California to show him off to the great Harness fans at Hollywood Park. He did not dissapoint. He rarely did...

[terjer01]

Good to hear the voice of Robin Burns, one of the more underrated announcers in horse racing history.

[BIGRED224FOREVER]

one of the best anouncers ever....he was great at freestate!

[paceyourheartout]

Niatross-what a legend, bought tears to my eyes