Dan Patch (April 29, 1896 – July 11, 1916) competed at a time when harness racing was one of the largest sports in the nation, Dan Patch was a major celebrity. He was undefeated in open competition and was so dominant on the racetrack that other owners eventually refused to enter their horses against him.
Instead, he ended his racing career performing time trials and traveled extensively on exhibition, earning millions of dollars in purses, attendance gate receipts and product endorsements. As many as 100,000 fans would come to see him race. Dan Patch broke world speed records at least 14 times in the early 1900s. In 1905, he set a world's record for the fastest mile by a harness horse (1:55ā.4 that stood unmatched for over 30 years. Unofficially, Dan Patch broke this record in 1906 with a clocking of 1:55. He died on July 11, 1916. His owner Marion Willis Savage died just one day later.
Dan Patch was inducted into the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame in 1953 and the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2019.
The 1st five hundred (500) Caesars Rewards members in attendance of Friday's opening night for Hoosier Park's Dan Patch Festival Weekend to be held both Friday evening August 14 and including Saturday evening August 15, 20/20, will receive a free Dan Patch water bottle and mask with their complimentary commemorative Dan Patch racing program.
Friday evenings' entertainment includes a live deejay, a local radio personality and a national guest handicapper and racing analyst; Saturday evenings' entertainment will include live circus performances at the racetrack.
With a planned 'call to post' set for 9:50 PM EST, The Dan Patch Stakes Free For All Pace with a purse of $225,000 has a full field of ten (10) pacers as well as two (2) Also Eligible(s), if a horse was to 'scratch' or thus not compete in the prestigious race due to sickness, injury or other circumstances.
The field of ten (10) from the 'draw' for post position just held on Tuesday evening August 11, 20/20, consists of the following horse 'pacers,' with their respective trainers and preliminary drivers (please note that final driver choices will be made in the near future):
1. Shnitzledosomething, driven by Scott Zeron and trained by Dylan Davis.
2. Century Farroh, driven by David Miller and trained by Dr. Ian Moore.
3. Bettor’s Wish, driven by Dexter Dunn and trained by Chris Ryder.
4. This Is The Plan, driven by Yannick Gingras and trained by Ron Burke.
5. Workin Ona Mystery, driven by Trace Tetrick and trained by Brian Brown.
6. Backstreet Shadow, driven by Tim Tetrick and trained by Ron Burke.
7. Dorsoduro Hanover, driven by Matt Kakaley and trained by Ron Burke.
8. De Los Cielos Deo, driven by Sam Widger and trained by Ron Burke.
9. Filibuster Hanover, driven by Ricky Macomber Jr. and trained by Ron Burke.
10. Our Majordan A, driven by Andrew Mccarthy and trained by Virgil Morgan Jr.
(Please note that as of Tuesday evenings' draw that Driver David Miller has a choice between the 2 and 10, Driver Tim Tetrick has a choice between the 5 and 6 and Driver Matt Kakaley has a choice between the 7, 8 and 9.)
Also Eligibles' in the race include AE1 Tellmeaboutit, driven by Trace Tetrick and trained by Alvin Miller and AE2 Aflame Hanover, driven by Andrew Mccarthy and trained by Linda Schadel.
For further information on the 27th Annual Dan Patch Invitational, an internationally acclaimed race watched around the world, please contact Rose Flood at Harrah's Hoosier Park Racing and Casino at 800.526.RACE or rflood@caesars.com and/or Eric M. Poders, Publisher of The Horseman's Voice, by international mobile/text via 001.847.530.2222 or email at publisher@horsemansvoice.com
by Eric Ponders, for the Horseman's Voice