Why Have Standardbreds Gotten Faster and Thoroughbreds Have Not?

It's been almost 55 years since Dr. Fager set a world record for the mile distance when winning the 1968 Washington Park Handicap at Arlington Park in 1:32 1/5, a record that has yet to be broken. In 1973, Secretariat won the GI Kentucky Derby, covering the 1 1/4 miles in 1:59 2/5, a record that still stands 49 years later. There are other examples, all leading to the same conclusion–the Thoroughbred racehorse is not getting any faster.

Some believe that horses have gotten as fast as they can get, have reached their physical limits and that there's no room for improvement. That was the conclusion reached by Stanford University biologist Dr. Mark Denny, whose 2008 study looked at the evolution of racehorses, greyhounds and human runners.

“While all such extrapolations must be used cautiously, these data suggest that there are limits to the ability of either natural or artificial selection to produce ever faster dogs, horses and humans,” Denny wrote.

But Denny failed to take into account that the Standardbred is doing exactly what he concluded could no longer be done. When Dr. Fager set his record, the fastest time ever by a Standardbred in a one-mile race was the 1:55 clocking turned in by pacer Bret Hanover in 1966. (Trotters are a few seconds slower than pacers).

Today, a 1:55 time would barely get it done in a mid-level race at a mid-level track as there doesn't seem to be any slowing down of this breed. Earlier this month, the record for the fastest mile ever by a Standardbred was set again as Bulldog Hanover won the William Haughton Memorial at the Meadowlands in 1:45 4/5. Since 1968, Dr. Fager's one-mile record has not been surpassed. (In 2003, Najran essentially equaled Dr. Fager's record, going a mile in 1:32.24 while winning the GIII Westchester H.). During that same time frame, starting in 1968, the record mile for a Standardbred has come down by 9 1/5 seconds.

“By far, our horses are just better horses than they were before,” said prominent harness trainer Mark Ford.

Harness racing breeders, owners and trainers say that the Standardbred is still evolving. Bill Solomon owns the Pennsylvania Farm Pin Oak Lane, which breeds both Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds. He says that the trotter or pacer of 2022 looks nothing like their predecessors from 50 or 60 years ago.

“Thoroughbreds have been bred for speed and for racing for a long time, for centuries,” Solomon said. “Don't forget the Standardbred was still used for transportation and commerce into the 1900s. So they evolved a lot later. We're breeding a totally different kind of horse. We used to breed a horse that had more of a Coldblood appearance and now we breed a horse that looks more like a Thoroughbred. Go back and look at a picture of [1951 Little Brown Jug winner] Tar Heel and compare that with sons of Meadow Skipper on to Speedy Crown and today to Somebeachsomewhere and that will answer your question. You will see a horse in Tar Heel that looked like a draft horse and when you get to Speedy Crown you'll start to see horses that look like fashionable Thoroughbreds.”

“I remember when I first got involved, our horses were the proverbial jugheads,” said Murray Brown, the retired general manager and vice president of Standardbred Horse Sales Company. “They were big, they were coarse, they were built more for endurance than they were for speed. It wasn't unusual back then for a horse to go three prep miles before the race. They were bigger and perhaps tougher, but they weren't this fast. They're now being bred predominantly for speed. Look at  conformation pictures of the horses by Tar Heel. You got big, coarse, kind of plain horses. Today's horse is so much more streamlined.”

Another factor has been the advances the industry has made when it comes to equipment, primarily the sulky. They have become lighter and more aerodynamic.

“You hear all the time that the bikes are built so much more for speed now,” Brown said. “There's almost no friction and there's more loft and they just go faster because of that.”

The drivers are another part of the equation. Bret Hanover was driven by his trainer, Frank Ervin, typical of the time when the concept of the “catch driver” had yet to take hold. The trainers who drove their own horses might have weighed 200 pounds and weren't particularly skilled as drivers. Today, the vast majority of the horses are driven by individuals who do nothing but drive. The best invariably weigh in the neighborhood of 140 pounds.

“The main factor is probably the evolution of the breed, but there are other extraneous things like the dominance of the catch driver,” Brown said.

It's not that Thoroughbreds have always been this fast. Based on times for the Kentucky Derby, the Thoroughbred breed did evolve and get faster in the early 1900s. Between 1896, the first year the race was run at a 1 1/4 miles, and 1910, the average Derby time was 2:09.8. Over the next 14 years, from 1910 through 1923, the average winning time fell to 2:06.1. By 1962, the record for the Derby had fallen to 2:00.4, the time turned in by Decidedly. Every Derby since 2002 has been run in a slower time. Northern Dancer's time of 2:00 in 1964 has been eclipsed just twice, by Secretariat and by Monarchos in 2001. If there is a way to produce faster species, no one has figured that out.

The Standardbred will never be as fast as the Thoroughbred, but how close can they get? The consensus is that the Standardbred will eventually hit its peak as a breed but that may still be years away.

“When will we see a mile in 1:44?” Ford said. “I don't think we'll have to wait 10 years. The way things are going, it might be 10 weeks.”

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Florida Sire Stakes Returns in 2022

The FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes will return to Gulfstream Park with a series of races for 2-year-olds sired by accredited stallions standing in Florida from late summer through early fall.

The $100,000 Dr. Fager, a six-furlong sprint, and the $100,000 Desert Vixen, a six-furlong dash for fillies, will kick off the 2022 FSS series Aug. 6. The $200,000 Affirmed will be contested at seven-furlongs Sept. 3, the same day as the $200,000 Susan's Girl for fillies. The $400,000 In Reality and the $400,000 My Dear Girl for fillies, the 1 1/16-mile final legs of the series, will be run Oct. 1.

The inaugural $100,000 FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes Gil Campbell Memorial, a mile stakes for 3-year-olds, will also be run Oct. 1.

The Florida Sire Stakes Series has produced five Eclipse Award champions: Awesome Feather (2010 Juvenile Filly), Big Drama (2010 Sprinter), Smile (1986 Sprinter), Brave Raj (1986 Juvenile Filly) and Not Surprising (1995 Sprint).

The six Florida Sire Stakes races are among 40 stakes races scheduled during the spring, summer and fall months at Gulfstream Park. The $75,000 Honey Ryder, a mile turf stakes for 3-year-old fillies, and the $75,000 English Channel, a mile turf event for 3-year-olds, will kick off the stakes schedule next Saturday, followed by the $75,000 Monroe, a 1 1/16-mile turf stakes for fillies and mares, next Sunday.

The Royal Palm Meet's stakes schedule will be headlined by the $250,000 GII Princess Rooney Invitational, a seven-furlong sprint for fillies and mares, and the $100,000 GIII Smile Sprint, a six-furlong race for 3-year-olds and up, July 2 on Summit of Speed Weekend, which will also feature the $100,000 Bob Umphrey Sprint, a five-furlong dash for 3-year-olds and up on Tapeta.

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Campbells, O’Connell Bring A ‘Smile’ Into Saturday’s Florida Sire Series

Gil and Marilyn Campbell's Stonehedge LLC and trainer Kathleen O'Connell will seek to continue longstanding success in the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes series Saturday when they send out Silver Smile for a start in the $100,000 Desert Vixen at Gulfstream Park.

The Desert Vixen, a six-furlong sprint for fillies, will co-headline Saturday's program with the $100,000 Dr. Fager, a six-furlong open division dash, as the annual series for juveniles sired by accredited stallions standing in Florida gets underway. A mandatory payout of the 20-cent Rainbow 6 carryover pool will also be featured on the program.

O'Connell has saddled 11 of the Campbells' 15 Florida Sire Stakes race winners, including Scandalous Act, who swept the 2013 series for fillies, and Blazing Sword, who won two legs of the open division series in 1996 to launch a multiple graded stakes-winning career.

“I'm very proud of the association I've had with them. It's been over 25 years. We've had a good run. They're wonderful people. They understand the ups and downs of the game. They've brought a lot into the program for Florida-breds,” said O'Connell, who ranks second all-time among women trainers with 2,263 winners. “I wish them nothing but good luck whoever has their horses.”

The Campbells, who will be represented in the Dr. Fager by Michael Yates-trained homebreds Dean Delivers and Cajun's Magic, bred Silver Smile, a daughter of freshman sire Long Island Sound.

Silver Smile (7-2) is scheduled to make her second start Saturday after registering a dominating 4 ¼-length debut victory in front-running fashion June 3 at Gulfstream Park.

“She's trained very well,” O'Connell said. “I think we're all at a handicap because we can't get more educational races between breaking their maiden and the stakes. It's not like it used to be, but we're all in the same spot.”

Silver Smile, who will take on 10 fillies in a lightly raced field, will be ridden by Emisael Jaramillo, who was aboard or her successful debut.

Breeze Easy LLC and trainer Joe Orseno, who will be represented in the Dr. Fager by highly regarded Hope in Him, will send out Stone Beauty ((9-2) for a start in the Desert Vixen. The daughter of Neolithic withstood early pressure before drawing clear by 1 ¾ lengths in her July 16 career debut at Gulfstream.

“When I got her, she was going through a growth spurt. I thought, 'Maybe she's not going to make it.' But she's really come around. She ran really well for me the first time. I think she'll move forward off that race, because I didn't have her really cranked up where I wanted her to be. But I knew if we were going to make the sire stakes, we needed to run her. Everybody was all for it, and now we're going to run in both,” Orseno said. “This is the first time I've run a horse in both races.”

Stone Beauty was purchased by Breeze Easy's Mike Hall and Sam Ross for $130,000 at the OBS April 2-year-olds-in-training sale, a month after they made the winning bid of $190,000 for Hope in Him at the OBS March sale.

“We didn't quite plan on going as high as we did, but we thought that she was a Florida Sire Stakes prospect,” Orseno said. “The owners have been wanting horses for the Florida program. They're standing a stallion in Florida [Curlin's Honor]. They race all over, but they're supporting Florida. They wanted a filly that would fit the bill.”

Samy Camacho has the return mount aboard Stone Beauty.

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Like Silver Smile and Stone Beauty, trainer Roger Laurin's Demurely (8-1) will enter the Desert Vixen off a sharp debut victory. The daughter of Uncaptured rallied from off the pace under returning jockey Chantal Sutherland to capture her May 28 debut by 2 ½ lengths.

Shooting Star Thoroughbreds' Noble Dreamer, who finished second behind Demurely, will enter the Desert Vixen off a sharp 7 ½-length triumph in front-running fashion June 18. The Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained filly is 2-1 in the morning line and one of four daughters of Noble Bird, a Grade 1 stakes-winning freshman stallion, entered in the Desert Vixen.

Joseph will also be represented by Joseph Imbesi's Solar Girl, a daughter of Greenpointcrusader who finished off the board in her recent debut.

Edgard Zayas has the return call on Noble Dreamer, while J. C, Diaz Jr. will ride Solar Girl.

Quintessential Racing Florida LLC, Rocky Top Stable and Tara Sweeney's Royal Rocker is slated to bring two-race experience into the Desert Vixen, in which the daughter of Noble Bird will seek to graduate. The Mark Casse trainee, who was narrowly beaten while finishing second in her June 20 debut at Gulfstream, most recently finished third after experiencing trouble at the start and setting a fast pace into the stretch July 17.

Quintessential Racing Florida LLC and Casse will also be represented in the Desert Vixen field by a pair of Noble Bird-sired first-time starters, Rufa Red Knot and Ukiyo.

Cristian Torres has been named to ride Royal Rocker, while Luca Panici and Leonel Reyes are slated to guide Rufa Red Knot and Ukiyo, respectively.

Jacks or Better Farm Inc.'s Rachel's Rock is also scheduled to make her first career start in the Desert Vixen, in which the daughter of Jess's Dream will seek to provide her owner/breeder Fred Brei with his record 20th Florida Sire Stakes win.

Trainer Ralph Nicks named Jesus Rios to ride the Jacks or Better Farm Inc. homebred filly.

Blazing Meadows Farm LLC's Soul Flight and Champion Equine's My Sassenach, both coming off second-place finishes, will seek to graduate in the Desert Vixen.

The Florida Sire Stakes series will will continue Aug. 28 with the $200,000 Affirmed and the $200,000 Susan's Girl for fillies, both slated for seven furlongs, and Sept. 25 with the $400,000 In Reality and the $400,000 My Dear Girl for fillies, both to be run around two turns at 1 1/16 miles.

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‘Florida Thoroughbred History Moments’ Focus On Sunshine State’s Successful Industry

The Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association has launched a digital campaign promoting the successful history of Florida-breds born and raised in the Sunshine State.

The series titled “Florida Thoroughbred History Moment” features an opening and closing image of an old-timey newsreel much like those featured in movie theaters in the 1940s. Along with the sound of the whir of the newsreel, each video is narrated by the distinctive voice of Robert Clotworthy giving an even more nostalgic feel. Clotworthy is the narrator for the History Channel series Ancient Aliens and The Curse of Oak Island and he lends his voice perfectly to the series.

Each 'Florida Thoroughbred History Moment' vignette highlights a significant achievement in Florida-bred history focusing on the people, the horses and the farms that have contributed to its success since the industry kicked off in earnest after Needles' 1956 Kentucky Derby win.

The first history moment on Needles launched the series with the signature line given in Clotworthy's deepest voice, “And now a Florida Thoroughbred History Moment… “

Needles put the state on the map as the first horse born in Florida to win the Kentucky Derby and he later set another milestone winning the first Belmont Stakes. His acclaim led many to visit Central Florida to see for themselves the Thoroughbreds raised on limestone rich soil and drinking from the spring fed aquifers. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, local lore has it that more people bought real estate in Marion County thanks to Needles' fame more than any realtor's effort.

The second video in the series focuses upon the O'Farrells' Ocala Stud, the oldest active stud farm in the state. Still using their original stud barn and training barn, which is the oldest wooden horse barn in the state, Ocala Stud's 1960's slogan 'If you want a runner look to Ocala Stud' is featured prominently.

In 1968, Dr. Fager became the world's fastest miler and still holds the record today. The swift horse is featured in the series with a reminiscence photo of him coming home to Ocala greeted by school children holding signs saying, “Dr. Fager is No. 1” and “Welcome Home Champion.” Also, as part of that welcome back, local police pulled over the trailer with the horse inside on Highway 200. Dr. Fager was issued a speeding ticket for 'reckless speed' for his stellar performance ontrack, and the ticket noted his make and style as 'horse' and 'fast'. Additionally, he was inducted into the local Chamber of Commerce.

The next video in the series features Unbridled and the great television moment between trainer Carl Nafzger and owner Mrs. Francis Genter. The poignant moment was captured by NBC during the horse's legendary Kentucky Derby run. His legacy as a sire of champions for more than four decades is also highlighted.

Winning the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, Silver Charm showcased the talent coming out of the Ocala Breeders' Sales and gave rising stars Bob Baffert and the McKathan Brothers the limelight. The gray gained international fame winning the Dubai World Cup, then later joining the stallion ranks in Japan. The vignette also points out Michael Blowen's love for the horse which led to the creation of Old Friends farm and the moment Blowen's dream came true when Silver Charm came back to the states and retired there.

Of course, no Florida series would be complete without Affirmed, the state's Triple Crown winner and longest title holder at 37 years. His hard fought wins in the classics over Alydar are some of the greatest moments in sports rivalry history.

The videos also feature the FTBOA logo and the Discover Florida Horses logo developed by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The campaign is an example of the global promotions of thoroughbreds and the thoroughbred industry in state of Florida. The video series is available for use by farms and businesses promoting Florida Thoroughbreds and is also aired regularly on Horse Capital Television.

The series is also part of a newly launching campaign on social media focusing on Facebook groups that have an interest in Thoroughbred history and the sport of horse racing. The series can also be seen on the FTBOA YouTube channel.

The goal is to expand the series into 'Florida Thoroughbred History Profiles' over coming years to include the oral history handed down from horseman to horseman. The first two profiles aired in September and featured 2017 Godolphin award honoree Lugusta “Gus” Gray who has worked more than 50 years on farms, first for Fred Hooper and now Donald Dizney's Double Diamond Farm.

FTBOA's Associate Vice President-Membership Services and Events, Tammy A. Gantt scripts and produces each segment. The series was a brainchild of hers thanks to her love of the history of the sport and her more than 25 years in the Florida industry.

Lonny Powell, CEO of FTBOA said, “The goal of our video series and social media campaign is to showcase the history of success of Florida horses, horsemen and farms. We began this program more than two years ago and have added to the series, expanded it and now rolled it into other platforms like social media which we've seen significantly grow since the pandemic began earlier this year.”

He added, “The series can continue for quite some time as we've had 52 national champions, six Kentucky Derby champions, seven Preakness winners, six Belmonts, 28 Breeders' Cup wins, 66 Eclipse Awards and more than 170 Florida-bred millionaires and growing.”

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