Wanna get headlines? Better do it early!

About 40 years ago, I wrote THE definitive article on why our sport would never see a 1:50 mile.

I pointed out my reasons with the main one being that those that have threatened to date needed a “breather” somewhere in the mile—a :29 second breather—which would inevitably leave them shy of that coveted, but elusive, mark.

Now, we’re just around the corner from a mile that is considered 25 lengths faster than 1:50…yes, we’re THAT close to some freak of equine nature crashing through the wire in 1:45!

I still can’t believe it, especially growing up in an era when the 2:00 mile was sacred—-and today’s miles are fairly regularly 50, 55, 60 or, even, 65 lengths faster than that—even in overnight races.

When Steady Star went his epic 1:52 Time Trial way back more than a half century ago (I can’t believe that, either), he got all the headlines.

Yes, if you want your horse’s name in the headlines, you better get that headline early…and it may only be for a wisp of time—maybe even as short as 17 minutes, post time for the next race!

A few weeks ago, we lauded the sighting of a couple of two-year-olds—Lu’s Darling and Woody’s Girl, both pacing in 2:05 and change.

Just days later and we noticed the first 2:00 two-year-olds—the first being Fasting (1:57.1) with zero dollars to show for it.

That’s understandable since we have baby races to get warmed up for the lucrative dollars that lie ahead.

Nonetheless, Fasting has been rewarded with fame—however brief—in the form of black ink in this Mane Attraction.

Whether that transforms into black ink in some sales catalog remains to be seen.

Now, here we are just in the middle to late June, Fasting is not even in the top 30 as Dreamboat Hanover, Swingtown, and the fillies Ascending and Duration all with marks under 1:55…and all with z-e-r-o dollars on their resume so far.

Of the 33 two-year-old pacers that already have marks of 1:57 or faster, TWO HAVE EARNINGS—the filly Darlene’s Angel, p, 2, 1:55.3 ($5,840) in a race and the colt, Bitcoin Hanover, who is two-for-two, good for $4.088 with a “Q” mark of 1:56.2.

In fact, of the 53 juvenile colts, geldings and fillies on the select list, which floats down to 1:57.2, still those two mentioned above are the only ones with any bounty at all.

Yes, the entire season is ahead for these hopefuls but, as one can see, headlines are hard to come by and there is only room for 10 in the top 10 and only room for one at the top!

Remember when a 2:00 two-year-old trotting mile was about as rare as that 24 cent postage stamp with the upside-down airplane?

It’s not even July and we have 30 on the list—the fastest being the filly Princess Jackie at 1:55.3.

She’s the only one on the that list with any earnings, as well—$7,000.

In fact, the top 36—all with marks of 2:00 already—including the colts, geldings and fillies—Jackie is still the only one on the money list…all the others have z-e-r-o.

Yes, that will change but, to get the headlines, well, that’s a tough, tough assignment and there’s only room for one in the winner’s circle—two if it’s a rare dead-heat!

The three-year-old season has just begun to heat up with 25 1:50 performers already with Nijinsky and the filly Sarasota Hanover both at 1:48.1.

Nijinsky has gotten all the headlines with his NA Cup win—and sterling it was.

The filly Sarasota Hanover has banked all of $11,755 in her three starts this semester…and this just might be the only headline she gets this year.

We already have six sub-1:49 performers…and it’s not even July when the warm weather really sizzles in setting up those sizzling miles.

By the way, the gelding Nuclear is number six on the list at 1:48.4.

Where’s the glory for him? In time only, since he’s earned $6,670—sad to say hardly a headliner!

I was at Sportsman’s Park one night long ago and saw the trotter Earl Laird win in 2:00 flat—last half :57.2.

Here we are—it’s not even July yet—and we have three aged trotters in 1:50—50 lengths faster than Earl Laird.

I realize that the “young” folk reading this can’t fathom a mile as slow as 2:00 these days being such a big deal…and it’s still difficult for me to fathom that a trotter is capable of completing a mile in 1:50…or less!

The Mare Jiggy Jog S, the gelding Lexus Kody and the horse Winner’s Bet have all won in 1:50 this semester.

Looking down the list of the top 50 or so, Joxter comes to mind with a mark of 1:52.3…and he’s banked all of $13,380 to show for it!

No headline for Joxter these days.

Our sport has developed into one of both speed and stamina with the former harnessing the decisive edge over the latter.

I don’t know if this is good or not…but one thing is for sure…

The 1:45 mile WILL get all the headlines!

May The Horse Be With You

by John Berry, for Harnesslink