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| Lady Suffolk, 1850 |
1788
The Thoroughbred Messenger (1780-1808) arrives from England. His descendants, through Hambletonian 10, become the founders of the American Standardbred horse.
1806
Yankee, a gelding, trots a mile in 2:59. It is the first recorded performance by an American trotter.
1823
The Union Course, Long Island, NY holds the first major public trotting race in America.
1825
The New York Trotting Club is established.
1838
Historic Track in Goshen, NY is constructed.
1845
Lady Suffolk, "The Old Grey Mare," sets a trotting record of 2:291/4 at Hoboken, NJ.
1851
2-year-old, Hambletonian 10 (1849-1876), stands his first season. His fee is $25.
1859
Flora Temple becomes the first 2:20 trotter.
1870
The National Trotting Association, forerunner of the United States Trotting Association, is formed.
1871
The first volume of the American Trotting Register is published by John Wallace.
1873
Grand Circuit racing begins for trotters. Pacing events are not permitted.
1874
Goldsmith Maid (1857-1885) becomes the first 2:15 trotter, with a 2:143/4 mile. She retired in 1877 with a record 350 wins. Hobbles are introduced for pacers.
1875
The first major pacing race, the "Pacing Championship of the United States" is held. The purse is $5,000.
The famous Red Mile in Lexington, KY opens. Racing is sponsored by the Kentucky Trotting Horse Breeders Association.
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1876
The National Association of Trotting Horse Breeders is organized.
1878
Sweetzer becomes the first 2:15 pacer and Rarus lowers the trotting record to 2:131/.
1879
The National Association of Trotting Horse Breeders establishes The Standards for trotting horses.
1883
Johnston becomes the first 2:10 pacer at Chicago, Illinois. The following year Jay Eye See becomes the first 2:10 trotter.
1885
The first volume of Wallace's Year Book, a precursor to the USTA Year Book and Sires & Dams Register, is published.
1888
Using natural gas illumination, the first official night racing is held. Walnut Hall Farm is established in Lexington, Kentucky.
1893
The first Kentucky Futurity is raced at The Red Mile for a purse of $11,850.
1897
Star Pointer (Brown Hall-Sweepstakes) a pacer, becomes the first 2:00 Standardbred with a 1:59 mile.
1900
The great pacing champion Dan Patch (1896-1916) (Joe Patchen-Zelica) wins his first race, at age 4. He is purchased in 1902 by M.W. Savage for $60,000. In 1905, he sets a record of 1:551/. The record stands for 33 years.
1903
The mare Lou Dillon (Sidney Dillon-Lou Milton) becomes the first 2:00 trotter.
1908
Harness racing's first $50,000 race, The American Trotting Derby, is held.
1926
The first Hambletonian Stake is held and Hanover Shoe Farms is established.
1927
The Trotting Horse Club of America is founded.
1930
The Hambletonian is moved from Syracuse, NY to Good Time Park in Goshen, NY.
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| Left to Right: Goldsmith Maid and American Girl, 1868, Dan Patch and Harry Hersey, circa 1905 |
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