1985 Meadowlands Pace - Nihilator & Bill O'Donnell

Under the guidance of William O'Donnel, Nihilator paces to a 1:50.3 win in the 1985 Meadowlands Pace.

[@taxisteve929]

Those were the days!! I know harness racing really kicked in after WWII when there were no night games in sports, and Roosevelt started racing nights, but I think it peaked from the early years of the Meadowlands to the late 80s....I'm not just saying that because those were my main years of attending, the purses reflect it too. Incredible horses and the best drivers and trainers ever, and the owners all had their wallets open, many moving to breeding....the money was everywhere, and even those running the track, Quigley and mainly Joe DeFrank, made sure races were full, and highly competitive...."no backing off the half!!! No sitting on the outside...when you are outside, you move...and if you lose, you lose trying". Joe DeFrank.......and they listened. Every year, it was incredible the first few weeks with great prices, horses coming in from all over.

[@clydeb7713]

The glory days indeed.

[@robertjohns1675]

I remember they would handle 2.5 million or more on weeknights during those years. Was very exciting time for the sport

[@phil1727]

What a beast of a horse these are the true days of racing for harness fans Unfortunately we saw the best and I was seeing the rest don’t give me wrong there’s still some great horses and some great racing but you’re seeing what the bloodlines world created from if it had an N in front of it you could bet it would win

[@brenthachmann5655]

150:3 was an amazing mile in 1985 and that was Tom Durkin with the call. Not his best effort however he did nail it at the end...Nihilator a superstar indeed.

[@Firestone1]

+brent hachmann When that horse was on the top of his game, he was in another league. Very few horses like that.....Niatross and Somebeach are the other 2 pacers that come to mind.

[@brianjschumer]

Strong field, Anxious Robby,Forrest Skipper, Dignitatian, Primus, etc all very fast horses, hence 1:50.3 mile, But Nihilator, alot like his dad and grandfather

[@robertthomas5196]

Shame Falcon Seelster wasn't there.

[@brianjschumer]

@@robertthomas5196 I agree, from what I read the Harmer's didnt have him nominated to alot of big races, they kept him mostly on the local sire stakes events (I think Ohio?), which he promptly ate up every race.

[@danearley9494]

Nihilator would have crushed Falcon Seelster.

[@markrocovich2234]

brianjschumer Harmers ownership group bought Falcon from the Belco Stables of Dieppe, N.B. while he was racing at Pompano Park..Yvan Cormier was his trainer and part-owner..He was bred by the Seelster Farms of Lucan Ont. Can. and he was by Warm Breeze which made him ineligible to the Ohio Sires Stakes..

[@EJXD2]

Hey, Joe... I believe that's Tom Durkin w/ the call

[@stephenhavenner6954]

Awesome!

[@xeno246]

Champion

[@raygordonteacheschess5501]

last half in 54-flat man...

[@billviola7884]

Funny how Nihilator avoided In The Road Again.

[@Flint92]

Other way around

[@Flint92]

Regardless, I spoke to Bob Heydan about that same question. No horseman thought Road could win, and after Hambo day and Nihilator winning his race 3 seconds faster than Road won his, Road would have needed a 15 length head start to have any shot. GUTS alone swept Road in 1984, what the heck you think Nihilator would have done!

[@garyordus2383]

Falcon who

[@alborrelli1604]

Nialator was a great colt as was Niatross.Dancer would tell us that big Bird was better than them both.I agree Albatross was the best.

[@Flint92]

I spoke with Stan Bergstein one time and. And he felt Bret Hanover was the GOAT.

[@joehansell1331]

Ah, memories. Was at the Meadowlands as it happened, and thought then and now that this was the single worst race call I have ever heard. I believe it was John Bothe (if it wasn't, I apologize) and with the outcome a 99% certainty, the track announcer was horribly over the top. Unforgettable for all the wrong reasons.

[@jimcunningham61]

tom durkin

[@joehansell1331]

@@jimcunningham61 Durkin had better race calls than this one, that's for sure. Hell, Dave Johnson's had better calls than this one.

[@clydeb7713]

Whata HORSE!