NIATROSS - 1980 Batavia Downs

$50,000 Hugh Grant Pace. Niatross paces the fastest ever race on a half-mile track in 1:55, over Elected, Justin Passing, Tyler B.

[@smkozlowski]

I was there that night. Watching the greatest pacer of all time. I was 18 years old and getting seriously into the sport. Niatross did not disappoint. A truly amazing animal he was. I vividly remeber the race, but not much more of the evening. We all left the track knowing we witnessed history.

[@extremelycareless2541]

love it! the clapping and cheers at end were great. grew up in the sport.

[@tonynaccarato4751]

Saw him at Greenwood in December, 1980, great horse, great start to the 80's of exciting harness racing all over NORTH AMERICA.

[@botsterfilion7718]

Over twenty five years ago,one of my. best friends dad told me he drove in the Messenger at Roosevelt Raceway. I thought he was handing me a load of crap. I saw it here on KZbin he wasn’t BSing me…lol. Here he is again in this video driving in a race with the great Niatross!!!!

[@caesarfiorini]

Niatross had won the Dancer at Fhld 5 days earlier by just a length over the same horse. No contest here.

[@brianjschumer]

you can hear it at the end of the video the announcer ever so lightly saying a new world record

[@markrocovich2234]

Even though he and Elected were overmatched in here, Jim Rankin was a very talented horseman who died way to soon..Armbro Willard ,Docs Fella, and Happy Lady(NYSS CHAMP) benefited from his care..

[@buyystocks]

did elected race at buffalo and Batavia too?

[@raygordonteacheschess5501]

I went to Batavia once.

[@tracksideracing9188]

THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR VIDEO

[@lisaachilli8581]

I was there.

[@brianjschumer]

Justin Passing and Tyler B no slouches either, sadly no Whamo, the other great horse of this crop, died before his 3 yr old season. I wonder how fast Niatross could have gone if pushed, even with Galbraith.

[@parkerbohnn]

I remember when Slider died as a 3 year old. Waples used to drive him.

[@parkerbohnn]

Not this horse www.allbreedpedigree.com/slider2 Slider was about 12 years earlier out of the sire Landslide. Ironic a sire with that name and the horse (moose) died as a 3 year old.

[@parkerbohnn]

Hey do you remember Johnny at Greenwood? He was the guy who always dressed in blue and wore that blue hat. Remember the guy every Saturday who said "don't bet Lomar Lee he can't even pee! Remember The Battles Finale and Lomar Lee?

[@brianjschumer]

parkerbohnn I was 11 or 12 the one time I was at Greenwood, had to be mid 70's too..sounds like a fun time tho

[@markrocovich2234]

parkerbohnn Battles Finale and Jerry Duford were a fixture at Windsor Raceway in the late 1970's..With brother Rod, their stable was a force in most top classes..Did you ever go to Garden City?? Great place...

[@parkerbohnn]

Guts was the King of the half-mile oval.

[@jamsid33]

imagine if Niatross had a real driver instead of a zombie like Clint Gailbreath

[@parkerbohnn]

Imagine if Somebeachsomewhere had Ron Waples junior instead of McDonnell (1:45.4 instead of 1:46.4)? Same can be said for Cam Fella, Crowe was a terrible driver. McDonnell was slightly worst than average at the time although later in time he did become a better driver.

[@parkerbohnn]

Make that Ronny senior, Ron junior only drove for a couple of years.

[@extremelycareless2541]

I drove a 2 year old filly trotter that pat couldn't keep flat.

[@zebrabike9]

with John Campbell driving Niatross the horse would have paced close to Mach 1

[@buyystocks]

patsy rapone