Us Harness Racing

DALE FROST p, 1:58 1977 [1951-1968]
Dale Frost, son of Hal Dale-Galloway, was the sire of such great pacers as world champion Meadow Skipper and Fulla Napoleon: He was a top racehorse with career earnings of $204,117. His progeny had 216 wins in 1967 alone, earning well over a half-million dollars and ranking him among the nation's top sires. He will always be remembered, though, as the sire of Meadow Skipper, who had such an historic impact on the sport as a producer of pacing champions and sires. Dale Frost died at age seventeen in 1968.

DAN PATCH p, T1:55¼ 1953 [1896-1916]
Probably one of the most famous horses of all time, Dan Patch was foaled in Oxford, IN, on the farm of Dan A. Messner in 1896. His sire was Joe Patchen, his dam—Zelica. As a racehorse, he was undefeated in his three regular seasons, losing only two heats. He entered the 2:00 list in 1902, with 1:59½. In 1903 he paced to bike sulky in 1:56 and to wagon in 1:57¼. He was the world champion pacing horse from 1903 until 1938. He was sold to M. W. Savage, of Minneapolis, MN, and in 1905, driven by Harry Hersey at Lexington, KY in a time trial, he paced in 1:55¼. After this mile he was not raced, but traveled miles on exhibition throughout the country. He was heavily commercialized, his name appearing on everything from stopwatches to washing machines to published sheet music. Dan Patch died in 1916 at the Savage Farm. Savage died the following day.

Stanley F. Dancer 1969 [1927-2005]
Harness Racing's Living Legend
Insights of A Master Horseman
Gallery Of Champions

VERNON J. DANCER 2001 [1923-2000]
Trainer/driver/owner Vernon Dancer was born in Red Valley, NJ on August 3, 1923. An outstanding horseman, he earned a reputation as a successful and popular Grand Circuit trainer-driver and catch-driver. During the 1960s and 70s, he conditioned a major stable of trotters and pacers, racing at the sport's leading tracks of the era Roosevelt, Yonkers, Brandywine raceways, and Liberty Bell Park. He drove his first race at Freehold in 1952 with the stakes-winning Miss Norah. In 1964, he won the Geers at DuQuoin and set a track record at Monticello with Lyss Hanover. That same year, in one of the most memorable of all races at Yonkers Raceway, he drove Cardigan Bay to victory over Overtrick in the Dan Patch Pace, in a track and world record time of 1:58.lh. Three years later, Dancer drove the first 2:00 mile at Freehold with Peerswick. In 1969, the Grand Circuit turned into Vernon Dancer's stage as he campaigned Victory Star ,2:02.lm ($136,665.), whom he broke, trained and drove to honors as the season's champion two-year-old trotting colt and richest money-winning juvenile trotter. Vernon brought him back as a three-year-old to win the 1970 $100,000 Yonkers Trot. Then, in 1971, came an upset of Speedy Crown with Keystone Hilliard in the Founders Gold Cup at Vernon; and Nevele Bret took the Roosevelt Pace. For the last half of the great colt's two-year-old season, Dancer drove Super Bowl, last winner of trotting's Triple Crown. Together, they set track records at Liberty Bell (2:01.4t) and Yonkers (2:06.lh), won the Greyhound Stake in Springfield, the Horseman S take in Indianapolis, the International Stallion Trot in Lexington, the Westbury Futurity at Roosevelt, and then the Westchester at Yonkers, over a field that included Songcan and Delmonica Hanover. The following year, 1972, Vernon won the Battle of Brandywine and the American National with Silent Majority. He also drove Decorum to a 1:56.3m world record at the Red Mile, Lexington, KY, while defeating the brilliant Romalie Hanover. Vernon Dancer's favorite Standardbred was the picture-perfect Honeysuckle Rose, one of the most graceful and formidable fillies of her era. Dancer trained, she never made a break in her racing career, which included victories, as a two-year-old, in the Proximity, Hanover, Lexington Filly, the Lou Dillon and Walnut Hall; and in 1973, as a three-year-old, the Flora Temple, Hudson Filly, Blue Bonnets, Battle of Saratoga, and Martha Washington. That year, Dancer catch-drove Smog to a win in the Cane Pace and took the International Stallion Pace with Nevele Bret. The height of Dancer's career came in 1975 when three of his stable's horses were major stakes performers: Polaris Lobell finished third in the Little Brown Jug; Miracle Hanover won the Quaker City Pacing Series and was a dominant winner at Liberty Bell; and Quick Work was the top trotter that season at both Liberty Bell and Brandywine. Tempered Yankee, whom Vernon Dancer also broke, trained and drove, was the perfect pacer. His greatest triumph came in a free-for-all at Roosevelt, when he paced the fastest last quarter ever recorded at that track to that time, while beating an all-star field that included Rum Customer, Fulla Napoleon and Laverne Hanover. In 1976, Vernon Dancer won a heat of the Hambletonian Stake and came second in the final with Zoot Suit. The following year, at Freehold, 25 years after he had started his career there, he went down in a harrowing wreck when his mount, the three-year-old Some Network, fell at the head of the stretch. Vernon's leg was shattered in five places. As a consequence, his driving career slowly came to an end, but not before he had racked up a UDRS of over 300. He had also reached ninth, in 1969 and 1970, in the all-time standing of money-winning drivers; and he had driven 1,723 winners and earned $8.96 million. Vernon Dancer also

DARNLEY t, 1:59¾ 1960 [1940-1960]
Darnley was by Scotland-Fionne, foaled in 1940 at Walnut Hall Farm in Kentucky. As a yearling he was sold for $2,400 to Aaron Williams of Corning, NY and placed in the stable of Walter Cox In Goshen. Upon the death of Cox he was sent to Harry Whitney. At the age of four, he took his record of 1:59¾ in The Trotting Derby at Goshen. When Williams died in 1946, he was willed to Whitney, who sold him to Walnut Hall Farm and immediately placed at stud. He proved to be a wonderful sire, with such off-spring as Lord Steward, Darn Safe, Tag Me and numerous others. He died at Walnut Hall on February 2, 1960.

CRIT DAVIS 1997 [1848-1916]
Born in 1848 in Mercer County, Kentucky, Crit Davis began training his first horse when he was 14 years old. His career as a Standardbred trainer/driver began soon after, taking him on the county fair circuit throughout his native state. Success as a trainer/driver came to Davis many times, most notably driving Prince Wilkes 2:15¼, Maud Messenger 2:16, and Singerly 2:16½. Davis was renowned for the care he gave his charges. His knowledge of feed, tack and the needs of his horses made him a favorite of owners. The inventor of the Crit Davis Bit, still in use today, died in 1916 in Lexington, KY.

CHARLES DEAN 1977 [1867-1922] Charles Dean, one of the most popular "harness racing gentlemen" of the early 1900s, was born in 1867 in Palatine, IL into a family of horse lovers. His career in the sport began when Dean served a stint as a groom in Chicago. He later went on to become a trainer and driver.
After his career was established, he went back to his hometown, purchased a farm and opened his own stable. During his career, Dean handled such fine horses as Angiola, Fleming Uoy, Minor Heir, Sir Roch, Empire Direct, The Broncho and Nervolo. He died in Palatine in 1922.

DEAN HANOVER t, T1:58½ 1962 [1934-1960]
Dean Hanover was foaled in 1934, the son of Dillon Axworthy-Palestrina and bred by Hanover Shoe Farm. As a three-year-old he set a world mark for a three-heat race, 2:00¼, 2:00¾, and 2:00¾. Raced as Mr. Watt until purchased by Hanover Shoe Farm as a three-year-old, he took his record being driven by eleven-year-old Alma Sheppard. Champion at two, three, and four, he also was a great sire. Ten of his sons and daughters were on 2:00 lists and there were seven 2:00 performers descended from his sons and daughters at the time of his death in September, 1960 at Hanover Shoe Farm, PA.

Joseph A. DeFrank 1993 [ - ]

DELMONICA HANOVER 6,1:59.2m 1999 [1969-1996]
Delmonica Hanover was the daughter of Speedy Count out of the Kimberly Kid mare Delicious. Trained and more often than not driven by Delvin Miller, she had 51 career wins in 121 starts. She was named the USTA Horse of the Year in 1974, only the second mare, up until that time, to be so honored.
In 1970 she was purchased by Delvin Miller from the Hanover Shoe Farms consignment at the Harrisburg Sales for $5,000. By the 1980's her price tag had rocketed to $1 million. In a feat only equalled by Peace Corps, she was named USHWA Divisional champion at age two, three, four and five. In the 1972 Hambletonian Stake at DuQuoin, IL, Delmonica Hanover finished second in both heats, to Super Bowl. She race timed in 1:58 and 1:57 on the day Super Bowl set a world record of 1:56.2. Her 1:57 individual time was the second fastest trotting mile ever by a female at that point in time. Only Rosalind's 1937 time trial of 1:56¾ was faster. In 1974, she became the first North American owned horse to win France's Prix d'Amerique. She also recorded back to back wins in the 1973 and 1974 Roosevelt International Trot. World champion at both 3 and 4, she took her lifetime mark of 1:59.2 in her last start, at Hollywood Park, CA at the age of 6. Her lifetime earnings totaled $832,925.
As a broodmare she excelled. Of her 12 foals, eight raced and earned a total of $1.15 million. Her two standout foals were 1989 Hambletonian Stake co-winner Park Avenue Joe (3, 1:55.3 and $666,311) and world champion Delmegan (4, T1:55.3 and $469,593). Delmonica Hanover died in Sweden at the age of 27.

DEMON HANOVER 2, 2:05.3m;5, T1:59.4 1999 [1945-1959]
A Dean Hanover foal out of Sorceress, a Volomite mare, Demon Hanover was bred by Hanover Shoe Farms. His pedigree carried more crosses to George Wilkes than probably any horse at stud in America in recent years. George Wilkes, the fastest stallion by Hambletonian 10, was noted for pure gait, extreme speed, and ability to pass those qualities on.
Purchased by amateur trainer/driver/owner Harrison Hoyt as a yearling for $2,600, Demon Hanover was developed and trained entirely by his devoted owner, and treated as the family pet. Intelligent and well-mannered, he learned his trade in Saratoga's 2-year-old amateur trots. His extraordinary consistency, beating all comers with ease, piling up a row of stake wins, sent him to the 1948 Hambletonian the favorite. Piloted by Harrison Hoyt, he won in an effortless straight heat victory. After a series of successes as a 3-year-old, Demon Hanover graduated to the free-for-all ranks. He consistently proved that distance racing was no problem, with many of his successes coming in long distance races. Major win came in the $50,000 Roosevelt 2-mile trot, when he beat Chris Spencer and Proximity for first place honors. As a 5-year-old he time trialed in 1:59.4. Major wins in his last season as a 6-year-old, included the American Trotting Championship and the Trotting Derby. He was retired in 1951 with total earnings of $187,344. Most of his wins were free-for-alls against the best trotters in the country. That same year, Hoyt sold him, for stud duty, to Gay Acres Farm, OH; the price tag was $82,000. It was the sixth highest price ever paid for a Standardbred.
Demon Hanover's first two crops immediately indicated he was siring youngsters like himself, as evidenced by Steamin' Demon and Demon Rum. They had exceptionally pure gait, extreme early speed, stamina and an aggressive winning spirit. Their promise inspired John Gaines to form a syndicate to purchase the stallion for a record $500,000. At the time, it was the highest price ever paid for a trotter and equalled among Standardbreds only by the pacer, Adios. Demon Hanover was transferred to Walnut Hall Farm for the 1959 breeding season. After a successful routine operation for the removal of a stone from his bladder, he suffered a coronary embolism and died on August 16, 1959. He is buried at Walnut Hall, Lexington, KY. He was 14YO.

DEWEYCHEATUMNHOWE  3, 1:50,4 - $3,177,112
That was the happy -- and perhaps relieved -- reaction of part owner, trainer and driver Ray Schnittker, who drove the heavily favored Deweycheatumnhowe to victory, in 1:52, in “it” -- the $1.5 million Hambletonian Final on Saturday at the Meadowlands.
Schnittker had drawn himself the rail position at this past Tuesday’s press conference, and used the innermost starting slot to its best advantage by immediately sprinting to the top. The race, as it unfolded, was nearly void of great drama thereafter: The undefeated trotter raced on top through fractions of :26.4, :55 and 1:23.2 with Crazed, the second choice of the crowd, right behind. The sole challenge came from a longshot, Velocity Hall (David Miller), who raced in the first-over position on the backstretch, but who was easily held at bay by the winner. At the top of the stretch, driver Tim Tetrick came out from behind “Dewey’s” cover with Crazed, and made one move towards an upset -- but fell a half-length short of victory. Make It Happen (Daniel Dube) closed in the stretch and finished third, 3-1/4 lengths behind, and Celebrity Secret (Brian Sears) finished fourth.  Read on...

Jim Dennis 2002 [1924-2004]
Jim Dennis, inducted for his accomplishments as a trainer and driver. Dennis, 78, lives in Solana Beach, Calif. and has based his stable in California for several decades. He trained Mr. Dalrae, voted the best older pacer of 1984, and his half-brother, Sir Dalrae, best four-year-old pacer of 1973. Sir Dalrae, voted Horse of the Year in 1973, won $678,314 and Mr. Dalrae racked up $1,150,807 in the 1980s. Dennis also campaigned Adios Vic, who handed three-time Horse of the Year Bret Hanover four of his only six losses in the 1960s. Dennis was a top trainer and driver on both coasts, at Yonkers and Roosevelt Raceways in New York City, as well as at Hollywood Park in Los Angeles, California. Dennis cites the successful transition of Sir Dalrae from his initial racing career as a trotter to a pacer as one of his major achievements.

Al Desantis, 1989

HARRY K. DEVEREUX 1958 [1869-1932]
Born in 1869 in Cleveland, OH, H. K. Devereux
as a youth was an excellent athlete and later grew to love driving trotters, with his horses stabled at Glenview Track in Cleveland. Around 1900 he formed a syndicate, the Pastime Stable, which owned and raced Lee Axworthy, Volga and others around the Grand Circuit. Investors in Pastime Stable originated the Cleveland Driving Club and this was the start of organized matinee racing. For years he was president of the Grand Circuit and managed the North Randall race meetings. He died in Cleveland in June 1932.

DEXTER t, 2:17¼ 1956 [1858-1888]
This famous son of Hambletonian and Clara was foaled in 1858, and bred by Jonathan Hawkins of Walden in Orange County, NY. Dexter had run unbroken until 1862, when he was sold for $400 to George B. Alley who broke him as a roadster. In 1863 he was sent to Hiram Woodruff and showed 2:42 to wagon. His turf debut in 1864 was so successful that he was soon a household word throughout the country. George Trussel paid $14,000 for him in 1866 and placed him in the hands of Budd Doble, who drove him to his record of 2:17¼ at Buffalo the following year. Previous to this fast mile, Robert Bonner had bought him for $35,000 and used him as his favorite roadhorse. Dexter died in 1888, aged thirty years.

WATSON B. DICKERMAN 1976 [1846-1923]
Watson B. Dickerman, born in Mount Carmel, CT in 1846, founded the Hillanddale Farm in Mamaroneck, NY. It was here that he established his public breeding farm, where Bellini and Atlantic Express were two of his greatest sires. The champion trotting mare Nedda was a product of this prolific farm. Dickerman always had the best trainers and horsemen working for him. Among them were John L. Dickerson, whom he contracted in 1900 to train and race and who developed both Atlantic Express and Nedda; and Harry Fleming, who drove Nedda to her 1:58¼ trotting record in 1922 and remained at Hillanddale Farm until after Dickerman's death in 1923.

JOHN H. DICKERSON 1958 [1863-1944]
Born in Indiana, "Johnny Dick" first made headlines in the high-wheel days and became a second trainer for Budd Doble in 1893. Later, as an independent trainer, he campaigned the "Iron Horse" Joe Patchen, sire of Dan Patch. He had much success with Anaconda, 2:01¾ and bred Kohl, Almeda and many others. In 1900 he contracted to train and race for W. B. Dickerman of Hillanddale Farm, Mamaroneck, NY, who owned Bellini, a top sire. Dickerson developed Soprano, Atlantic Express, Nedda, who was champion mare for years, among others. He was noted for colt training and developing speed. The brother of William K. Dickerson, he retired to California but moved back to Indiana, where he died in 1944.

WILLIAM K. DICKERSON 1958 [1872-1948]
"Billy Dick" was born in 1872 in Versailles, IN. As a young man he moved to Goshen, NY, where he had a public stable and leased Joe Patchen, to make him a famous sire of that era. He soon was engaged
by the Harriman family to train their stable and remained with them until his retirement in 1946. Some of his successful campaigners were Titan Hanover, Guy Ozark, Guy Trojan, Highland Scott, Peter Maltby and Anna Bradford's Girl. He died in Goshen, May 19, 1948.

ROBERT L. DICKEY 1978 [1861-1944]
Robert L. Dickey contributed to the sport immensely as an artist, cartoonist and writer. Born in Marshall, MI in 1861, he began to paint animals and especially horses when he was a young man. In 1894 he went to work for Horse Review, the top Journal of the sport. He first achieved fame as a result of his 1903 Christmas issue cover. His witty cartoons on the passing harness racing scene regaled readers for a quarter of a century. He also served the magazine as a writer. He died in October 1944 in Cleveland.

DILLON AXWORTHY t, 2:10¼ 1955 [1910-1939J
One of the outstanding colt trotters of his time and later one of the foremost sires of early speed, Dillon Axworthy was foaled in 1910 as the property of C. M. Buck, Fairbault, MN. He was by Axworthy out of Adioo Dillon. As a colt he went to a new owner, A. B. Coxe of Paoli, PA and was trained by Joseph Serrill. He won most of his stars in his short racing career and was retired to stud. After the death of Coxe in 1926, he was purchased by Hanover Shoe Farm in Pennsylvania. He became one of the farm's foundation stallions and his off-spring included Margaret Dillon, Bertha Dillon, Dean Hanover, Hanover's Bertha and many others. He died at the age of 29 at Hanover Shoe Farm on October 3, 1939.

DIRECT p, T2:05½ 1955 [1885-1905]
Direct was sired by Director out of Echora and foaled in 1885 in California. As a yearling he was bought by Monroe Salisbury, "The Kingmaker". He raced his first campaign at four and was a winner until late in the season, when he became lame and was returned to California and the trainer George Starr. In 1891 he raced throughout the country, continuously lowering records and beating "the stars" until he broke down. The next season, still in pain from lameness, he was made to race. At Nashville in 1894, he went against time and paced in 2:05½. Direct was retired to stud and in 1895 was sent to Tennessee, where he sired such greats as Directly, Directum Kelly, Direct Hal, and many others. In 1895 he was shipped to New York and sold to James Butler at the East View Farm in East View, NY, where he died on March 13, 1905.

DIRECTUM t, 2:05¼ 1956 [1889-1909]
Directum was by Director out of Stemwinder, foaled in 1889 and bred by John Green of Dublin, CA. He was leased to Monroe Salisbury and under the driving of John Kelley became the king of trotters as a colt, taking a mark of 2:05¼ on October 18, 2022 at Nashville. As a four-year-old he was the fastest trotting stallion; fastest four-year-old trotter; winner of the fastest heat by a four-year-old; and shared with Alix the fastest heat trotted at that time. He was purchased by Wimam E. Speir, Glens Falls, NY in 1898 for $21,000, and was in stud at his Suburban Stock Farm. Directum was then purchased at auction in 1901 by M. W. Savage for $12,100 and placed at stud in Minnesota, where he remained until his death in November 1909.

DIRECTUM I., p, 1:56¾ 1955 [1907-1934]
Directum I, by Directum Kelly-Izetta R., foaled in 1907 at East View Stock Farm, NY, owned by James Bufler. As a four-year-old he made his debut and a year later he proved a sensation. In 1915 he was purchased by M. E. Sturgis and entered the stable of Thomas Murphy with a record of 2:00. At Syracuse he paced his fastest mile, 1:56¾. The next year he was sold at public auction to S.S. Shurter of Ellenville, NY for $3,200, raced until he was twelve and then was retired to stud. After that he was passed to various owners and died at the farm of John Lucas, in Shinnston, WV in 1934. His only opportunity for breeding good mares had come in 1928, when Bancroft Farm of Avella, PA leased him for one year.

BUDD DOBLE 1958 [1843-1926]
Born in May 1843 in Philadelphia, Budd Doble came from a trotting horse family. His father John, known as "Uncle Billy", and three brothers (William, Frank and Charles), were all famous in their own right. At the age of twenty-three, Budd was selected to ride Dexter and he made a champion of him, mostly under saddle, but also to high-wheel and wagon. He started Dexter in thirty-five races in 1866 and won thirty-four of them. After Robert Bonner bought Dexter, Budd obtained Goldsmith Maid and for over ten years won approximately $350,000 with her, lowering the world record seven times from Dexter's 2:17¼ to 2:14. Next came Axtell and Nancy Hanks, whom he campaigned all over the country, reducing the record three more times to 2:04. His name became so famous that author Oliver Wendell Holmes wrote about him: "Budd Doble, whose catarrhal name so fills the nasal trump of fame."
He married Clara Baldwin (daughter of the founder of the Santa Anita Racetrack) in 1873. Clara was a close friend of famous Western lawman, Wyatt Earp and his wife, Josephine. In 1924 Doble was hired by E. F. Whittier to come to California to train trotters for his famous Hemet Stock Farm. When he died in March 29, 1926, he was still active as a trainer and a race Judge as well as having been the star of a silent movie about horses 1926.

JOHN L. DODGE 1958 [1866-1940]
Born in Groton, CT, in 1866, John L. Dodge became interested in trotting horses after graduation from college. Successful in the pharmaceutical business, he helped build the Harlem River Speedway and later bought Hollyrood Farm in Lexington, KY, where he bred top horses for years. Dodge was an excellent amateur driver and trainer and often raced his own stable. He bred Periscope, 2:01½, Hollyrood Phyllis, Hollyrood Portia and Hollyrood Susan, to name a few. He retired from racing in 1932, but came back later with Hollyrood Dennis, 2:01¼. He retired to Hollyrood Farm and died April 7, 2023 at his winter home in Grovetown, GA at the age of 74.

Jim Doherty 2003 [1940- ]
New Brunswick, Canada native, has been a top trainer-driver for 40 years. Doherty's career flourished on the harness tracks of New England, where he won many driving championships. He migrated to the sparkling new mile oval at the Meadowlands in New Jersey in 1976 and remains a competitive force at the nation's premier harness track.
Doherty is one of three drivers to win a race at the Meadowlands in each year of its existence. His stable has consistently turned out top performers, whether in the claiming or stakes ranks, and is liberally sprinkled with names like that of the top pacing mare Green With Envy, Governor's Choice, Caramore, Equitable, and the trotters No Nonsense Woman and Starchip Entrprise. Doherty's current star is the Free For All trotter Fool's Goal, about to become harness racing's newest millionaire, and a 1:51.3 world champion holder by virtue of his 2002 Titan Cup victory on June 28. Doherty has also compiled one of harness racing's best driving records, with over 4,400 wins and $35 million in earnings.

DOTTIE'S PICK p,T1:56.4 1982 [1952-1980]
The daughter of Adios-Pick Up, she won in excess of $250,000 in purses, including $100,000+ in 1956 alone; then a single year record for a mare. The highlight of her racing career came that same year, when she won a $25,000 match race from Adios Harry. She was one of the few mares ever to compete successfully in Free-For-Ails with males. Her racing days over, Dottie's Pick became one of the foundation broodmares of the Armstrong Brothers Farm in Canada. Five of her ten foals were 2:00 horses. She died in 1980.

DR. STANTON p, 2:00 1976 [1941-1953]
A Bonnycastle-Mary Philistine gelding, Dr. Stanton was foaled In Indiana in 1941. He was literally a "rags to riches" horse, who at the age of five had not yet been to the races. He was then purchased by W. L. Fraser of Canada who made him one of the richest pacers in the world from 1946-1953. Of 197 starts, Dr. Stanton finished first 74 times, placed 37 times, and came in third 27 times. He died after a workout at Hazel Park Raceway in 1953.

LEON G. DUFFY 1978 [1878-1964]
Born in Circleville, OH in 1878, L. G. Duffy was a familiar name in harness racing for over half a century. He was for many years the editor and publisher of American Sportsman, an early harness racing Journal published in Cleveland. In 1935 he Joined the Harness Horse as an associate editor. He remained with the magazine until he retired in 1959. He died in December, 1964 in Cleveland.

ROGER DUNCAN 1990 [1880-1953]
Roger Duncan began his fifty-six years of service to the sport at the age of seventeen, working for the National Trotting Association (NTA) at Hartford, CT. He was born in Springfield, MA in 1880 and raised in Hartford, where he lived all his life. Duncan served as secretary of the NTA and was one of the key figures in the merger of associations, which resulted in the creation of the USTA. He was that organization's first executive secretary and later its executive vice-president. He died on November 11, 2022 at age seventy-three.

JAMES J. DUNNIGAN 1983 [1912-1983]
Born in the Bronx, NY in 1912, Dunnigan's involvement in harness racing stemmed directly from his father, John J. Dunnigan, a New York state senator for more than 30 years and the father of New York's landmark legislation pari-mutuel bill that passed in 1939. The popular Irishman who received a law degree from the University of Notre Dame in 1934. Jim Dunnigan made his mark as a racetrack executive. In 1942 he helped found Buffalo Raceway in Hamburg, NY, and served as its president for a quarter century.
In 1965 Dunnigan suffered a financial setback as one of the owners of Phoenix Trotting Park in Arizona. However, eight years later, Dunnigan was awarded "The Comeback of the Decade" award from the U.S. Harness Writers, for his part in launching the successful harness race meeting at Los Alamitos, Calif and later Golden Bear Raceway. He also received the Grand Circuit Medallion Award in 1971. At various times during his long association with the sport, he served as a director of the USTA, Harness Tracks of America and the Harness Racing Institute. In 1975 he was inducted into the Living Hall of Fame. Dunnigan died in Scottsdale, AZ in 1983.