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Lot # 1423: 1980 Niatross Cane Pace Final Blanket

Category: Horse Racing

Starting Bid: $500.00

Bids: 14 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "2024 Winter Classic",
which ran from 2/25/2024 10:00 AM to
3/16/2024 10:00 PM



Many harness experts consider Niatross, a pacer, to be the best standardbred horse of all time. Presented is a white and green wool blanket, with green patch text reading, "NIATROSS/CANE PACE/YONKERS RACEWAY/JUNE 29, 1980," worn by Niatross after his Cane Pace victory in the first leg of the 1980 Pacing Triple Crown. A bay stallion, Niatross, was sired by Albatross out of the mare Niagra Dream. His unique name was formed by taking the "Nia" from Niagra and the "tross" from Albatross. He was co-owned by Mrs. Elsie Berger and Clint Galbraith, bred by Elsie Berger, trained and ridden by Galbraith. After Niatross won his first six races in 1979, a half-interest in him was sold to Lou Guida and the Niatross Syndicate. Niatross was undefeated in 13 starts as a two-year-old and voted the 1979 Harness Horse of the Year. In 1980, Niatross won The Meadowlands Pace, the first million-dollar race in either thoroughbred or standardbred history. In 1980, he won the Pacing Triple Crown when he won the Cane Pace, the Little Brown Jug, and the Messenger Stakes. In the Cane Pace, Niatross had a time of 1:57 3/5 for a mile and won $321,365. The large, 16-hands stallion was named the 1980 Harness Horse of the Year, and he is in the Harness Racing Hall of Fame. The blanket measures approx. 42" on each side, with a total width of approx. 84" and a length of approx. 85". The blanket is designed to be read from each side as it is draped over the horse, and each side has the aforementioned green patch text and numbering. The blanket has a green border and green tassels attached on the corners. The blanket shows good use. Some of the green cloth stays used to tie the blanket to the horse show fraying, and there are some various small stains on either side where the lettering and numbering is visible. Despite some minor imperfections consistent with use, the blanket serves as an outstanding remembrance of one, at the very least, of the all-time greatest pacers in history.

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