Who Was Fastest For A Quarter-Mile?

Pronger no doubt was a fast 1/4 pole horse. But do many people pay attention to horses that close a fast 1/4? One horse, Copper Color, raced with my favorite Franco Catapult N and closed in 25. And still couldn't beat Franco Catapult N. I said "Man, 25, that is fast".

Janelle Scherbik

I have been going to the racetrack for the past 60 yrs most of the early days with my Dad who passed away in 1968 (seems like yesterday) at the age of 50. But going back and watching so many great horses over the years and all those first guarters bring back many many memories and they stay with you forever.My Dad took me to Vernon Downs I believe in 1962 and I saw a horse called Ring Eyed Pete come out of the shoot at Vernon and go a quarter in 27 seconds and I couldn't believe it.

Then in 1963 I saw Jack Gordon(Garth Gordons father) go to the half in 57 seconds with a horse called Bradcliffe at Old Woodbine. I was in the backstrech that night and Jack had such a big smile on his face at the half but Dunc Campbell swooped by him with Argyle Duke down the strech but Jack still had that smile when he came back to the barn even though he faded to 5th.

Everybody was talking about that half for days.Iknow if I had to ask the question who went the fastest first quarter the first man I would seek is Keith Waples mainly because there are a million memories there.I know there are many Great horses that were so fast over the first quarter over the years and I have seen many of them Pacific Rocket,the Panderosa,Riyadh and so many more but I wish I could bring back for a day Dunc Campbell, Jack Herbet,Harold & Bill Wellwood,Allan Walker,Hughie McLean Sr, Jiggs Mcfadden,Clarence Lockhart,Harold McKinnley,Stan Brown,Jack Reid, Gord Kingston,Wib Hopkins, Del miller, Billy Haughton, Glen Garnsey and so many more and I am sure they would have one heck of a discussion who could pace the fastest first quarter.

I am sure they would say you can never take your memories away. Charlie

The fastest for a 1/4 mile was Pacific Rocket; i was there when Pacific Rocket cut the first 1/4 in 24.4 at Woodbine...simply awesome!
Tony Kerwood was the driver (first time), and i swear he almost fell off going around the bend.
Interestingly enough, he finished 3rd that race as he (understandably) ran out of gas in the stretch.
I think Ellamony won the race...though i could be mistaken about that :-)

AJ McAnn, DG Baby and Rambling Chief GB leaving early with Stoney Creek Kid there at the end -- 3500 claimers at Flamboro 30 years ago.

Dixie Cheer. She won a 1/4 dash @ Vernon Downs years ago. 24 flat. I believe she still holds the record..
24-JUL-1997 VD Q N 6 FT 1/4 DASH Q $2,000 24 6 1/2 1/4H 24 $1,000 *0.70 MERTON,G SEBOLSKY,JESS T

For the old-timers here: Wellwood Hanover could leave the gate and put down a scorching first quarter.

june sonny boy

In my 30+ years of watching racing I have seen lots of fast horses to the quarter but Ibelieve the fastest to be from a horse by the name of NO TWISTER at Vernon downs 23 and a piece about 12 years ago or so( Ray Schnitker).

The aptly named Rosies Rocket gets my nod. In rein to Darell Coville for the Dobe boys, this mare was a head case but man-oh-man could she get out of there!

Im a little biased but I never had a horse that could leave from the gate like Pronger. He was by far the fastest I have seen.

I remember AJ McAnn...But his speen only seemed to serve him well in the winter months...Sean Hanover was all speed after George Henry claimed him, and also in that era..Grandma Davis could leave as well if not better than anyone on the planet

Devonshire Hanover. Georgie Brennan for Richie Banca. Fastest half in History of harness racing. 51.2 at the Big M. Fasten your seat belt. I believe his second quarter was maybe faster than the first :O

Woodbine fastest quarters are pronger, pacific mariner, and pacific rocket. All 24.4

Wordly Beauty parked out Bunny lake in 52.3 i think one nite. That was smokin!!!!

ponder or riyadh probably the two of the best, but how about a cheap horse by the name of JJs CASINO, be in front by 20 at the half in 55 at hazel and wolverine, or any where for that matter of course usually he wasn't there at the end, lets talk about horse that could come home, the two best trotters I have seen were ken bilmans trotter from right here in mich and went to the big M and did it there JUBILEES DU RIGHT AND NEIL MCRANNS DART CAMP.

does anyone remember a horse that used to race at flamboro about 30 years ago called A J Mcann, jim whelan used to drive, whoever remembers this horse will know what im talkin about

pronger

I believe I saw Rair Earth Open up in an opening quarter of either 25 flat or 25.1 in the slop with a variant of at least -1

There is no doubt in my mind that the day Pronger went down the quarter in 24 and 4 on a sloppy track at woodbine in the open pace with a one second allowance for track conditions, would have to be one of the fastest horses I have ever seen go a quarter of a mile. After all it was a quarter in at least 24 seconds.

While it's hard to compare horse to horse you'd have to think that Paul MacDonell never really every shook SOMEBEACHSOMEWHERE up to an open 1/4. He always seemed under wraps. But the half in 51 at the Meadowlands is probably the fastest half mile ever raced. I'm sure someone will correct me. The Beach could carry that extreme speed farther than any horse I have ever seen.

Keytown Hanover

LADY PANDORA from outside post 25.2 at woodbine very easy with the Whip ZeRON, if he push 24 sure... Very fast behind the gate this big mare.

Pacific Mariner was the other in :24.4 at Woodbine.

Rair Earth was deadly fast off the gate, and as far as females went Bunny Lake was wicked fast.

Jeff, I believe that other horse may have been Rair Earth, I'm almost sure that I remember a couple of 25-seconds flat first quarters, and many, many more at 25 and change.

How about Pacific Rocket who i believe left a quarter in 24 and 3 at Woodbine.