Hes Watching, one of harness racing’s most brilliant performers of recent times, has been retired.

The son of American Ideal went an unbeaten in eight starts as a two-year-old, blazing a succession of track and world records on his way to winning the Dan Patch Award as Two-Year-Old Pacer of the Year.

His career defining performance came as a three-year-old in the 2014 Meadowlands Pace where he cruised home in :25.3 in the hands of Tim Tetrick to win by 2½ lengths in a sensational 1:46.4.

This sublime victory matched the all-age world record, made him the fastest ever three-year-old at the Meadowlands and the youngest ever winner of the Meadowlands Pace. Being a June 13th foal, he had remarkably only turned three twenty-nine days earlier.

Hes Watching's four-year-old season has been ultimately ended by injury. He retires with $1,129,215 in earnings, five track records and two world records to his name. A great career no doubt, but one that promised so much more.

"He was a great horse," driver Tim Tetrick told Trot Insider. "When he was on his game, he felt like he had wings."

Trained by David Menary, Hes Watching was raced by Menary Racing Inc, Brad Gray and Michael Guerriero of Ontario along with the Muscara Racing Trust of Pennsylvania.

"It was a privilege to be a part of a horse like this," Menary told Trot Insider. "He changed my life and it's been a very good ride."

Details on a stallion career have yet to be finalized.

(with files from HarnessLink)