The numbers are inconceivable, but in reality they are believable. An amazing 462 lifetime starts, 120 wins, a mark of 1:49.2. The endurance and stamina, coupled with bloodlines, patience, preparation and opportunity were the recipe that made Tattlers Jet’s career a reality.
Tattlers Jet – call him the iron horse, war horse, ambassador, old campaigner, etc. It is now time to call him a Hall of Famer and add his legacy to the equine category of the Wisconsin Harness Racing Hall of Fame.
Explaining a mile in 1:49.2 by a 12-year-old gelding with all those miles at all those venues and all the shipping around the country remains a puzzle. Had Tattlers Jet paced his sub-1:50 mile as a three-year-old at the Meadowlands, Woodbine, Hoosier Park or Springfield, or any of the venues where records are made to be broken, then it would be understandable. But no, it was in an overnight at Virginia’s Colonial Downs. It was the ‘trip’ that an owner with trust, a trainer with confidence, a driver with patience, and a 12-year-old horse with heart that shocked the timer and the sport of harness racing.
Twelve years earlier, David and Jane Carter of Eau Claire, Wis. got a call from Hall of Famer Del Insko. The message was “both your mares foaled and the babies are fine.” A few months earlier, David dropped two mares off at the Insko Farm in South Beloit, Ill., to foal. One of the mares was a Ralph Hanover mare named Jodhpurs that Carter bred to Tattler's Torpedo. David preferred Illinois-breds; Wisconsin purses were small and the Minnesota colt stakes were years from fruition.
The Carters previously owned a few Thoroughbreds over the years, but harness racing was more attractive, as it allowed David to be more than an owner. The trotters and pacers allowed him to train and drive his own horses. Their farm outside of Eau Claire is large enough to raise colts as well as train them on their own track.
Tattler’s Jet’s two-year-old season was limited to just one start. As a three-year-old he raced a bit more, but was accused of being lazy. David lamented that “he just liked to follow the other horses.” Tattlers Jet eventually qualified at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minn., and finished third in his next start. Those efforts proved to be enough to earn him another year and another chance to be part of the Carter Stable.
David eventually turned Tattlers Jet over to his friend, Gene Miller, out of Charlotte, Mich. Gene was doing a great job with David’s future Hall of Fame trotter, Crafty Sailor, so why not see how he would do with Tattlers Jet? Gene’s philosophy in racing horses is simple: “They don’t lay eggs, you can’t milk them, so why not race them?” and race Tattlers Jet he did.
Miller made sure this now older pacer had time to rest, was turned out between races, and kept fresh in spite of his hectic schedule. Over the nine years with Miller, he averaged more than 40 starts a year. Miller raced him where he belonged and where he could get cheques. Tattlers Jet took trailer rides covering 53 venues, seven states, and Canada. The starts, wins and age were under the media radar until Gene entered him in the Au Revoir at Monticello Raceway, in New York.
The New York Times, one of the top daily papers in the U.S. with almost two million daily customers, got wind of the little known invader from the midwest. Move over New York Jets, Giants, Nets, and Rangers. Yes, the front page sports story about three old campaigners, David Carter, Gene Miller, and of course Tattlers Jet was a must read. It warmed your heart and reminded you why ‘The Sport of Kings’ still has room for the little guy.
These days Tattlers Jet relaxes six days a week, but on Sundays, the Running Aces fans get a chance to ride behind him between races. Racegoers love it; they stuff the entry box hoping their names will be drawn to sit behind their new harness hero. And unlike many of his fellow ‘old timers,’ Tattlers Jet is not intimidated or afraid of the world of social media. He has his own Facebook account. Fans send him messages at will and he (??) responds ASAP. Tattlers Jet includes pictures documenting his busy schedule at Running Aces.
Tattlers Jet will receive his Hall of Fame honour at the Wisconsin Harness Horse Association banquet on Jan. 23 at the Howard Johnson in Madison, Wis. For more information or tickets to the event, please contact President Gabe Wand at 608-574-5468 or email [email protected].
(Wisconsin Harness Horse Association)