On this day 20 years ago (January 31, 1999) the legendary trotting mare Moni Maker made history with her thoroughly impressive victory one of harness racing's most prestigious trotting events: the Prix d'Amerique at Hippodrome Vincennes in Paris.
The six-year-old daughter of Speedy Crown - Nans Catch became the first North American-based horse to win the trotting classic in 25 years. Before Moni Maker, it was Delmonica Hanover who shipped overseas and won in 1974. No North American-based horses have been successful since.
With driver Jean Michel Bazire at the controls for trainer Jimmy Takter, Moni Maker had no serious challengers once she swept to the lead with about a mile (1,600 metres) to go in the 2,700-metre event. The exuberant French crowd cheered Moni Maker home to a three-length score, with Bazire celebrating his first Prix d'Amerique victory.
"I'll make a statement now: she's the best ever," said Takter after the win, also his first in the Prix d'Amerique. "I don't care. That's my opinion. Of every single trotter ever been, she's the best. I think she can beat anybody."
Moni Maker went on to a U.S. Horse of the Year campaign in 1999, giving her back-to-back horse of the year titles stateside, with O'Brien Awards as Canada's Older Trottting Mare of the Year in 1999 and 2000. She retired as the richest female racehorse of any breed with $5.58 million in purse earnings, winning 67 of 109 starts in six seasons of racing in North America, France, Denmark, Sweden and Italy. She was only 10 times worse than third in her long career, in which her lifetime mark of 1:52.1 was set at age seven.
Inducted into the Harness Racing Hall of Fame in 2006, Moni Maker passed away after complications from colic surgery at the age of 21.