Mirror, mirror, on the wall...which pacer is the fastest of them all?
As we enter 2026, there is a clear delineation both on the pacing side and on the trotting side for the fastest 13 performers of either gait.
On the pace, those 13 horses — all male pacers — range between 1:45.4 and 1:46.3. The 1:45.4 mark belongs to Bulldog Hanover after his record-setting effort at Meadowlands Racetrack in 2022, and that 1:46.3 mile courtesy Ruthless Hanover came one year later at Harrah's Philadelphia — a five-eighths mile track. The other 11 performers all took those marks on two-turn ovals like The Meadowlands, The Red Mile, Woodbine Mohawk Park or — in the case of Cambest — Springfield.
Cambest's 1:46.1 performance at Springfield stands out as the oldest mile (1993) in this group and the only one taken in a time trial. The other 12 miles have happened within the last 10 years, with Ervin Hanover and Louprint joining this list in 2025.
Without factoring post position, if the 13 fastest pacers in harness racing history were placed in a race, which horse would win?
Allywag Hanover
Always B Miki
Bulldog Hanover
Cambest
Confederate
Ervin Hanover
Lather Up
Legendary Hanover
Louprint
Mirage Hanover
McWicked
Rockyroad Hanover
Ruthless Hanover
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(Standardbred Canada)
Fastest Pacer
Confederate