The Wisconsin Harness Horse Association has announced that One Bad Hombre will be inducted into the Wisconsin Harness Racing Hall of Fame.
One Bad Hombre was a staple on the Wisconsin racing circuit in the late 1990s, capturing numerous awards.
He was purchased in 1996 and first campaigned in Wisconsin by Linda Werkheiser. After receiving back-to-back Trotter of the Year honours, Werkheiser sold him to John Faust, who continued to race him for the next two and a half years and One Bad Hombre continued his Trotter of the Year ways. His three Trotter of the Year titles ties him for second in the state’s rich history.
One Bad Hombre completed his racing in Wisconsin by hitting the board in 61 of 65 starts (94 per cent), coming out victorious in 23 (35 per cent) of those races.
During this span, One Bad Hombre set three different track records. Werkheiser had owned and driven him to records in 1996 at Rice Lake (2:07.2) and in 1997 at Amherst (2:08). Under the ownership of Faust, One Bad Hombre set the track record in Faust’s hometown of Marshfield in 2:06.2 with Pat Wolf in the sulky.
In 1997, One Bad Hombre not only raced under harness, but under saddle as well. As Racing Under Saddle begin to re-emerge onto the harness racing scene, One Bad Hombre was chosen by Werkheiser to be a participant. He competed at Hoosier Park as well as racing against the pacers at Westfield and Amherst. He did this all while being raced under harness the same year en route to his first Trotter of the Year title.
One Bad Hombre was also showcased at the Midwest Horse Fair, not only in the Demonstration, but in the prestigious Liberty Presentation.
He currently is enjoying retirement and is still owned by Faust.
The Wisconsin Harness Racing Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place January 24 at the Howard Johnson in Madison, Wis. For more information, or tickets to the event, please contact WHHA President Gabe Wand at 608-574-5468 or email [email protected].
(Wisconsin Harness Horse Association)