The record-setting career of Mister Big is scheduled to come to a close on Saturday night in the $200,000 American-National Stakes for older pacers at Balmoral Park
in Chicago.
The six-year-old’s resume includes two Dan Patch Awards, single-season records for earnings in 2007 and 2008; a World Record-equaling performance at Harrah’s Chester this year; and becoming only the second pacer in history to surpass $4 million in lifetime purses.
“He’s going to be missed,” trainer Virgil Morgan Jr. said. “You don’t replace a horse like him. I’m just grateful I had the opportunity to train him and to be associated with him. It’s been a privilege.”
Over the past 45 years, the only older pacers to win consecutive Dan Patch divisional honors have been Mister Big (2007-08), Red Bow Tie (1998-99) and Rambling Willie (1975-76-77). Since June 2007, essentially the midpoint of his four-year-old campaign, Mister Big raced 45 times, with 21 wins and 40 finishes among the top three.
His victories included back-to-back William R. Haughton Memorial titles in 2007 and 2008 (the only pacer to ever accomplish the feat) as well as three Allerages, two U.S. Pacing Championships, a Breeders Crown, Canadian Pacing Derby, Ben Franklin Pace, Bobby Quillen Memorial, and Dan Patch Invitational.
This season, Mister Big has won five of 16 starts and earned $781,712. His top triumph, so far, came in late July when he won the Ben Franklin in 1:48 at Harrah's Chester, equaling the fastest time ever on a five-eighths-mile track.
He earned $1.5 million in 2008 and $1.3 million in 2007; both set single year records for purses. Lifetime, Mister Big has won 34 of 84 races and earned $4 million, trailing only Gallo Blue Chip (with $4.2 million) on the career list among pacers.
“Everyone was wondering if he was going to come back and be a dominant force this year. I think the mile at Chester was a dominant performance,” Morgan said. “He got a little sick after that and got off his game a little bit, but he set the bar so high.”
Following his career on the racetrack, Mister Big will head to Tara Hills Stud Farm in Ontario to begin his new life as a sire.
“He has all the attributes to be a great sire,” Morgan said. “He’s got the look. He’s got the conformation. He’s got the intelligence. I don’t even want to say a good sire; I think he’ll make a great sire. He’s so tactical. He’s won first over in (1):47 and he’s won on the front end in (1):48. He’s so versatile. Horses like that are so hard to come by. I think he’s going to carry those traits to his offspring.”
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This story courtesy of Harness Racing Communications, a division of the U.S.
Trotting Association. For more information, visit www.ustrotting.com. *