While most of the races suggested for TROT's 40 moments of the last 40 years involve a horse winning a race, a few of those moments involve horses so dominant their losses are just as memorable.
From the time trial of 1:49.1 that was nearly three full seconds -- 14 lengths -- faster than the former World Record, to those rare and stunning defeats, the legacy left behind by Niatross is unforgettable. When you were never involved in a photo finish, your narrowest win margin was three-quarters of a length and retire with 15 World Records, virtually everything you do is memorable.
"When you set the standard as high as these kinds of horses, you're much more likely to remember a race day loss -- like Somebeachsomewhere -- than all the races they won, because they're so rare...it's such an unusual occurrence," said Bob 'Hollywood' Heyden in reference to the two races Niatross lost.
The first loss in the storied career of Niatross was amplified by something harness racing doesn't see all that much in 2014.
Is this one of the races that fans have selected as one of the top 40 on-track moments of the last 40 years? Check out the December issue of TROT Magazine to find out.