Caesars Jackpot Passes

The first sub-1:50 female pacer in harness racing history, Caesars Jackpot has passed away at the age of 35.

A $7,000 yearling purchase by trainer Abe Stoltzfus, Caesars Jackpot (Walton Hanover - Tracys Jackpot) made her mark as an older competitor after a modest two-year-old season and a 1:52.1 track record performance at The Meadowlands as a sophomore. As a four-year-old, she captured the Breeders Crown, Roses Are Red and Milton Stakes while ending the season as the leading money-winning older pacing mare. Caesars Jackspot also lowered the world record for pacing mares on a five-eighths mile track twice (1:52.4f and 1:52.2f) and became the fastest female pacer in a race by virtue of her 1:51.2 Open score at The Meadowlands. Her exploits easily garnered her the Dan Patch Award as 1990's Older Pacing Mare of the Year.

In 1991, Caesars Jackpot entered harness racing's record books as the first 1:50 female performer. Her 1:49.2 time trial at Springfield, Ill. smashed Fan Hanover’s T1:50.4 mark to become the fastest female in the sport. That mark also made her the third fastest pacer ever behind Matts Scooter (T1:48.2) and Niatross (T1:49.1). Her mark among female pacers would last eight years, toppled by Galleria (1:49.1) in 1999.

At the conclusion of that 1991 season, Caesars Jackpot owned three of the six, and six of the 10 fastest miles ever from a pacing mare.

Caesars Jackpot retired in 1993 with a summary of 37-23-12 from 116 starts and $969,494 in earnings. As a broodmare, her best performer from eight foals was the Real Artist gelding Majestic Jackpot p,3,1:49.4 ($180,637).

Caesars Jackpot lived out her retirement years in Hudson Valley, N.Y., under the watchful eye of Dr. Jake Kiefer of Winner’s Circle Equine. She was owned by Kiefer Elite Bloodstock and Peter Paul Venturini. Dr. Kiefer bought her when he was just a teenager at a Meadowlands sale in 2006. Caesars Jackpot inspired him throughout his veterinary school years at Kansas State University.

Caesars Jackpot out-raced and out-lived her competition before passing on Feb. 4, 2021, at 35 years old, and helped by Dr. Kiefer to the end.

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the connections of Caesars Jackpot.

(with files from USTA)