SC Rewind: 1985 Kentucky Pacing Derby

In this week's edition of Rewind, Robert Smith recalls a memorable horse and an equally famous race from 1985. The race was the Kentucky Pacing Derby, held at Louisville Downs, and the winning horse was the outstanding two-year-old colt Sherman Almahurst, trained and driven by Canadian personalities. The story also includes an element of extreme sadness connected with the events surrounding the race.

The 1980s saw the full emergence of the non-driving trainer in harness racing. It became fashionable — and very much acceptable — that people did not have to both train and drive horses to prove their proficiency in the sport. In the earlier days, people who were not as interested in the training side still had to persevere at that part of the business to survive. Similarly, those who enjoyed and excelled at conditioning all types of horses but didn't necessarily care to drive were also able to specialize at what they did best.

Undoubtedly, one of the best non-driving trainers of the 1980s was Stew Firlotte. He had an uncanny ability to train and manage the careers of many top horses without ever driving any of them in a race. For many years, his stable included countless top performers, and they most often performed admirably under his guidance. Of course, for his operation to perform well, he needed a top driver ... and often more than one to handle horses racing at several different locations.

For many of his successful years, his "go-to" man was Doug Brown. While it wasn't a true partnership, it was a teaming that worked very well for quite a few years. In a recent Harness Racing Update article, Murray Brown (no relation) attributes Doug as having indicated that, "as outstanding as his career has been, it would have been much less so if not for the friendship and loyalty of his dear friend and fellow Hall of Famer Stew Firlotte."

Firlotte left us almost 10 years ago, in August 2012. Whenever his name is mentioned or his memory recalled, it is always with the utmost of admiration and respect.

Today's story involves a Firlotte stable member — Sherman Almahurst — and a memorable race held at Louisville Downs on Sept. 7, 1985: the track's longtime signature event, the Kentucky Pacing Derby, for two-year-old pacers. That year, following eliminations, eight freshman pacers faced the starter. This race, first held a few years earlier in 1978, was a part of the Triple Crown for two-year-old pacers and its history of winners contained a number of great horses, including the incomparable Niatross.

Sherman Almahurst, winner of the 1985 Kentucky Pacing Derby, and his connections appear in the winner's circle. Doug Brown was the driver, and trainer Stew Firlotte is fourth from the right. P.J. Baugh received the trophy on behalf of the Famous Eight Stable from Jay Spurrier, of the Kentucky Racing Commission, and William H. King, president of Louisville Downs. (Jack May/Horseman and Fair World)

As this race started, Tucson Hanover, handled by Bruce Reigle, took the early lead, but shortly thereafter gave way to Freight Saver. Favourite Armbro Elvis and Frank O'Mara then forged to the lead just past the quarter, and continued to lead through a :57.2 half. By the three-quarter pole, Sherman Almahurst passed Armbro Elvis, but was closely pursued by Landslip Hanover (Walter Case Jr.), who had followed Sherman Almahurst's cover all the while . In deep stretch, Armbro Elvis suddenly slowed and began to lose ground, finishing sixth. Sherman Almahurst was the clear winner over Landslip Hanover and Tucson Hanover.

Sherman Almahurst's winning mile was a swift 1:56.2, a seasonal record, but a second off the stakes record and two-fifths of a second off the world standard. Sherman had a rather tough and "gutsy" trip, never once seeing the rail. Brown did not seem one bit concerned and summed it up after the race by saying, "It didn't really matter; he got cover behind the right one, Armbro Elvis."

Brown did admit that his loss of ground in the final turn was concerning, but also a bit of the overall strategy: "I was giving him a little breather because he had been out for a long time and I wanted to save him as much as I could."

Sherman Almahurst (#7) and driver Doug Brown are home in front in the 1985 Kentucky Pacing Derby, at Louisville Downs. (Horseman and Fair World)

The win was Sherman's eighth in 10 starts, and it brought his seasonal earnings to $463,225 for the Famous Eight Stable.

Doug Brown had the opportunity to drive a lot of excellent horses throughout his career, but apparently one occupied a special spot in his heart and memory. In the same recent interview with Murray Brown referred to above, Brown said, "Even though he wasn't the best, my favourite would have to be Sherman Almahurst. He was as game a horse as ever lived. He always gave it his all and always dug in. He had to be the best horse his sire, Royce, produced."

Tragedy Overshadows Race Night

Immediately following the above described race, a horrible twist of fate overshadowed the record-setting mile by Sherman Almahurst. The HLM Stable's Armbro Elvis, the horse who led most of the mile, collapsed and died just after the finish. The son of Direct Scooter was in the midst of a huge year and entered the race after winning eight of his last nine starts, including his Derby elimination. His record of 1:54.4, taken in his short two-year-old campaign, was extremely remarkable.

Gary Owens, the starter at Louisville Downs, was one of the first people to reach the stricken horse. He said that, "within less than 60 seconds, all signs of life were gone." According to trainer-driver Frank O'Mara, the horse suffered a heart attack in the final strides of the race and collapsed soon after the race's conclusion. It was an extremely sad ending to an otherwise joyous evening of racing. Armbro Elvis was later buried in the infield at Louisville Downs.

A tribute to the fallen horse appeared in the Sept. 11, 1985, issue of the Horseman and Fair World magazine.

An ad placed by Almahurst Farm includes a message of condolence to the owners of Armbro Elvis.(Horseman and Fair World)

Quote For The Week: "Things don't turn up in this world until somebody turns them up." — James A. Garfield

Who Is It?

​

Can you identify the driver shown above and perhaps the horse? Let us know who you think it is.

Who Else Is It?

​

Can you identify this fellow? He's probably a bit younger than most Rewind picture subjects. Let's see what your best guess might be.