It was 30 years ago today that harness racing lost one of its most promising and talented stars
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In a car accident not too far from the Meadowlands, driver Peter Haughton was killed. Bob Heyden penned the following tribute to Peter Haughton on the 30th anniversary of his passing.
January 25, 1980 - the harness racing world lost 25-Year-Old Peter Haughton in a car accident right near the Meadowlands. Peter was the son of Hall Of Famer Billy Haughton, and brother to Tommy Haughton - they would be 1-2 that year in the Hambletonian with Burgormeister and Final Score, the winner actually selected by Peter early on.
Peter was the two-time defending Roosevelt International champion with Cold Comfort, and his career earnings were about $700,000 ahead of his friend - a man you may have heard of - John Campbell, who was seven months younger. You have to go back to 1974 with Armbro Omaha to find the last time a teenage driver (19) was instrumental in a horses award-winning season - but Peter was just that.