Wiggle It Jiggleit Passes

U.S. Hall of Fame pacer Wiggle It Jiggleit, one of harness racing’s all-time greats, passed away after a short illness earlier this month at the age of 14.

Owned by George Teague Jr. Inc. and Teague Racing Partnership, Wiggle It Jiggleit had a remarkable career, with earnings of $4.09 million and was the Dan Patch Horse of the Year, Pacer of the Year and Three-Year-Old Male Pacer of the Year in 2015 as well as the O'Brien Award Older Male Pacer of the Year in 2016. The world champion Mr Wiggles-Mozzi Hanover gelding was inducted into the U.S. Harness Racing Hall of Fame in 2024.

Throughout his 39 victories in 66 lifetime starts, there were many impressive triumphs, but most will remember his epic performance in winning the 2015 Little Brown Jug as one of the best in the race’s history. Wiggle It Jiggleit, with regular driver Montrell Teague, overcame an outside trip and appeared to be retreating near the three-quarters to re-rally and edge out Lost For Words by a whisker in the tightest of photo finishes for an amazing victory.

Aside from the Little Brown Jug, he won many of the sport’s biggest races for pacers, including the Meadowlands Pace, Max C. Hempt Memorial, Battle of Brandywine, Carl Milstein Memorial, Progress Pace and Matron Stakes as a three-year-old, and the Canadian Pacing Derby, Dan Patch Stakes, Joseph Gerrity Jr. Memorial, Graduate Series Final (in a career-best 1:47.2 on a sloppy track), Yonkers Invitational, Dorothy Mullin Invitational, Battle of Lake Erie, Bobby Quillen Memorial and Dayton Pacing Derby during his aged campaign.

He set a world record for a three-year-old pacer on a half-mile racetrack with a 1:49 win near his home base at Harrington Raceway early in his sophomore season.

Trained by Clyde Francis, “Wiggles,” as he was affectionately known by his connections, spent the balance of his post-racing career at the farm of  U.S. Hall of Fame horseman George Teague Jr. in Harrington, Delaware. Visitors were known to drop in and request to see the world champion. 

Wiggle It Jiggleit pictured with Montrell Teague, Clyde Francis and George Teague Jr.

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the connections of Wiggle It Jiggleit.

(With files from Harrington Raceway)