Billy Haughton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Billy Haughton |
|
|---|---|
| Occupation | Harness racing driver, trainer, owner |
| Born | November 23, 1923 Gloversville, New York, U.S. |
| Died | July 15, 1986 (aged 62) Valhalla, New York, U.S. |
| Spouse |
Dorothy Bischoff
(m. 1950) |
| Children | 5; including Peter Haughton |
| Career wins | 4,910 |
| Major racing wins | |
| Golden West Trot (1949) American Trotting Classic (1958, 1962, 1976, 1978) Dexter Cup (1966, 1967) Prix d'Été (1967) Adios Pace (1967, 1969, 1974) Glen Garnsey Memorial Pace (1969, 1976) American Pacing Classic (1974) Little Brown Jugette (1974) Canadian Trotting Classic (1976, 1986) Maple Leaf Trot (1979) Queen City Pace (1980) Woodrow Wilson Pace (1981) Breeders Crown wins: U.S. Pacing Triple Crown wins: U.S. Trotting Triple Crown wins: (1976, 1977) |
|
| Racing awards | |
| United States Leading Driver by Earnings (1952-59, 1963, 1965, 1967-68) | |
| Honours | |
| United States Harness Racing Hall of Fame (1968) Little Brown Jug Wall of Fame (1986) William R. Haughton Memorial Pace |
|
| Significant horses | |
| Armbro Omaha, Green Speed, Handle With Care, Laverne Hanover, Nihilator, Romulus Hanover, Rum Customer, Silent Majority | |
William Robert (Billy) Haughton (born November 23, 1923 – died July 15, 1986) was a very famous American harness racing driver and trainer. He was known as one of the best in his sport. Billy Haughton was one of only three drivers to win the Hambletonian four times. He was also the only one to win the Little Brown Jug five times. Plus, he was the only driver to win the Messenger Stakes seven times.
Over his career, Billy Haughton won 4,910 races. He earned about $40 million, which was a huge amount at the time. He was the top driver in annual winnings 12 times. This included years like 1952-1959, 1963, 1965, 1967, and 1968. He also won the most heats (parts of a race) from 1953 to 1958.
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Billy Haughton's Amazing Career
Billy Haughton was born in Gloversville, New York. He grew up on a farm, which is where he first started racing horses. He began by competing in races at local fairgrounds. Later, he became a professional harness driver.
In the early 1960s, Billy Haughton started his own group of racing horses. He trained many amazing horses. Some of his most famous horses include:
- Rum Customer: This horse won the pacing Triple Crown in 1968. This is a very special achievement in harness racing.
- Green Speed: This horse was named the Harness Horse of the Year in 1977. This award goes to the best harness horse of the year.
- Nihilator: This horse also won the Harness Horse of the Year award in 1985.
Billy Haughton was also known for setting records. In 1967, he raced his horse, Meadow Paige, in Lexington. They set a world record by completing a mile in just 1 minute and 55.2 seconds during a time trial. This showed how fast his horses could be.
Winning the Triple Crown Races
Billy Haughton had incredible success in the Triple Crown races for both pacers and trotters. These are some of the most important races in harness racing.
Pacing Triple Crown Wins
He won the Little Brown Jug five times:
- 1955
- 1964
- 1968
- 1969
- 1974
He won the Cane Pace three times:
- 1955
- 1967
- 1968
He won the Messenger Stakes an amazing seven times:
- 1956
- 1967
- 1968
- 1972
- 1974
- 1975
- 1976
Trotting Triple Crown Wins
He also won the Hambletonian Stakes five times:
- 1974
- 1976
- 1977
- 1980
- 1985
And the Yonkers Trot twice:
- 1976
- 1977
These wins show how skilled he was as both a driver and a trainer.
Billy Haughton's Family and Legacy
Billy Haughton was married to Dorothy Bischoff. They had five children together. One of their children, Peter Haughton, also became a harness driver. Sadly, Peter passed away in 1980.
Billy Haughton himself passed away on July 15, 1986, in Valhalla, New York. He was 62 years old. He died from injuries he got during a race at Yonkers Raceway.
His wife, Dorothy, passed away much later, on March 31, 2019. She was 87 years old.
Billy Haughton's impact on harness racing is still remembered today. He was inducted into the United States Harness Racing Hall of Fame in 1968. There is even a race named after him, the William R. Haughton Memorial Pace, to honor his memory.
