Transylvania Trot
| Location | Lexington, Kentucky, U.S. (inaugural) |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1889 |
| Race type | Harness race for standardbred trotters |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1 mile (1,609 metres or 8 furlongs) |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Track | The Red Mile (inaugural) |
| Qualification | 2:20 class (inaugural) |
The Transylvania Trot was a prominent harness racing stakes event for standardbred trotters, first contested in 1889 at The Red Mile in Lexington, Kentucky.
History
The Transylvania was established in 1889.[1] It was operated under the auspices of the Kentucky Trotting Horse Breeders' Association and hosted at The Red Mile in Lexington, Kentucky.[2]
The first Transylvania winner was Jack, a grey gelding by Pilot Medium, driven by Budd Doble, a leading harness driver of the era.[3] The inaugural race was won with the fastest heat timed at 2:15.[4] Doble recorded back-to-back wins of the Transylvania Trot after driving McDoel to victory in 1890.[3]
Transylvania candidates originally qualified based on their established time marks.[5] Introduced as a 2:20 trot in 1889, the Transylvania dropped to 2:10 by 1902 and held that level through 1913. It then moved to 2:08 from 1913 to 1917, to 2:05 or faster until 1929, and was run as a free-for-all trot in the 1940s.[6] The race became the premier aged stake in the United States.[7]
During its early history, the Transylvania stake for trotters was the main attraction of the Kentucky Trotting Horse Breeders' Association's annual Grand Circuit meeting.[8] A few years after the Transylvania was established in 1889, the Kentucky Futurity, one of harness racing's most coveted stakes events, was inaugurated in 1893.[9] The Transylvania became the traditional prep race before the Kentucky Futurity.[2] Horses targeting the Futurity title often raced in the Transylvania. By 1947, only four horses had won both the Transylvania and the Kentucky Futurity, including Victory Song, Boralma, Rose Scott, and Rosalind.[10]
The Transylvania became one of the oldest continuously contested stakes. 1989 marked the 100th anniversary of the event.
Locations
- 1889–present: The Red Mile, Lexington, Kentucky, U.S.
Records
- Most wins by a horse
- 4 – Pronto Don (1949, 1950, 1953, 1954)
- Most wins by a driver
- 5 – Thomas W. Murphy (1911, 1915, 1923, 1924, 1925)
Transylvania winners
| Year | Winner | Driver | Trainer | Owner | Time | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1889 | Jack | Budd Doble | — | — | 2:15 | $5,000 | ||
| 1890 | McDoel | Budd Doble | — | W. H. McDoel | 2:15 1/2 | $5,000 | ||
| 1891 | Cheyenne | John H. Dickerson | — | — | 2:15 3/4 | $5,000 | ||
| 1892 | Kremlin | Ed Bither | — | William Russel Allen | 2:11 1/2 | Stakes record; $5,000 | ||
| 1893 | Harietta | Crit Davis | — | Parker Corning | 2:09 3/4 | $5,000 | ||
| 1894 | Azote | Andrew McDowell | — | Monroe Salisbury | 2:08 3/4 | $5,000 | ||
| 1895 | Bouncer | William J. Andrews | — | William Simpson | 2:10 1/4 | $5,000 | ||
| 1896 | Senator A. | C. E. Alexander | — | Young & Butler | 2:10 | $5,000 | ||
| 1897 | Rilma | W. O. Foote | W. O. Foote | W. O. Foote | 2:08 1/4 | $5,000 | ||
| 1898 | John Nolan | W. O. Foote | — | N. W. Hubinger | 2:07 3/4 | Stakes record; $5,000 | ||
| 1899 | Lord Vincent | Charles Doble | — | George Tod | 2:08 1/2 | $10,000 | ||
| 1900 | Boralma | J. Y. Gatcomb | — | Thomas W. Lawson | 2:08 | $5,000 | ||
| 1901 | Onward Silver | Edward Geers | — | J. L. Druien | 2:09 3/4 | $6,000 | ||
| 1902 | Ozanam | Ed Benyon | — | Lamon V. Harkness (Walnut Hall Farm) | 2:07 1/2 | Stakes record; $6,000 | ||
| 1903 | Caspian | Bert Shank | — | J. A. Andrews | 2:09 1/2 | $6,000 | ||
| 1904 | Sweet Marie | Alta P. McDonald | — | W. G. Garland | 2:04 1/2 | $5,000[1] | ||
| 1905 | Ethel's Pride | William J. Andrews | — | Dr. J. C. McCoy | 2:06 3/4 | — | ||
| 1906 | Nutboy | M. E. McHenry | — | Lotta Crabtree | 2:07 1/4 | — | ||
| 1907 | Sonoma Girl | M. E. McHenry | — | Lotta Crabtree | 2:05 1/4 | — | ||
| 1908 | Spanish Queen | Gus Macey | — | George Estabrook | 2:09 1/4 | $5,000 | ||
| 1909 | Penisa Maid | M. D. Shutt | M. D. Shutt | M. D. Shutt | 2:04 1/4 | Stakes record | ||
| 1910 | Joan | Mike McDevitt | — | Capt. David Shaw | 2:05 3/5 | $5,025 | ||
| 1911 | Charlie Mitchell | Thomas W. Murphy | — | — | 2:07 1/4 | $5,025 | ||
| 1912 | Baden | A. S. Rodney | — | Louis Neidhardt | 2:06 3/4 | — | ||
| 1913 | Cheeney | John P. Fleming | — | John Mulkey | 2:04 3/4 | — | ||
| 1914 | Etawah | Edward Geers | — | F. G. Jones | 2:03 1/2 | Stakes record | ||
| 1915 | Peter Scott | Thomas W. Murphy | — | Henry Oliver | 2:05 1/4 | —[11] | ||
| 1916 | Mabel Trask | Walter R. Cox | Walter R. Cox | Barton Pardee | 2:03 1/4 | — | ||
| 1917 | Ima Jay | Harvey D. Ernest | Harvey D. Ernest | Harvey D. Ernest | 2:04 1/4 | — | ||
| 1918 | Binland | Frank Hedrick | — | W. L. Snyder | 2:03 3/4 | — | ||
| 1919 | Prince Loree | H. McDevitt | — | Capt. David Shaw | 2:03 1/4 | — | ||
| 1920 | Peter Manning | Harry Stokes | — | Irving Gleason | 2:02 1/4 | — | ||
| 1921 | Greyworthy | Walter R. Cox | — | Sanford Small | 2:03 | — | ||
| 1922 | Peter the Brewer | Nat Ray | — | Ed Stout | 2:02 1/2 | — | ||
| 1923 | Rose Scott | Thomas W. Murphy | — | Henry Oliver | 2:04 1/4 | — | ||
| 1924 | Tilly Brooke | Thomas W. Murphy | — | John G. Elbs | 2:01 1/4 | — | ||
| 1925 | Etta Druien | Thomas W. Murphy | — | W. H. Hanan | 2:02 1/2 | — | ||
| 1926 | Guy Trogan | William K. Dickerson | — | E. Roland Harriman | 2:04 1/4 | — | ||
| 1927 | Kahla Dillon | Thomas S. Berry | — | Col. Jacob Lang | 2:02 1/2 | — | ||
| 1928 | Doane | C. Becker | — | L. S. Hadley | 2:04 | — | ||
| 1929 | Guy Ozark | William K. Dickerson | William K. Dickerson | E. Roland Harriman | 2:02 1/2 | — | ||
| 1930 | Hollyrood Chief | Will H. Leese | Will H. Leese | Frank E. Piper | 2:05 | — | ||
| 1931 | Worthywood | W. N. McMillen | — | — | 2:04 1/4 | — | ||
| 1932 | No races | |||||||
| 1933 | Vansandt | Earl Pitman | — | Irvin W. Gleason | 2:05 | — | ||
| 1933 | Calumet Bush | Henry Thomas | — | W. H. Davis | 2:06 3/4 | — | ||
| 1934 | Prince Hall | Henry Thomas | — | Thomas Ashworth | 2:00 1/4 | — | ||
| 1935 | Taffy Volo | Ben White | — | R. J. Reynolds | 2:01 1/4 | — | ||
| 1936 | Greyhound | Sep Palin | — | E. J. Baker | 2:00 | — | ||
| 1937 | Rosalind | Ben White | — | Gib White | 1:59 1/4 | — | ||
| 1938 | Boyne | Dunbar W. Bostwick | — | Dunbar W. Bostwick | 2:00 3/4 | — | ||
| 1939 | Spantell | Hugh M. Parshall | — | — | 2:00 3/4 | — | ||
| 1940 | Sister Mary | Sep Palin | — | E. J. Baker | 2:01 1/2 | — | ||
| 1941 | Earl's Moody Guy | Vic Fleming | — | Walter J. Michael | 2:01 3/4 | — | ||
| 1942 | Nibble Hanover | Harry Whitney | — | Dunbar W. Bostwick | 2:02 1/4 | — | ||
| 1943 | His Excellency | Thomas S. Berry | — | W. F. Strang | 2:01 1/4 | — | ||
| 1944 | Blue Boy | Henry Thomas | — | Saunders Mills Stable | 2:03 | — | ||
| 1945 | Darnley | Harry Whitney | — | Aaron Williams | 2:03 1/4 | — | ||
| 1946 | The Colonel's Lady | Bion Shively | — | R. Horace Johnston | 1:59 1/2 | —[12] | ||
| 1947 | Victory Song | Sep Palin | — | Castleton Farm | 2:02 1/5 | — | ||
| 1948 | Rodney | Bion Shively | — | R. Horace Johnston | 2:01 | — | ||
| 1949 | Pronto Don | T. Wayne Smart | — | Hayes Fair Acres Stables | 2:01 3/5 | — | ||
| 1950 | Pronto Don | Del Miller | — | Hayes Fair Acres Stables | 2:00 | —[6] | ||
| 1951 | Pronto Don | Benny Schue | — | Hayes Fair Acres Stables | 2:01 2/5 | — | ||
| 1952 | Yankee Hanover | Frank Ervin | — | Mrs. John L. Wehle | — | — | ||
| 1953 | Pronto Don | Benny Schue | — | Hayes Fair Acres Stables | — | — | ||
| 1954 | Pronto Don | Benny Schue | — | Hayes Fair Acres Stables | — | — | ||
| 1955 | Kimberly Kid | Ned Bower | — | Allwood Stable | 2:00 | — | ||
| 1956 | Scott Frost | Joe O'Brien | Joe O'Brien | Saul Camp | — | — | ||
| 1957 | Galophone | Robert "Bob" Walker | — | William T. Maybury | 2:00 4/5 | — | ||
| 1958 | Egyptian Princess | Earle Avery | — | Clearview Stable | — | — | ||
| 1959 | Senator Frost | Ralph Buxton | — | Ray V. Foster & W. W. Galin— | — | — | ||
| 1960 | Sharpshooter | Harry Pownall | — | Arden Homestead Stable | — | — | ||
| 1961 | Senator Frost | Ralph Buxton | Eddie Wheeler | Ray V. Foster & Wayne W. Galin | 2:00 3/5 | — | ||
| 1962 | Uncle Sam | L. Huber Jr. | — | K. D. Owen | 2:02 2/5 | — | ||
| 1963 | Pack Hanover | Jimmy Hackett | — | Samuel Hutenbauer | 2:02.1 | — | ||
| 1964 | Lucy's Victory | Jimmy Hackett | — | Samuel Hutenbauer | — | — | ||
| 1965 | Governor Armbro | Joe O'Brien | — | Armstrong Bros. Co. | — | — | ||
| 1966 | Pay Dirt | Earle Avery | — | Clearview Stables | — | — | ||
| 1967 | Nevele Pride | Stanley Dancer | Stanley Dancer | Nevele Acres Farm | 2:06 1/5 | — | ||
| 1968 | Nevele Major | Stanley Dancer | — | Nevele Acres Farm | — | — | ||
| 1969 | Timothy T. | John F. Simpson Sr. | John F. Simpson Sr. | John F. Simpson Sr. | 2:03 1/5 | — | ||
| 1970 | Savoir | Jimmy Arthur | — | Allwood Stable | — | — | ||
| 1971 | Hoot Speed | Glen Garnsey | — | Castleton Farms | 1:57 3/5 | — | ||
| 1972 | Flower Child | Joe O'Brien | — | Samuel Huttenbauer Jr. | 2:01 3/5 | — | ||
| 1973 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1974 | Colonial Charm | Glen Garnsey | — | Castleton Farms | 1:56 1/5 | — | ||
| 1975 | Colonial Charm | Glen Garnsey | — | Castleton Farms | — | — | ||
| 1976 | Zoot Suit | Stanley Dancer | Stanley Dancer | Norman Woolworth | 2:03 3/5 | — | ||
| 1977 | Speed In Action | Del Miller | — | H. A. Grant Jr. & Jean L. Malchin | 2:00 1/5 | — | ||
| 1978 | Doublemint | Peter Haughton | — | John Lavezzo | 1:58 2/5 | — | ||
| 1979 | Chiola Hanover | James Allen | Bill Vaughn | Mickey & Allan Chasanoff | 1:58 | — | ||
| 1980 | Final Score | Tommy Haughton | — | Hubert Reidel | 1:56 4/5 | — | ||
| 1981 | Graf Zepplin | Gary Lewis | Gary Lewis | Starship Stable | 1:58 | — | ||
| 1982 | Jazz Cosmos | Mickey McNichol | — | Sunbird Stable | — | — | ||
| 1983 | TV Yankee | Tommy Haughton | — | Leon & Lorraine Mahiz | 1:56 2/5 | — | ||
| 1984 | Impish Legacy | Pekka Korpi | Heikki Korpi | Heikki Korpi | — | — | ||
| 1985 | Nearly Perfect | Mickey McNichol | Joe Caraluzzi | Sunbird Stables | — | — | ||
| 1986 | Royal Prestige | Berndt Lindstedt | — | Continental Farm Stable | 1:57 1/5 | — | ||
| 1987 | Napoletano | Bill O'Donnell | Tommy Haughton | Walter Belanger | 2:00 14 | — | ||
| 1988 | Slybowl Hanover | D. Shetler | — | — | 1:55 1/5 | — | ||
| 1989 | Crown's Majesty | D. Rankin | — | — | 1:56 2/5 | — | ||
| 1990 | Embassy Lobell | Michel Lachance | Jerry Riordan | — | — | — | ||
| 1991 | Fiddler Hanover | John Simpson Jr. | — | Riccardo Tempestini | — | — | ||
| 1992 | Meadow Glory | Dan Ross | Dan Ross | M. Kenneth Bencic, Ron Hovorka, & Jim Di Fiore | 1:54 3/5 | — | ||
| 1993 | Pine Chip | John Campbell | Chuck Sylvester | Chuck Sylvester & Guida Stable | — | — | ||
| 1994 | Incredible Abe | John Campbell | — | Morris Feldman | 1:54 1/5 | Stakes record | ||
| 1995 | Giant Hit | John Patterson Jr. | — | Steve & Stan Robins/Ted & Jacqueline Gewertz | 1:54 2/5 | — | ||
| 1996 | Running Sea | Wally Hennessey | Chuck Sylvester | DDH Racing Stables Inc. | 1:56.4 | — | ||
| 1997 | Malabar Man | Jimmy Takter | Jimmy Takter | Malvern Burroughs | — | — | ||
| 1998 | Muscles Yankee | John Campbell | — | Irving Liverman & Perretti Farms | 1:57 | — | ||
| 1999 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2000 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2001 | Chasing Tail | John Campbell | Chuck Sylvester | Al Libfeld, Irving Liverman, Marvin Katz, and Sam Goldband | 1:54.4 | — | ||
| 2002 | Like A Prayer | Ron Pierce | — | — | 1:55.0 | — | ||
| 2003 | Mr. Muscleman | Ron Pierce | — | — | — | — | ||
References
- 1 2 "Transylvania". The Lexington Herald. October 1, 1905. p. 9. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
- 1 2 "Red Mile, 'fastest harness track,' clocks 3 world records". Lexington Herald-Leader. January 27, 1991. p. 140. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
- 1 2 "Budd Doble And His Work". Lexington Herald-Leader. September 15, 1919. p. 140. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
- ↑ "Transylvanias Of The Past". The Lexington Herald. October 6, 1904. p. 4. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
- ↑ "Harness Horse Sense". The Buffalo News. December 30, 1911. p. 10. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
- 1 2 Wrensch, Frank Albert (1951). Harness Horse Racing in the United States and Canada. Van Nostrand. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
- ↑ "Lexington Running Track Will Be Ready For Trots". The Cincinnati Enquirer. August 26, 1932. p. 15. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
- ↑ "With Horses And Horsmen". Omaha Daily Bee. September 18, 1898. p. 10. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
- ↑ Hervey, John (1948). American Harness Racing. Hartenstein. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
- ↑ Ashford, Ed (October 5, 1947). "Victory Song Scores Impressive Win In Transylvania Stake As Trots End". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. 13. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
- ↑ "Other Transylvania Winners". Lexington Herald-Leader. October 7, 1915. p. 1. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
- ↑ "Transylvania Trot Over 30 Years". Lexington Herald-Leader. October 3, 1947. p. 6. Retrieved April 28, 2026.