Dan Patch

Dan Patch (April 29, 1896 – July 11, 1916) was the outstanding pacer of his day. Dan Patch broke world speed records at least 14 times in the early 1900s, finally setting the world's record for the fastest mile by a harness horse (1m:55s) during a time trial in 1906, a record that stood unmatched for 32 years.

Life

Dan Patch was a brown Standardbred stallion sired by Joe Patchen, and out of Zelica who was by Wilkesberry. Dan Patch was foaled on 29 April 1896, in a barn in the town of Oxford, Indiana. He was named for his owner, Daniel (Dan) Messner, and his sire, Joe Patchen. The young horse showed little promise in his first year, but a local trainer named Johnny Wattles saw potential in the animal. Wattles received permission from Messner to train Dan Patch and developed the horse's racing abilities until 1902, when Messner sold the horse to Manley E. Sturges of New York, for a record $20,000. Sturges, in turn, sold Dan Patch later that year to a resident of the city of Hamilton (later Savage) in Minnesota, named Marion Willis Savage. Dan Patch lived in Minnesota from 1902 until his death on 11 July 1916.