Dan Patch was a brown standardbred horse by Joe Patchen out of Zelica, and the outstanding pacer of his day. Foaled in 1896 and dying on July 11, 1916, he was purchased in 1902 by a resident of then Hamilton, Minnesota (renamed Savage, Minnesota) named Marion Willis Savage. The son of Joe Patchen repeatedly broke the record for the fastest mile by a harness horse, finally lowering it to 1:55? in a time trial in 1906, the last year in which pacers and trotters were allowed to follow the pacemakers in time trials. This record stood until 1938. The fastest race mile Dan Patch ever achieved was 1:58.

Dan Patch was a sports superstar with extensive endorsements (including washing machines and cigars). Much of his career was spent barnstorming and he retired undefeated in 1909 as the holder of nine world records. Dan Patch Avenue at the Minnesota State Fair grounds is named for him. He was also the subject of the 1949 motion picture, The Great Dan Patch starring Dennis O’Keefe and Gail Russell. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

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