P,9, TT 1:55 1/4 M
died July 11, 1916
Set track record of 1:55 1/4 for a mile at the Minnesota State Fair. Probably one of the most famous horses of all time, Dan Patch was foaled in Oxford, IN, on the farm of Dan A. Messner in 1896. His sire was Joe Patchen, his dam—Zelica. As a racehorse, he was undefeated in his three regular seasons, losing only two heats. He entered the 2:00 list in 1902, with 1:59½. In 1903 he paced to bike sulky in 1:56 and to wagon in 1:57¼. He was the world champion pacing horse from 1903 until 1938. He was sold to M. W. Savage, of Minneapolis, MN, and in 1905, driven by Harry Hersey at Lexington, KY in a time trial, he paced in 1:55¼. After this mile he was not raced, but traveled miles on exhibition throughout the country. He was heavily commercialized, his name appearing on everything from stopwatches to washing machines to published sheet music. Dan Patch died in 1916 at the Savage Farm. Savage died the following day.