The sub-1:50 club

Big Tom was the first Illinois-bred to crack the 1:50 barrier, pacing a 1:49 2/5 mile on June 27, 1998 at Balmoral Park. That also was the first sub-1:50 at a Chicago-area track. Since then, 12 others have posted sub-1:50 marks. Here's a rundown of Illinois-bred pacers who have winning miles faster than 1:50:
 

A week before Big Tom become the first Illinois-bred sub-1:50  pacer, his connections joined in the
Balmoral Park winner's circle to celebrate their colt's victory in an elimination of the Cardinal stake.
Also in the picture  are Larry Hamel of the Chicago Sun-Times (far right, writing in a notebook) and
his daughter Elizabeth, then 15 years old (standing second from right).
 

Big Tom (8)                     Sire: Cole Muffler

YEARS STARTS WINS SECONDS THIRDS EARNINGS MARK
1997-2001 82 44 11 8 $1,539,630 1:48 2/5
Date Track Time
6/27/98 Balmoral 1:49 2/5*
8/14/99 Balmoral 1:49 4/5
10/16/99 Balmoral 1:49  4/5
10/23/99 Balmoral 1:49 4/5
5/13/00 Meadowlands 1:49
6/10/00 Balmoral 1:49 1/5
6/24/00 Meadowlands 1:49 1/5
7/1/00 Meadowlands 1:48 2/5**

* First sub-1:50 time by an Illinois-bred  ** Fastest mile all-time by an Illinois-bred.


 

Taser Gun (3)                     Sire: Henry Letsgo

YEARS STARTS WINS SECONDS THIRDS EARNINGS MARK
1997-2003** 103 53 20 12 $878,880 1:49 2/5
Date Track Time
8/15/98 Springfield 1:49 3/5
8/19/98 Springfield 1:49 4/5
7/29/00 Balmoral 1:49  2/5


 

Ideal Towne (2)                   Sire: Ideal Society

YEARS STARTS WINS SECONDS THIRDS EARNINGS MARK
1998-2003** 81 24 14 10 $690,812 1:49 2/5
Date Track Time
5/14/01 Meadowlands 1:49 3/5
8/2/02 Balmoral 1:49 2/5


 

Fox Valley Raven (2)            Sire: Sportsmaster

YEARS STARTS WINS SECONDS THIRDS EARNINGS MARK
1998-2003** 119 31 19 21 $489,771 1:49 2/5
Date Track Time
6/2/01 Meadowlands 1:49 2/5
6/23/01 Meadowlands 1:49 2/5


 

V Twelve (2)                     Sire: Cole Muffler

YEARS STARTS WINS SECONDS THIRDS EARNINGS MARK
1997-2000 84 19 12 18 $481,353 1:49 3/5
Date Track Time
4/28/00 Meadowlands 1:49 4/5
5/16/00 Meadowlands 1:49 3/5


 

Incredible Tillie (1)           Sire: Incredible Finale

YEARS STARTS WINS SECONDS THIRDS EARNINGS MARK
1999-2002 57 30 7 7 $916,024 1:49 2/5
Date Track Time
8/17/00 Springfield 1:49 2/5*

*Only sub-1:50 winning mile by  an  Illinois-bred female pacer.


 

Tiger Mountain (1)               Sire: Nuclear Legacy

YEARS STARTS WINS SECONDS THIRDS EARNINGS MARK
1999-2003* 86 19 12 7 $86,846 1:49 3/5
Date Track Time
8/17/00 Springfield 1:49 3/5


 

HR Sosa (1)                     Sire: Nuclear Legacy

YEARS STARTS WINS SECONDS THIRDS EARNINGS MARK
1999-2002 103 20 16 20 $308,091 1:49 1/5
Date Track Time
7/28/01 Balmoral 1:49 1/5


 

Rattle And Rock (1)            Sire: Sportsmaster

YEARS STARTS WINS SECONDS THIRDS EARNINGS MARK
2000-02* 57 22 11 7 $1,073,453 1:49 3/5
Date Track Time
6/6/02 Balmoral 1:49 3/5


 

Big Green Machine (1)         Sire: Cole Muffler

YEARS STARTS WINS SECONDS THIRDS EARNINGS MARK
2000-03** 93 24 13 17 $423,179 1:49 3/5
Date Track Time
8/24/02 Balmoral 1:49 3/5


 

Fox Valley Chris (1)               Sire: Incredible Finale

YEARS STARTS WINS SECONDS THIRDS EARNINGS MARK
2001-03** 48 14 5 4 $215,096 1:49 4/5
Date Track Time
8/3/02 Balmoral 1:49 4/5


 

Mini Me (1)                     Sire: Incredible Finale

YEARS STARTS WINS SECONDS THIRDS EARNINGS MARK
2001-03** 47 17 10 5 $913,167 1:49
Date Track Time
8/2/03 Meadowlands 1:49

Fancy Creek Sport (1)              Sire: Sportsmaster
 
YEARS STARTS WINS SECONDS THIRDS EARNINGS MARK
2002-03** 20 4 3 3 $53,771 1:49 3/5
Date Track Time
8/13/03 Springfield 1:49 3/5

* Active, career statistics through 2002.
** Active, career statistics through Aug. 13, 2003.