Dan Patch Rides Again

The famous race horse, Dan Patch, once traveled the United States on a grand victory tour.  Help him ride again!  He'd like to revisit as many states as he can.

The commemorative pin attached to this travel bug recognizes Savage, MN, with the logo depicting the famous horse, Dan Patch, and his importance in the history of the community.

Dan Patch earned the title of being the "World's Champion Harness Horse" when he set the world record of 1.55 for the mile, a record that has been equaled once but never broken.

Dan Patch was born at Oxford, Indiana on April 29, 1896.  In 1902, a new owner entered the life of this great horse, Marion W. Savage of Minneapolis who was to guide this horse to the pinnacle in harness racing and to earn for him the title "King of Pacers". Mr. Savage paid the then fabulous price of $60,000 for Dan Patch.

Marion Savage was a great lover of horses and he was quick to detect the remarkable qualities of the new horse which had come into his possession. He set about to fully train and guide those qualities holding forth in his vision the day when his beloved horse would write harness racing history.

That occasion came on September 8, 1906 in a race against time on the Minnesota State Fair race track. Here Dan Patch electrified the turf world with his record of 1.55 for the mile to set a new world mark for pacers.  The record Dan set that day defied pacers and trotters for almost half a century. Dan's mark was finally equaled only once by Billy Direct, also a pacer, in 1938. The fastest time by a trotter is 1.55 1/4 set by Greyhound, also in 1938.

Dan, during his racing day’s fame and when he retired, was kept at the famous Savage Racing Stables 20 miles from Minneapolis (now the suburb of Savage). This was a 600 acre farm with a luxurious mansion and several large and handsome barns. On the place were two race tracks. In the summer Dan practiced on the one mile outdoor track—in the winter on the half mile track which was entirely covered by a roof.

During his fame and retirement years thousands came to view the wonder horse and to gaze upon him as if he were George Washington or Abraham Lincoln. Many also came to the stables to buy colts sired by Dan.

Dan Patch's earnings from races and exhibitions totaled more than a million dollars.  Dan's purses for each race against time ranged from $10,000 to $20,000.