Niatross Beats Mack Lobell as Harness Horse of Decade

Niatross, who won the Triple Crown of Pacing in 1980, topped trotter Mack Lobell for Harness Horse of the Decade in a poll conducted by Harness Racing Communications and released today.

In balloting by 50 racing writers and racing secretaries, Niatross received 30 first-place votes and 453 points to 13 first-place votes and 436 points for Mack Lobell.

Pacers took the next three places. Nihilator, a son of Niatross, received six first-place votes and 366 points; Cam Fella got 319 points and Matt’s Scooter received one first-place vote and 309 points.

Niatross raced only one year in the decade, but 1980 was an exceptional year for the pacer, which had been 1979 Harness Horse of the Year. He won 24 of 26 starts for what was then a single-year record of $1,414,313. Besides the Triple Crown of the Cane Pace, Little Brown Jug and Messenger, he also recorded the two fastest miles ever--1:49 1/5 in a time trial and 1:52 1/5 in a race.

Mack Lobell won 49 of 67 races in 1986-89, won the Hambletonian in 1987 and was Harness Horse of the Year 1987-88.

Completing the top 10 in the voting were the pacer On The Road Again, trotting filly Peace Corps, trotting mare Grade’s Singing, pacing mare Fan Hanover and pacer Jate Lobell.