Joe O'Brien (harness racing)

Joe O'Brien
Born(1917-06-25)June 25, 1917
Alberton, Prince Edward Island, Canada
DiedSeptember 29, 1984(1984-09-29) (aged 67)
Shafter, California, USA
Career wins4,285+
Major racing wins
Golden West Pace (1948)
Reynolds Memorial 3YO Colt & Gelding Trot (1952, 1959)
Walnut Hall Cup (1953, 1978)
American National Trot (1954)
Golden West Trot (1954)
Hoosier Trot (1954, 1956, 1978)
Matron Stakes Pace (1954, 1978)
Saul Camp Memorial Trot (1954)
U.S. Trotting Derby (1954, 1956)
Walnut Hall Stud 2YO Trot (1954)
Review Stakes 3yo Colt & Gelding Trot (1955)
Runnymede Trot (1955)
American Trotting Classic
(1955, 1956, 1965, 1969, 1971, 1977)†
American Trotting Derby (1956)
National Pacing Derby (1956, 1957)
American National 3YO Colt & Gelding Pace (1958)
Arden Downs 2YO Colt & Gelding Stakes (1958, 1979)
American Pacing Classic
(1959, 1963, 1975, 1979) †
Arden Downs 2YO Filly Stakes
(1964, 1977, 1982)
Little Brown Jugette (1964, 1965, 1976)
Lou Dillon Trot (1964)
Lexington Filly Stakes
(1964, 1965, 1967, 1974)
Reynolds Memorial 2YO Filly Trot (1964)
Arden Downs 3YO Filly Stakes (1965)
Reynolds Memorial 3YO Filly Trot (1965)
Dexter Cup (1965)
Hudson Filly Trot (1965)
American National 2YO Colt & Gelding Trot (1966)
Roosevelt International Trot (1966, 1970)
Glen Garnsey Memorial Pace
(1968, 1970, 1974)
American National Open Trot (1970)
Canadian Pacing Derby (1970)
Galophone Trot (1970)
United Nations Trot (1970)
American Trotting Classic (1971)
International Stallion Colt & Gelding Stake (1971, 1975)
Speedy Rodney Trot (1971)
Star's Pride Trot (1971)
Hambletonian Oaks (1972, 1976)
Maple Leaf Trot (1973, 1977)
Queen City Stakes (1973, 1974)
Battle of the Brandywine Pace (1975)
Tattersalls Pace (1975)
Bluegrass 3YO Filly Stakes (1976)
Canadian Trotting Classic (1977)
Hanover-Hempt Stakes (1978)
Arden Downs 3YO Colt & Gelding Stakes (1979)

U.S. Pacing Triple Crown wins:
Little Brown Jug (1958, 1973)
Cane Pace (1958, 1975)

U.S. Trotting Triple Crown wins:
Hambletonian Stakes (1955, 1960)
Yonkers Trot (1955)
Kentucky Futurity
(1955, 1962, 1965, 1966, 1973)

International wins:
Solvallas Internationella Elitlopp (1969)
Grand Prix of Bavaria (1970)

  • † denotes record holder
Racing awards
Maritime Provinces Leading Driver (1943-1947)
Harness Tracks of America Driver of the Year (1975)
Joseph Neville Memorial Award (2004)
Honours
Canada's Sports Hall of Fame (1965)
Prince Edward Island Sports Hall of Fame (1968)
U.S. Harness Racing Hall of Fame (1970)
Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame (1976)
Canada's National Harness Racing O'Brien Awards
Significant horses
Armbro Flight, Armbro Nesbit, Blaze Hanover, Diamond Hal, Dudley Patch, Fresh Yankee, Ima Lula, Melvin's Woe, Nero, Scott Frost, Shadow Wave, Steady Star

Joseph Cyril O'Brien (June 25, 1917 – September 29, 1984) was a Harness racing driver, trainer and owner who won the U.S. Trotting Triple Crown in 1955 and would be inducted into both the U.S. Harness Racing Hall of Fame[1] and the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame,[2] as well as Canada's Sports Hall of Fame.[3] Noted for his quiet dignity and diplomacy, he is considered one of the greatest harness horsemen in history.[4]

  1. ^ Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame bio for Joe O'Brien Retrieved November 14, 2016
  2. ^ Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame bio for Joe O'Brien Retrieved November 14, 2016
  3. ^ Canada's Sports Hall of Fame bio for Joe O'Brien Retrieved November 10, 2016
  4. ^ Harnesslink.com, New Zealand, September 30, 2004 article titled "Joe O'Brien, A Name To Remember" Retrieved November 14, 2016