Dalton, GA – John F. “Sonny” Patterson Jr., 81, whose success in the sulky included winning two Breeders Crowns and the Hambletonian Oaks with filly trotter Lookout Victory in the mid-1990s, passed away April 16, 2026, in Dalton, Ga.
The son of Hall of Fame trainer/driver John Patterson Sr., Mr. Patterson was class president in high school and graduated from McKenzie Business School in Chattanooga, Tenn., but always was involved with the horses while in school. After completing his education, he turned to the sport on a full-time basis.
Mr. Patterson drove in his first races in 1963, at the Darke County Fair, in Greenville, Ohio. His competition included his father, driving 3-year-old pacer Overtrick, who won that day while setting the track record of 2:01 in the process. Overtrick’s victories later that season included the Little Brown Jug as he went on to capture divisional honors for the second consecutive year.
In 1964, Mr. Patterson got his first win, with Black Heath at Du Quoin, Ill., and two years later found himself driving in the Messenger Stakes behind Overcall – a race remembered for Romeo Hanover completing a sweep of the Pacing Triple Crown at Roosevelt Raceway.
In the ensuing years, Mr. Patterson drove regularly at Monticello, Yonkers and Roosevelt and in the 1980s had five seasons in which he ranked among the sport’s top 15 drivers in purses, including three times in the Top 10. Among his biggest wins during the ’80s were the 1985 Peter Haughton Memorial Pace with Sherman Almahurst and the 1987 American Trotting Championship with Whip It Wood, both at Roosevelt. He ended the decade with $22.3 million in career purses, which at the time ranked 20th in history.
The 1990s saw Mr. Patterson’s greatest success on the Grand Circuit.
In addition to winning the 1995 Hambletonian Oaks and Breeders Crowns in 1994 and 1995 with Lookout Victory, Mr. Patterson guided 2-year-old trotter Giant Chill to wins in the Breeders Crown and Peter Haughton Memorial in 1992, captured the Yonkers International Trot and Nat Ray with Giant Force in 1993, won the Kentucky Filly Futurity with Delphi’s Daughter in 1994, and won the 1991 Canadian Trotting Classic with Giant Victory.
Mr. Patterson also won Hambletonian heats in 1991 and 1992, with MB Felty and King Conch, respectively, and finished second in both finals.
Interestingly, Mr. Patterson drove an average of fewer than 208 races per year during that span from 1991-95.
Mr. Patterson’s final drive came in 2005. He completed his career with 2,989 wins and $32.8 million in purses.