from the Wisconsin HHA Marketing Department

Madison, WI — The Wisconsin Harness Horse Association will hold its awards banquet on January 21, in Madison, Wis., at the Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel on East Washington Avenue. Numerous awards will be given including three inductions into the Wisconsin Harness Racing Hall of Fame. Two of this year’s inductees are August Uihlein (Immortal Category) and The Harvester (Horse Category).

August Uihlein believed that a breeding establishment operated in Wisconsin could equal any in the country if the right foundation were built on. In the early 1900s Mr. Uihlein, a millionaire brewer of the Schlitz brewery, raised more trotting bred horses than any other man in the world, having from 500-800 head at the farm in Truesdell. Although the farm in Truesdell was the main farm in the operation, the Uihleins had other farms in Wisconsin and at one time had close to 2,000 horses. There was a farm in Menomonie Falls with 200 fenced acres, and another nine miles from the Schlitz brewery in Milwaukee, but so that horses might be conveniently near him at his place of business, he had built on the roof of one of his large breweries a stable to which they were lifted by an elevator.

At the Kellog sale, held in New York, August Uihlein, along with with Frederick Pabst of Milwaukee, purchased the world-renowned young horse Alcazar for $25,800. At the Old Glory Sale during the autumn of 1907 Mr. Uihlein purchased The Harvester, practically an unbroken colt, for $9,000, who under Mr. Uihlein’s ownership, went on to be a world champion, the likes of whom the racing industry had never seen.

In 1908 he won the Kentucky Futurity in a record 2:08-3/4. In 1909 as a 4-year-old, The Harvester made another sensational campaign, winning stakes at Windsor, Ont., Detroit, North Randall (where he trotted to a record of 2:06-3/4), and Buffalo; met the sensational Bob Douglas in the classic $10,000 Charter Oaks at Hartford and won; and also won stakes at Syracuse.

In 1910 The Harvester won at Detroit, trotting in 2:04-1/4, and beat the great Sonoma Girl in 2:03-1/4 at North Randall. At the Fort Erie track, across the river from Buffalo, he won the first two heats of his race easily, then in the third the management asked Mr. Geers to show them a really fast mile. The veteran driver was willing, drove the stallion far in advance of the field all the way and at the finish he was timed in 2:02 to establish a new world record. At Syracuse he again established a new world record for stallions by trotting in 2:01-1/4. At Columbus he started against time and this time trotted in 2:01 to establish a new stallion record which remained as the best for six years.

The Harvester went on to sire a long list of fast performers, having a total of 207 trotters and 51 pacers take standard records.

While August Uihlein’s connection with the American trotter, both as a breeder and an owner, covered a long period of years, he was an unfamiliar figure to many race goers, for despite the fact that he was a man of large wealth and had achieved success in the sport, his modesty kept him in the background as much as possible and although The Harvester made him famous as a horseman, he permitted others connected with him to shine in the reflected glory of his stallion and his remarkable achievements.

August Uihlein died in his homeland of Germany in 1911.

For additional information regarding the WHHA banquet, all of the weekend festivities, or to book tickets to the event, contact WHHA President Gabe Wand at 608.574.5468 or e-mail gabewand@yahoo.com. Hope to see you there.