Dean A. Hoffman

Michigan horseman Chris Boring trained and raced Albert Albert, but the son of Abercrombie became a race horse one night when the boss was out of town.

Albert Albert (at the rail) defeats Matt’s Scooter in the 1988 Slutsky Memorial at Monticello.

That was in the summer of 1987 when Chris went to Rosecroft to race, He put his son Troy down to drive the lethargic 2-year-old Albert Albert at Hazel Park.

Troy ducked for the rail at the start with Albert Albert, then pulled him at the half. When the colt didn’t accelerate, Troy gave the colt a couple wake-up calls with his whip. Suddenly, Albert Albert realized he was supposed to beat other horses.

It was a lesson that Albert Albert never forgot. From that point forward, he was almost the perfect racehorse.

Albert Albert died last week at age 20, after a stallion career that saw him sire millionaire pacers like Pacific Rocket, Ooh’s ‘N Ahh’s, and Bad Bert. He is also the sire of the 1:49.4 pacer Little Steven.

Albert Albert is getting recognition this year as the sire of the dam of Western Ace, the top-rated freshman pacer in the Hambletonian/Breeders Crown Top 10 Poll. Western Ace, winner of the Woodrow Wilson this summer, is out of the mare Alice Alice by Albert Albert.

Albert Albert also sired the dam of this season’s top New Jersey Sires Stakes performer John Adams p, 3, 1:51.1. as well as the dams of Roses For Sammie, Panything Goes, Tyler A, Calista, and many others.

Chris Boring, one of the most respected horsemen in harness racing, admits that he ws not happy when he trained Albert Albert down as a 2-year-old in early 1987 because the colt was simply not motivated.

Albert Albert and trainer-driver Chris Boring cruise to one of the many victories in the pacer’s career in 1987-88

What Boring didn’t realize is that his colt was just a typical son of Abercrombie. His friend Archie McNeil, who had trained some Abercrombies, advised Boring not to worry.

“He’ll wake up after he’s raced a few times,” McNeil told Boring.

Boring could see that Albert Albert had ability and he was intent on keeping him sound and good-mannered. The colt had all of the tools but none of the desire needed to be a star pace.

“I think I was being too kind to him,” said Boring in later years.

After Albert Albert realized what racing was all about, he became a horseman’s dream. He won 10 of his 18 starts as a 2-year-old and was back of third only once. He finished third in the Woodrow Wilson after starting from post 12. He then won the Fox Stake at a time when it still attracted many of the best colts in the country. In that race, he equaled Nihilator’s world record (1:52.4) for 2-year-old pacers.

He followed that with win in the now-defunct Kentucky Pacing Derby, chalking up the fastest mile ever (1:55.1h) by a freshman pacer on a twice-around track.

He ended his freshman season early and finished second to Camtastic in voting for year-end honors.

Bob Tucker of Stonegate Standardbreds bought an interest in Albert Albert prior to his sophomore season, and that secured the colt’s place in the stud.

He was impressive winning the Holmes at the Meadowlands as a 3-year-old, but all too often he won eliminations for big races but didn’t reach in the final. He won eliminations of the Adios and Jug. In the Jug final, however, he got parked to a brutal half in 53.4 by ultimate winner BJ Scoot, a speed demon that day.

Albert Albert’s final big win came in the $329,000 Slutsky Memorial at Monticello.

He concluded his career with 19 wins in 40 starts and more than $1.2 million in the bank, not bad for a $42,000 yearling purchase.

At the time of his death, Albert Albert had sired 233 pacers with 1:55 marks and his offspring have earned US$61,189,432.

He was owned during his racing career by Proudfoot Farms of Michigan and then Stonegate became a partner. At the time of his death, he was owned by a syndicate headed by David James.