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times and the
Canadian Horse of the Year in 1970 plus the Canadian Champion Aged Trotter a record setting six times. While regularly racing against male trotters, Fresh Yankee broke track and World Records and in 1967 became the fastest trotting mare in history with a time trial clocking of 1:57.1. Her many wins included the American Trotting Classic twice, the International Trot, the United Nations Trot, Germany's Grand Prix of Bavaria and in Sweden the
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A $ 900 yearling purchase, the brilliant mare became the first North
American-bred trotter to earn $ 1 million. During the four years O'Brien trained Fresh Yankee for owner Duncan MacDonald she was voted the U.S. Harness Horse of the Year in 1970, the U.S. Champion Trotting Mare of the Year four
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giving him the United States
Trotting Triple Crown. In a remarkable three years of racing, Scott Frost would be voted the 1954 United States Two-Year-Old Trotter of the Year and the 1955 and 1956 United States Harness Horse of the Year.
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farmer. His father was involved in the breeding and racing of
Standardbreds and it would become part of Joe's life at an early age. He was just 16 years old when he won his first harness race at a
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During his career Joe O'Brien trained and/or drove numerous North
American Champions and Hall of Fame Standardbreds. Among them he trained and drove Triple Crown winner Scott Frost, as well as
735:, O'Brien beat the two-minute mile clocking a total of 10 times. Even more remarkable, in 1975 he set a World Record by winning 44 sub-two-minute mile races and 32 two-minute mile races.
562:. Within a few years Joe O'Brien had become a dominant force in racing in the Maritime Provinces. He led all drivers in wins for five straight years from 1943 through 1947 and at
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magazine story by Jim
Harrison titled "Little Joe Is Big Joe Now! And the Name O'Brien, Has Become A Permanent Entry On The Roster OF All-Time Harness Racing Greats"
621:, a small city he would call home for the rest of his life. After just four years with owner Sol Camp, Joe O'Brien had won numerous major races and in 1954 he drove
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to victory in a time of two minutes flat making him the first two-year-old in the world achieve such a winning time. In 1955 O'Brien and Scott Frost won the
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in Sweden, O'Brien produced the first ever sub two-minute mile in the history of
European harness racing when he won the second heat of the world-famous
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Competing in the 1960s and 1970s, when a winning time of less two minutes was the paragon of excellence, on
October 1, 1971 Joe O'Brien drove
602:. O'Brien would soon gain national recognition when he drove and trained the Castleton pacer Indian Land to victory in the then rich $ 50,000
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USTA May 21, 2012 article by Ken
Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications, titled "Sears looking for rare double in Elitlopp"
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did not recognize the 44 races he won in the
Maritime Provinces and gave him a National ranking of 7th in the USTA standings.
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won a record-shattering 11 races on a single racecard. In 1947 he led all drivers in North America with 128 wins but the
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announced they were considering a new national harness racing award program. Established in 1989, it was named the
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533:. Noted for his quiet dignity and diplomacy, he is considered one of the greatest harness horsemen in history.
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as his mother wanted, in the fall of 1935 he chose to go to work as a trainer at the farm of William Latta in
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731:. Over a period of nine days at the October 1970 annual Grand Circuit meeting at Lexington, Kentucky's
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In 1969, Joe O'Brien became the first driver in history to have won the Hambletonian and Sweden's
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Harnesslink.com, New Zealand, September 30, 2004 article titled "Joe O'Brien, A Name To Remember"
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649:. He would win that most prestigious race for pacers again in 1973 with Thurman Downing's
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UPI October 1, 1984 article titled "A funeral mass was celebrated Monday for Joe O'Brien"
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New York Times October 2, 1971 article titled "Steady Star's 1:52 World Pacing Mark"
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In 1963, Sol Camp retired from racing and sold his stable. Joe O'Brien was hired by
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October 19, 1970 article by William F. Reed titled "Little Joe on the big Red Mile"
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January 28, 2014 article titled "Harness racing's O'Brien Awards coming to P.E.I."
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January 28, 2014 article titled "Harness racing's O’Brien Awards coming to P.E.I."
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In 1951 O'Brien accepted an offer to take over as head trainer and driver for the
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YouTube video - profile of Fresh Yankee's career and the 1970 International Trot
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Harnessbred.com July 4, 2016 article titled Elitloppet Weekend 2016
958:
U.S. Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame bio for Shadow Wave
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and served as president of the California Breeder's Association.
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where before long he would be hired to drive and train for the
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to go along with another Hambletonian in 1960 with Sol Camp's
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YouTube video of Scott Frost winning the 1955 Hambletonian
807:
Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame bio for Joe O'Brien
771:
Joe O'Brien was a member of the board of directors of the
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Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame bio for Fresh Yankee
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Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame bio for Joe O'Brien
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Canadian military personnel from Prince Edward Island
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Gentleman Joe The Story of Harness Driver Joe O'Brien
880:
Horseplop.com Driver Bios From the 1950s & 1960s
1095:
United States Harness Racing Hall of Fame inductees
598:automobile manufacturing pioneer and co-founder of
554:track. After finishing school, instead of going to
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28:
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837:Canada's Sports Hall of Fame bio for Joe O'Brien
767:Industry executive & O'Brien Awards program
755:that brought him the most worldwide publicity.
440:Canada's National Harness Racing O'Brien Awards
266:International Stallion Colt & Gelding Stake
641:In 1958, again for Sol Camp, O'Brien won the
225:American National 2YO Colt & Gelding Trot
159:American National 3YO Colt & Gelding Pace
85:Reynolds Memorial 3YO Colt & Gelding Trot
8:
1075:Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductees
521:in 1955 and would be inducted into both the
506:(June 25, 1917 – September 29, 1984) was a
402:Harness Tracks of America Driver of the Year
1060:Canadian military personnel of World War II
778:Joe O'Brien died of cancer at his home in
18:
703:Breaking the two-minute barrier worldwide
321:Arden Downs 3YO Colt & Gelding Stakes
164:Arden Downs 2YO Colt & Gelding Stakes
130:Review Stakes 3yo Colt & Gelding Trot
687:for whom he notably developed the great
546:Joe O'Brien was the son of a successful
425:Prince Edward Island Sports Hall of Fame
1080:Canadian emigrants to the United States
799:
1100:Sportspeople from Prince Edward Island
1020:Publisher Arco Publishing Company 1975
995:Transcontinental Media Journal Pioneer
893:Transcontinental Media Journal Pioneer
668:has matched that feat, doing it with
7:
683:breeding and racing operations near
143:(1955, 1956, 1965, 1969, 1971, 1977)
1110:People from Kern County, California
859:
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832:
830:
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773:United States Trotting Association
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763:and the International Elite Trot.
749:Canadian Harness Horse of the Year
578:During 1947 Joe O'Brien headed to
568:United States Trotting Association
527:Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame
435:Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame
372:Solvallas Internationella Elitlopp
14:
1125:Deaths from cancer in California
1090:American harness racing trainers
1070:Canadian harness racing trainers
782:. A few years after his passing
523:U.S. Harness Racing Hall of Fame
430:U.S. Harness Racing Hall of Fame
210:Reynolds Memorial 3YO Filly Trot
200:Reynolds Memorial 2YO Filly Trot
1085:American harness racing drivers
1065:Canadian harness racing drivers
711:to a World Record of 1:52 in a
364:(1955, 1962, 1965, 1966, 1973)
64:
42:Alberton, Prince Edward Island
1:
864:Reprint of the February 1955
751:honors. However, it would be
407:Joseph Neville Memorial Award
296:Battle of the Brandywine Pace
1105:Sportspeople from California
960:Retrieved September 14, 2016
948:Retrieved September 23, 2016
531:Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
420:Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
230:Roosevelt International Trot
205:Arden Downs 3YO Filly Stakes
178:Arden Downs 2YO Filly Stakes
999:Retrieved September 9, 2016
984:Retrieved September 9, 2016
972:Retrieved November 14, 2016
933:Retrieved November 23, 2016
921:Retrieved November 23, 2016
909:Retrieved November 19, 2016
897:Retrieved November 14, 2016
870:Retrieved November 12, 2016
851:Retrieved November 14, 2016
839:Retrieved November 10, 2016
824:Retrieved November 14, 2016
809:Retrieved November 14, 2016
241:American National Open Trot
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882:Retrieved December 6, 2016
519:U.S. Trotting Triple Crown
399:Leading Driver (1943-1947)
345:U.S. Trotting Triple Crown
306:Bluegrass 3YO Filly Stakes
235:Glen Garnsey Memorial Pace
140:American Trotting Classic
560:River Hebert, Nova Scotia
450:
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311:Canadian Trotting Classic
261:American Trotting Classic
172:(1959, 1963, 1975, 1979)
125:Walnut Hall Stud 2YO Trot
78:
608:Hollywood Park Racetrack
327:U.S. Pacing Triple Crown
197:(1964, 1965, 1967, 1974)
590:racing stable owned by
384:† denotes record holder
169:American Pacing Classic
149:American Trotting Derby
115:Saul Camp Memorial Trot
615:S. A. Camp Farms, Inc.
600:Dodge Brothers Company
517:and owner who won the
194:Lexington Filly Stakes
95:American National Trot
16:Canadian harness racer
719:. On May 27, 1973 at
664:. Through 2016, only
377:Grand Prix of Bavaria
246:Canadian Pacing Derby
154:National Pacing Derby
548:Prince Edward Island
504:Joseph Cyril O'Brien
316:Hanover-Hempt Stakes
184:Little Brown Jugette
784:Standardbred Canada
780:Shafter, California
627:Hambletonian Stakes
619:Shafter, California
580:Del Mar, California
368:International wins:
351:Hambletonian Stakes
256:United Nations Trot
120:U.S. Trotting Derby
59:Shafter, California
1017:Author: Marie Hill
944:Sports Illustrated
747:to three straight
721:Solvalla Racetrack
681:Armstrong Brothers
677:J. Elgin Armstrong
556:veterinary college
446:Significant horses
397:Maritime Provinces
271:Speedy Rodney Trot
238:(1968, 1970, 1974)
186:(1964, 1965, 1976)
181:(1964, 1977, 1982)
110:Matron Stakes Pace
107:(1954, 1956, 1978)
52:September 29, 1984
685:Brampton, Ontario
635:Kentucky Futurity
537:Racing highlights
501:
500:
361:Kentucky Futurity
291:Queen City Stakes
281:Hambletonian Oaks
276:Star's Pride Trot
220:Hudson Filly Trot
74:Major racing wins
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643:Little Brown Jug
604:Golden West Pace
574:California bound
333:Little Brown Jug
301:Tattersalls Pace
100:Golden West Trot
80:Golden West Pace
55:
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1007:Further reading
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588:Castleton Farms
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542:The early years
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286:Maple Leaf Trot
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189:Lou Dillon Trot
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90:Walnut Hall Cup
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1034:External links
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1028:978-0668036245
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790:in his honor.
788:O'Brien Awards
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594:, daughter of
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508:Harness racing
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251:Galophone Trot
135:Runnymede Trot
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56:(aged 67)
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745:Armbro Flight
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697:Armbro Ranger
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693:Armbro Nesbit
690:
689:Armbro Flight
686:
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673:
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667:
666:John Campbell
663:
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655:Blaze Hanover
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592:Frances Dodge
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564:Truro Raceway
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529:, as well as
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460:Blaze Hanover
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456:Armbro Nesbit
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452:Armbro Flight
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391:Racing awards
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340:(1958, 1975)
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39:June 25, 1917
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753:Fresh Yankee
742:
739:Fresh Yankee
729:Flower Child
717:The Red Mile
706:
674:
659:
651:Melvin's Woe
640:
631:Yonkers Trot
612:
586:division of
577:
545:
503:
502:
480:Melvin's Woe
472:Fresh Yankee
468:Dudley Patch
367:
366:
356:Yonkers Trot
353:(1955, 1960)
343:
342:
335:(1958, 1973)
325:
324:
293:(1973, 1974)
288:(1973, 1977)
283:(1972, 1976)
268:(1971, 1975)
232:(1966, 1970)
173:
166:(1958, 1979)
156:(1956, 1957)
144:
122:(1954, 1956)
112:(1954, 1978)
105:Hoosier Trot
92:(1953, 1978)
87:(1952, 1959)
54:(1984-09-29)
1120:1984 deaths
1115:1917 births
709:Steady Star
670:Mack Lobell
647:Shadow Wave
623:Scott Frost
496:Steady Star
492:Shadow Wave
488:Scott Frost
464:Diamond Hal
66:Career wins
23:Joe O'Brien
1054:Categories
866:Hoof Beats
794:References
761:Elitloppet
725:Elitloppet
713:time trial
662:Elitloppet
596:John Dodge
584:West Coast
552:Summerside
215:Dexter Cup
35:1917-06-25
672:in 1988.
338:Cane Pace
733:Red Mile
633:and the
525:and the
476:Ima Lula
44:, Canada
679:of the
515:trainer
414:Honours
323:(1979)
1026:
629:, the
511:driver
437:(1976)
432:(1970)
427:(1968)
422:(1965)
409:(2004)
404:(1975)
379:(1970)
374:(1969)
358:(1955)
318:(1978)
313:(1977)
308:(1976)
303:(1975)
298:(1975)
278:(1971)
273:(1971)
263:(1971)
258:(1970)
253:(1970)
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243:(1970)
227:(1966)
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161:(1958)
151:(1956)
137:(1955)
132:(1955)
127:(1954)
117:(1954)
102:(1954)
97:(1954)
82:(1948)
69:4,285+
727:with
645:with
347:wins:
329:wins:
61:, USA
1024:ISBN
695:and
484:Nero
49:Died
29:Born
715:at
617:in
606:at
1056::
856:^
829:^
814:^
699:.
691:,
610:.
513:,
494:,
490:,
486:,
482:,
478:,
474:,
470:,
466:,
462:,
458:,
454:,
174:†
145:†
37:)
33:(
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